Hi,
Balrog had been acting crazy for the past days, I thought that being ready to lay was one possibility (never mated). I just gave her a sand box and she dug, and now she is laying eggs. I am totally unprepared, these eggs are obviously infertile. My questions: does she need special care after laying (I suppose yes)? Should I remove her from the sand box tonight or leave her there until she is done? When is she likely to be done?
I am worried because she's on antibiotic treatment for a nasty mouth infection, and she recently got better. I wish her to stay healthy.
Let her finish laying, watch her cover them up to her satisfaction [ it's very interesting, they even usually tap the substrate with their chin] Then give a warm bath, clean her up, dry off immediately and put under the heat lamp. Offer food first thing tomorrow if it's too late tonight to digest a meal.
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The most important thing you need to do right now is to up her calcium intake. Liquid would be best, because you can ensure that she'll be getting the right amount.
Females use up alot of their calcium during the egg making process (that's how the eggshells are formed, which I'm sure you knew), so immediate supplementing for that loss would be advised.
FYI - I had a female who laid 4 clutches of eggs and after the second, her calcium levels plummeted (started a slight kink in her tail and a broken femur when she jumped off the couch). I knew the dusting in her food and on the feeders weren't enough, especially after she went on a non-eating phase, so I ordered flavored liquid calcium and gave it to her for 2 months. You can buy unflavored too, but I didn't want to take a chance that she wouldn't take it.
Thank you for your advice. She's not done yet, but she looks very tired between eggs, I will keep an eye on her once in while to check if she's done. I'll get liquid calcium tomorrow morning once the stores open. I am used to giving meds, so adding liquid calcium should not be a problem!
How is she doing ? I was on my way out when I replied, but Goonie mentioned the liquid calcium which is a great idea. Add extra water with it because egg - laying is very dehydrating which is why they sometimes don't eat right away after laying. She should start eating like a horse again very soon. Hopefully your girl has had adequate calcium supplementation beforehand and will have no problem. Give her extra water via syringe, the baths alone may not do it. They must have proper calcium intake as they near egg laying age. I hope all goes well !
She is done now, and asleep. 15 eggs. She had a quick bath, because she was not very happy, heated up under her basking lamp, and now is asleep (lights off). I am prepared to give her lots of food tomorrow morning, and extra calcium. She can also drink water from a container, we've seen her do that once in a while. She was ok with calcium before today, so hopefully I will keep her that way.