Geckos Lay Eggs At BAMZ Madagascar Exhibit

The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] recently announced the beginnings of new life in the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo’s Madagascar Exhibit, with both their Giant Day Geckos and Leaf-Tailed Geckos laying eggs.

The Bermuda Zoological Society newsletter said, “Female Giant Day Geckos will typically deposit a clutch of two eggs about 25-30 days after mating.

“The female rolls her first egg between her hind feet until it has hardened. As soon as this has happened, the second egg will follow, which the female presses into the first while it is still moist.

“Due to its calcium deposit, the two eggs cement themselves to each other, resulting in a characteristic ‘double egg’. Clutches can be expected at intervals of 25-30 days.”

The Giant Day Gecko [photo courtesy Sara Westhead]:

“Incubation normally takes 60-80 days, and it takes 30-60 minutes for a gecko to hatch. Normally, the second hatchling will emerge from its shell 24-48 hours after the first.

“In our exhibit, we house one male and two females whom appear very happy – so happy they have been laying eggs nearly every month. Eggs are usually laid on top of a planter or behind a leaf. At the moment, we have eight eggs in four clutches incubating.”

The Malagasy Leaf-Tailed Gecko [photo courtesy Sara Westhead]:

“Malagasy Leaf-tailed Geckos will usually deposit two eggs in the substrate, covered under loose foliage. They will not lay if they cannot find a suitable site, and have been known to reabsorb their eggs. Eggs will hatch after 70-120 days, and hatchlings usually weigh 1-3 grams.

“In our exhibit, we house one male and two females, and our last successful egg laying was on August 18, 2013, with hatchlings emerging on November 5, 2013. Only one survived and is now nearly 5 months old. There is also one other egg incubating.”

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