Gecko not using laying box

[falconboy]

Hey all,

I have a gecko laying question. They have had laying boxes for a week, and the last 2 mornings I have found one of my intermedius scratching/attempting to dig in the sand/peat at the front of the enclosure - right in front of the laying box. I assume since she is very plump with eggs that she is ready to lay - but she won't use the laying box. She has been unsuccessful due to where she is digging is too dry and sandy.

I had a hole at the top of the laying box, so I ended up taking the lid off and putting a hole in the side at the top to make it more inviting/obvious to her, but still no go. Now, since she seems to not want to go in, and because I'm worried she will get stressed, eggbound or worse, I have poured the moist peat where she was digging before at the front of the enclosure - do you think this will be ok and get her to lay?

Thanks

[Twiggz]

I've been having similar issues with my ciliaris Martin.
I would suggest either wanting to see what happens, or i would be enclined to change the substrate to a peat/sand mixture (more peat than sand). Similar to how i keep my milii if you recall. I find that it helps as the substrate then becomes the lay area. So long as its moist you should have no problems with eggs drying out once laid............but having said all that, some gex are just fussy.

[spongebob]

I use either margarine tubs or 4 litre icecream containers 2/3 filled with moist vermiculite for all my climbing geckos (Oedura and Strophurus). Place a stick into the hole at the top to aid with them getting in and out. The rest of the enclosure is bone dry-I use sand as substrate. Since I moved to this method I've not had one egg laid out of the tubs. Also the verticulite stays moist for ages so even after a fortnight away on hols the eggs are there for the collecting on return

[falconboy]

Thanks guys.

Spongebob, there was actually a stick laid perfectly to get her on and off the top of the laying box from the start. It was a largish lunch box.

I've put the moist peat where she was digging, so I will see what happens tomorrow morning (it seems to be in the morning when I catch her in the spot digging - maybe having tried all night) and go from there.

Ta

[Twiggz]

Not a bad idea spongebob. However my cages are limitied in size so i would need to apply your idea on a much smaller scale.

[falconboy]

Yes, getting a 4 litre in my exos would be near impossible

[junglepython2]

I've used the ferarro roche (spelling) chocoalate plastic containers, that have the removable lid. Cut a hole in the top and that worked well for milli. I just let the levis lay in the sand though.

[spongebob]

Originally Posted by falconboy

Yes, getting a 4 litre in my exos would be near impossible

Sure but a standard margarine tub does the same job-we use butter soft! Make sure it is relatively non opaque. I used to use clear tubs, so as to be able to ee the eggs, but they didnt always use it to lay. I think a darkish place is important.

[falconboy]

Yep, the lunch box was a bit bigger than a margarine, and also opaque with opaque lid - seems these girls don't know when they have the best!

[falconboy]

Thanks all - the intermedius laid last night/this morning - 2 nice formed, soft eggs. I'll have to keep it in mind but she seems to be digging around the base of the sticks in the enclosure, so I will make sure I have nice moist peat around the base of all my sticks at laying time.

Wondering if I should do the same with my ciliaris as she is due but is showing no signs of wanting to lay (I would have thought overdue).