Update on Melleri Eggs

chams1

Member
In my thread https://www.chameleonforums.com/melleri-eggs-again-37172/index3.html, I said I would post an update about my melleri eggs because some of you asked a few questions about incubation temps, length of time, etc. Unfortunately, this thread is coming a few days later than expected. :(

Because breeding and hatching out melleri eggs is not an exact science and there are huge parameters to work with, I have been counting on what I have read about what has been documented thus far, other people's experiences, combined with a little bit of gut instincts based on my experience with other eggs thus far.

Mating occured on January 23, 2010 and 60 eggs were laid on February 22, 2010, exactly 30 days gestation. As stated previously, gestation can be anywhere from 1 to 3 months from what has been documented. As it was the previous 2 times that Newbie was gravid, I had no idea since she didn't gain much, if any, weight, she kept eating like an oinker up until she laid and there was no difference in her overall appearance or disposition, as was the case here.

As stated in my previous thread, the eggs were devided into 4 groups of 15 and 2 of those groups were placed in vermiculite and 2 of those groups were placed in perlite. No real reason for this, but I have seen other people place melleri eggs in perlite so I decided to give it a try. I figured since I was documenting everything, it would be nice to see the difference, if any, in incubation time, etc., between the two. Incubation time can be anywhere from 3-5 months based on what has been documented and the eggs need to be kept cooler - somewhere between 65 - 75 degrees. I had to play around with (available) spots to keep them, but I finally found a perfect spot in a closet downstairs. I check the temp where the eggs are located about 3 times per day and they have been down to 68 and no higher than 73.

Weights: Newbie has been pushing a consistent 433 grams both before and after egg laying and Magna Cham (the male) has been a consistent 363 grams. All of the eggs weighed in at 2 grams as they went into incubation. As of yesterday, the eggs still look great.

A big shout out to those of you more experienced with melleri eggs that I have bothered for advice - you know who you are. :D I have attached a few pics:

This is Newbie right after she laid this clutch:
102_2343.jpg

This is Newbie during gestation:
Newbie 4.jpg

This is Magna Cham today:
102_2409.jpg

This is one of the eggs getting weighted prior to incubation:
102_2356.jpg
 
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