Questions on egg bucket for ambilobe

[SKITTLES]

I bought a 5 gallon bucket from walmart and am going to use a 50/50 eco-earth/play sand mix. I wanted to know if you can leave the bucket in your cage damp will it create bacteria? Also my female is around a week and half pregnant should I put the bucket in there now or wait? I have increased dusting w/ calcium no d3 to 4 times a week no dust for 2 and 1 day with multi vitami, she eats around 6-10 a day. I am currently gutloading with fluckers and added some red peppers and coliflower (are these vegtables the beest choice?).I also constantly hydrate her and she receives 2-4 hours of sunlight a day(due to bad weather ) Any suggestions?

 

[NewOwner]

I have never Bred/Breeded? €hams... i am a FUTURE breeder though, and i have only heard people using the 8 gallon ones.. Not sure if five works, i also know they dig 8-12 inches deep of sand.. And Not sure bout the Bacteria thing, and play sand and eco soil is alright i BELIEVE, I know julirs uses a mix of playsand and... Hmm coco husk i THINK I am not sure though, The mix is supposed to be moist so it can form a tunnel but not Wet.. And 1.5 weeks pregnant i dont think needs a bucket yet... Unless you see signs (Wondering around the bottom of the cage, Etc.) You should


If this helps any Your welcome, Good luck with your chams!

 

[NewOwner]

Welcome to the forums

 

[Julirs]

I bought a 5 gallon bucket from walmart and am going to use a 50/50 eco-earth/play sand mix. I wanted to know if you can leave the bucket in your cage damp will it create bacteria? Also my female is around a week and half pregnant should I put the bucket in there now or wait? I have increased dusting w/ calcium no d3 to 4 times a week no dust for 2 and 1 day with multi vitami, she eats around 6-10 a day. I am currently gutloading with fluckers and added some red peppers and coliflower (are these vegtables the beest choice?).I also constantly hydrate her and she receives 2-4 hours of sunlight a day(due to bad weather ) Any suggestions?

I leave the laying pots in all the time and never have any mold or nastiness build up in them, but I also have them situated in the cages so they only get wet when I want them to. You should always be dusting with calcium 5-6 times weekly, and only using the mutivite 1-2 times weekly. I would add some dark leafy greens like collards, Kale, etc... and maybe some sweet potato, apples, etc. to your gutloading-a variety is best. Do you have a UVB bulb on her if she is only getting 2-4 hours of sun?

 

[Orin]

Females will go to the bottom of the cage and scratch around when they want to lay eggs but if you want to put the bucket it now that shouldn't be a problem. If it's in the cage with an open lid you probably want to check the dampness of the sand once a week or so (with high temps, low humidity, high airflow even a big bucket of sand can dry out quick and the surface shouldn't be dried out).

 

[SKITTLES]

I leave the laying pots in all the time and never have any mold or nastiness build up in them, but I also have them situated in the cages so they only get wet when I want them to. You should always be dusting with calcium 5-6 times weekly, and only using the mutivite 1-2 times weekly. I would add some dark leafy greens like collards, Kale, etc... and maybe some sweet potato, apples, etc. to your gutloading-a variety is best. Do you have a UVB bulb on her if she is only getting 2-4 hours of sun?

I have a 5.0 uvb bulb on her in an 18inch fixture. I am only giving here 2-4 hours of sun because I live in Gainesville, FL and the temperature has not been higher than 50 degrees in the day. Do you think I should leavee them out there even though it is kinda cold?

 

[BocaJan]

I have kept mine in for the last week. The UV bulb will give her what she needs and I can't help but feel that she can do just fine without the outside cold weather.

 

[SKITTLES]

Thank you for your reply. I will post pictures when she lays.

 

[SKITTLES]

When I am making the eco-earth playsand mix should I wash the sand threw with water? should I was the eco-earth off with water? When I add it together in the bucket how do I know if it is 50/50 becuase the eco-earth expands? Should I have a stick leading down to the bucket? If I have a livee plant in there should I put some rocks in the pot so she doesnt try and dig there? If anyone has any websites regarding the egg bucket or previous posts that would be great!