Calling all Kinyongia Experts......

Hello all.....I need to consult with anyone who has bred Kinyongia successfully. I've got three breeding groups of Kinyongia Uthmoelleri. I've got a female who is definitely gravid and it's time to get things set up for her. I'm looking for information on egg laying container set-ups that have worked and incubation time and temperature information. How many eggs can I expect? Not much out there on this species......Thanks for your help and support as I stress out over this. I'm used to Veileds and Panther chams....

Hello Catherine. I am by far not an expert but I thought I would try to help as much as I could I had 2 WC kinyongia tavetana who where both pretty beat up when I recieved them. The female was already gravid and I could tell the moment I unpacked her. She layed a week later. My laying bin was just like my panthers. 2/3 topsoil and 1/3 sand mix. The bin was 1 foot by 8 inches and 12 foot in depth. The mix was as moist as I make it for my panthers. The female only dug down about 5 inches and layed them. I take it it was from her already weak state. She layed 11 eggs that have been incubating for around 6 months. I put them in the room where the well comes up because it was the coolest place in the summer time. Around 70 to 75 degrees. They started to develop mold there so I moved them where I keep the panther eggs which are at 73 right now. The mold has seemed to subside and I am just waiting and HOPING these guys will hatch out. Only time will tell.

The Chameleon Hand Book says under Bradypodion f. fischeri and the 5 sub species that they will lay 15 to 30 eggs 2 or 3 times a year. Incubation at 73.5 degrees. It then goes on to tell a little more about the tavetana that I had. Im sure you already have this book but I thought I would add that too. I wish you luck and hope everything turns out for the best.

Cain

Thank you Cain

I do have that book.....It does not refer to Uthmoelleri specifically. I can't find anything about Uthmoelleri specifically so looking at Kinyongia in general is the best I can probably do. The eggs must be incredibly tiny (compared to Veileds and Panther eggs). My female looks like a balloon but she is acting normal and eating like a pig. I hope you will keep in contact with me personally about your eggs. I will keep you and them in my thoughts. I would think that they would have just gone bad by now if the mold had caused neonate death. Please let me know personally when they hatch so I can follow your care of the babies step by step. Kinyongia is such a fascinating group. Thanks so much

You are very welcome. I will definatly keep you updated. UH, I meant to say 12 inches not feet hahaha. Im sure you got that though. The tavetana eggs where about half the size of the panther eggs. You may try contacting Trace, Fl chams, or Chris A. Im pretty sure Fl had hatched out some tavetana eggs. I too think they woud have gone bad by now but I have had some panther eggs go full term to sweat and shrivel up. I cut them open after I knew they were gone to find only a yolk sac. I did candle one of the tavetana eggs and it seems to me I saw an embryo in all that pink. I dont like to candle but I was so curious I couldnt help myself. I too am fascinated with this species and hope to have them hatch and then try and get some better specimen at a show to keep working with them. I wish you great luck and hope all goes well.

There was a breeder of K. uthmoelleri from the UK who posted his incubation details on the Afriherps forum. I think you have to register to read it...?

Good luck! I absolutely love those little guys!

K uthmoelleri report

Hi, recently, I have published a short report on the biology and captive management of K uthmoelleri (in german with an extensive english translation). If you are interested, let me know at [email protected] and I will send you a pdf off-line, as it exceeds the forum 250k limits...
Petr Necas