Eggs to Hatchlings

So now you have a bunch of eggs..how many should you have ended up with? Well, the average here at Fantasy Dragons is about 18 at each clutch, give or take a couple. I have had one girl lay 40, but only 30 were viable.

I use perlite as the medium for egg incubation. Just like substrates, the opinions vary as to what is best. Opinions are also many on whether to completely bury the eggs or not. I will just tell you what I do and you can do your own research and settle on what suits you best. I can tell you that we have over 90% of the eggs hatch. I cover the eggs about 2/3 of the way. Leave enough room between the eggs for the eggs to "grow". The eggs will increase in size as the baby lizard inside the egg grows. Keep the humidity level fairly high either by putting a container of water in the incubator or misting the eggs. I mist the eggs twice a day. Toward the end of the incubation time, the eggs will start to collapse. I have included the following pictures to issustrate this. I don't mind telling you that when this happens, you may think you have lost the eggs, but be patient and wait it out.

eggs picture

eggs picture

The hatching will soon follow.

eggs picture

eggs picture

eggs picture

eggs picture

The act of hatching is long and tiring work for the baby. It can take many hours. Please resist the temptation to help the process along. See too that there is an egg that doesn't appear ready to hatch, this is common and it may take a week or more for all the eggs in one clutch to hatch. I leave the newly hatched babies in the incubator for the first day. Then I move them to a small tank with lights and a place to climb and bask. This is something they will do from the beginning. I start offering them dusted fruitflies on the second day after hatching and then dusted 2 week crickets at the start of the second week. Tiny pieces of greens are offered from the second day. Mist the babies a couple of times a day to keep them hydrated.