Gravid Western Fence Lizard

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

i caught a gravid fence lizard and i've decided ill let her have her eggs, feed her and let her go, incubate the eggs then let them go once they hatch, just as a fun little project, so for an incubator is a large deli cup with vermiculite at 80 degrees F (from a heat lamp) with saran wrap on the top good? if i give it air every week? also what should the humidity be?
thanks,
Reed

[Loren]

First, you will need to get her to lay the eggs in a way tha they dont dry out before you get to them. I would provide an egg laying box, filled will either moist vermiculite, or moist soil. She might be more likely to use soil, but vermiculite is nice and clean. So your choice.
Either way, she might decide just to drop the eggs wherever she is sitting at the time, so I like to keep the rest of the cage just a little bit moist when shes ready to lay, to give me a little time to find the eggs before they dry out. Just dont make it so moist and humid that she gets health problems.
Plastic containers with lids or plastic wrap will work for incubation- not much over 80- 78-82 degrees is about right. If they get much hotter than that, they will turn reddish and die. I incubate them on the bottom shelf in my reptile room- no incubator, mid 70's night, low 80's day.
Should take 6-8 weeks to hatch. The vermiculite should be moist enough to clump, but not moist enough to squeeze water out of it. Open the egg container every 3-5 days for a few seconds of fresh air. I dont normally have to add moisture after I get them set up, but keep an eye on them.

The eggs will grow if all is right. The eggs on the Left were laid a couple weeks before the ones on the right.


Here's one poking his head out.


And crawling out.


And on my hand.


And for size reference...

[Snake lover 3-25]

Awwwwwww Sooooooo Cute!!!!! I Want 1!!!!!!

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

is moss good for incubating the eggs?