Hi all, I live in MN and have two adult P. Pardalis Leopards. All my breeding and hatching happens in-doors. My female laid 4 clutches last year about 33-34 days apart - her first ever. This year she has laid 2 clutches 29 days apart and today marks day 28. Two days ago she started pacing as she usually does when she is getting ready and she even started to try to dig on her enclosure floor. I quickly uncovered her dirt area and she dug for a moment and then moved away. She has been pacing quite a bit over the past day but no more attempting to dig that I have noticed. Here is the thing - I AM GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND!! Normally i hire the neighbor boy to feed and water them when we are out of town, but this is beyond his skills. It really is more like midwifing. My female has never found or chosen to dig in the dirt on her own - even when I confine her to that area. She always tries to dig on the plywood floor RIGHT NEXT TO the dirt. Everytime I have had to move her quickly over to the dirt when i find her digging and then eventually after doing this a few times she stays there and digs. I simply have not found a better way yet.
What should i do? I am 95% certain she will not find the dirt on her own and lay eggs. Will she be OK for 3 days in this state? Once she gets the urge to lay eggs, how long can she go before there is trouble? Hours, days, a week? Please pass on advice if you have it - thanks, Ben
What should i do? I am 95% certain she will not find the dirt on her own and lay eggs. Will she be OK for 3 days in this state? Once she gets the urge to lay eggs, how long can she go before there is trouble? Hours, days, a week? Please pass on advice if you have it - thanks, Ben