Laying container (Veilded)

[JimNPHX]

Hi everyone,

I have a female V that is close to 6 months old. After reading many of these posts (females around 5 months can lay eggs), I placed a laying container at the bottom of her cage. It is roughly 12x7x6 filled with moist sand.

How long should I leave in her cage? Is there any worry about bacteria growth since the sand is constantly moist?

Thanks

Jim

 

[kinyonga]

I keep a container similar to this in all my egglaying females' cages once they are sexually mature...I don't remove it unless they lay eggs in it or it needs to be cleaned.

 

[JimNPHX]

I keep a container similar to this in all my egglaying females' cages once they are sexually mature...I don't remove it unless they lay eggs in it or it needs to be cleaned.

What is your definition of "needing cleaning"? I am concerned of all the moisture in the sand. You never had any problems?

Also, this may be a silly question but do you need to show the cham the container? Because so far she has not done anything in it or go near it.

Thanks

Jim

 

[kinyonga]

By "needing cleaning"...if the container itself gets dirty looking or the soil gets pooped in or the female lays eggs in it, then I clean it or replace the sand. I have left containers of sand in the cage for several months with no problem.

From what I've read...sand on the other hand offers nothing for bacteria to metabolize (offers no nutrient value for bacteria)...so bacteria shouldn't live well in it...providing you keep it free of organic material (feces, etc.).

It drains quite well too. I have a small drain hole in the bottom of the container that the sand is in...and I don't keep the sand moist all the time. I do keep the top of the sand level so I can tell if the female has been digging in it though. I moisten it if she has been digging in it.