Hi breitman,
Breeding lizards is not an easy project and it will take a bit of
trial and error before you find out the best methods for your
environment. Ideally, you should record your efforts, keeping track of
all pertinent data such as temperature, humidity, dates and successes
and failures. Use the data to fine tune future attempts in the hopes
of increasing your success rate.
There are differences for various species and it would be a good idea
to go the library and find a book which outlines the breeding of the
Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) specifically. That
said, here are excerpts from two links to general instructions for
incubating lizard eggs.
1) Lizards: Breeding:
"Newly laid eggs should be carefully removed and partially buried (the
exact same way they were laid) in an incubation medium contained in a
shallow container. The eggs can be buried to about two-thirds (2/3) of
their thickness, the exposed third (1/3) allows you to inspect the
eggs without disturbing the eggs. Various experiments with all sorts
of incubation media have been successful, but the most satisfactory
method has beenthe use of granular vermiculite. This inert, sterile,
absorbent insulating material is available in many grades, but for
incubation purposes a fine grade is used. Mixed with about its own
weight of water, the vermiculite will provide an ideal medium for
incubation. The lid of the incubation box should have a few
ventilation holes but not so many as to allow the loss of moisture.
The box is placed in a heated incubator and maintained at a tempature
of around 78-86F' will be adequate for most species. A simple wooden
box containing an incandescent light bulb and a thermostat to regulate
the tempature are all that are required, though more sophisticated
appliances are available. During development, the eggs will absorb
moisture from the surrounding medium and increase in weight. Infertile
eggs will not absorb water, but should not be discarded until
absolutely certain they are not viable. Incubatin periods vary from
species to species and may be anywhere from 30 to 100 days or even
more. Patience is certainly a virtue here, and eventually one will
hopefully be rewarded with a host of lively little offspring."
http://www.angelfire.com/rock2/ryche69/repic/breed.html#lizard
2) Nerd: Egg Incubation Techniques:
"An Ideal Incubator - Will have the following points.
1. A quality thermostat to control the temperature, probe types are
best. A simple on/off type works well, proportional ones are great but
no better in this situation. I not not like chicken wafer style
thermostats, they are crude and difficult to use within my incubating
scope.
2. The probe of the thermostat is located in the container that
houses the eggs.
3. A false wall/cavity that contains a heating element such as heat
tape. This provides a buffering of hot sudden temperatures that could
lead to an incubation disaster.
4. A fan or fans to draw the air across the heat tape contained in a
false wall. Ideally a fan located at the top of the false wall to push
air in and across the heat tape and another to draw it out of the
bottom and recirculate through the incubator.
5. All eggs are contained in tupperware/shoebox style containers
where the humidity is controlled within. These are critical since they
create further buffering of the changing temps within the incubator. A
single or few air holes in that container are all that is needed to
provide air to the developing eggs. make sure you locate the
thermostat and digital thermometer probes in this container.
6. Accurate temperature monitoring. Digital thermometers are cheap
and ideal, the use of two is wise to ensure true readings. Locate
temperature probes in the egg chamber for critical temps.
7. Air baffling that does not allow the newly heated air to blow
directly on the egg container, we want the air to warm the outside of
the egg container evenly. All air surrounding this container will
fluctuate a fair bit but the temperatures within the container stay
remarkably constant with only slight deviation.
8. A predictable air path. If you are incubating large numbers of
eggs then create an air flow across each box with baffles. Ideally,
create a zig zag pattern of air, this creates even temps and avoids
the dreaded hot spots that can destroy some if not all of your eggs."
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareInfo/EggIncubation.htm
BOOKS /VIDEO
1) Keeping & Breeding Lizards: A Complete Authoritative Guide (Ww-056)
by John Coborn
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0793802229/ref=lib_dp_TFCV/103-5352207-4316650?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader#reader-link
2) Keeping and Breeding Lizards
by Chris Mattison
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0713726326/qid=1056806197/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-5352207-4316650?v=glance&s=books
Available used at Abebooks:
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=61396414
3) Pete Mackevich
What Kind of Pet is a Lizard? The Complete Video Guide to Lizard Care
and Breeding
(1993) VHS video in original case. 105 minutes. [9oz]
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=67153706
4) Staniszewski, Marc
The Manual of Lizards & Snakes. A Practical Introduction to the
Fascinating Hobby of Keeping and Breeding These Intriguing Creatures
in the Home.
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=93164876
5) Lizards (Keeping and Breeding them in Captivity)
by John Coborn
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=197961644
Additional Links:
ReptiChat.com:
http://www.reptichat.com/index2.html
The Biogeography of Sceloporus occidentalis:
http://bss.sfsu.edu:224/courses/Fall01%20projects/lizzard.htm
Lizards That Fight Lyme Disease:
http://www.calacademy.org/science_now/archive/wild_lives/fence_lizards_050601.html
San Diego Natural History Field Guide:
Sceloporus occidentalis Western Fence Lizard:
http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/scel-occ.html
Western Fence Lizard: Sceloporus occidentalis:
http://www.kaweahoaks.com/html/lizard_western_fence.htm
How to care for Western Fence Lizards (sceloporus Occidentalis):
http://www.expage.com/page/draconisherpsgex
Sceloporus occidentalis: Some notes on the common Oregon Western Fence
Lizard:
http://www.uoregon.edu/~titus/herp/occidentalishistory.htm
Western Fence Lizard: Sceloporus occidentalis:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/R022.html
Western fence lizard: Sceloporus occidentalis:
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmcawildlife.nsf/siteurl/82143283?OpenDocument
USED BOOK LINKS for comparison shopping:
http://www.abebooks.com
http://www.tomfolio.com -A co-op of independent booksellers
http://www.bookfinder.com -Searches several sites but often doesn't
show all results.
http://used.addall.com/ -Also searches several sites but often
doesn't show all results.
http://www.zshops.com
http://www.bibliophile.net
http://www.bookavenue.com
I hope this helps you to have success on your next try. If you have
any questions, please post a clarification request before rating my
answer.
Thank you and good luck,
hummer
Google Search Terms Used:
"Western Fence Lizards" captivity
"Western Fence Lizards" eggs
"Western Fence Lizards" incubation
"Western Fence Lizards" breeding
"Western Fence Lizards"
lizards incubating eggs
"breeding lizards" |
