My female gecko is egg bound. How do I help her lay eggs safely?

Try soaking her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This may aid in egg laying as well as provide hydration. A gentle abdominal massage may help expel the egg. If this doesn't help, she should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet sooner rather than later.

An egg bound gecko will be lethargic, won't eat and may continue to strain in an effort to lay eggs. The key to prevention is to minimize stress, provide proper environmental parameters and diet and provide a lay box or area for her to deposit her eggs when she is ready. You can read more about egg binding at the link below. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=17+1796&aid=3010

If she is straining to lay, she could be egg bound. She should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Incubation time is temperature dependent but typically averages around 70 days.

Ideally, a female crested gecko should be in the 35-40 gram weight range and at least 18 months old. If she's never been with a male, the eggs will be infertile. If she was previously mated, it is possible she may have retained sperm. Female cresties can retain sperm for 6 months or longer. A gravid female will typically lay just two eggs every month during breeding season. Egg binding can be characterized by. A swollen abdomen, lethargy, loss of appetite and frequent straining to lay. This condition should be addressed immediately by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. You can read more about breeding and egg care here: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/How-to-Breed-Crested-Geckos/

The black dot could be the kidney or liver visible through the skin. This is normal and no cause for concern. Eggs in a gravid female are easily seen through the skin as well. The female may become lethargic, hide more and eat less. Provide a lay box for her to deposit her eggs. A plastic container filled with moist peat moss or vermiculite should be placed in the cage.

Thanks for reaching out about Emmy and including photos. You might want to syringe water, offer food via hand-feeding. Is she digging a nest site in the dirt? Calcium deficiencies can easily lead to egg stasis and binding. Insects are notoriously poor in calcium (lacking bones). Typically gravid females who are healthy are still active (digging an nest, etc.) but might not eat. If she remains weak, egg laying might need to be induced. Good luck.

If Big Momma is pregnant, she will need a warmed hiding space with moss inside to lay her eggs. If she doesn't have a suitable space, she will try to rearrange her home until she makes one, which could be stressful for her. Geckos are commonly nocturnal, so being more tired during the day and active at night is not entirely unusual. Be sure she gets crickets every other day that are properly gut-loaded for 24 hours before offering them to her while she's pregnant. She will likely lay 1-2 eggs about 16-20 days after she mated, and she might lay more eggs every 16-20 days for 4-5 months. Good luck, and I hope Big Momma does well!