Gestation

[amcurls]

I recently purchased a pair of T. Gigas and the seller said that they had breed. The female is showing behavior described as pregnancy, i.e. hideing in substrat, eating more than male, ect. What is the gestration period for a gigas? Her enclosure is about 80F on the cool end and about 95 F in basking area, humidity 65 to 75 .

[Christi Rose]

I'm pretty sure in the caresheet it says that the humidity isn't supposed to exceed 45-50%.

[Zach]

I recently purchased a pair of T. Gigas and the seller said that they had breed. The female is showing behavior described as pregnancy, i.e. hideing in substrat, eating more than male, ect. What is the gestration period for a gigas? Her enclosure is about 80F on the cool end and about 95 F in basking area, humidity 65 to 75 .

Gestation is around 100 days for most species of BTS, and very often longer. Sometimes up to 150 days.

Temps sound good, and while Gigas species are from the tropics and have higher humidity in the wild, they are at ground level (and spend some time underground) where humidity is not as high continuously. I would lower the humidity a bit if it were me. Some think just because they are from Indonesia that they spend 24/7 in 80% humidity. Isn't necessarily true.

Good luck! Baby gigas would be splendid!

[NomadOfTheHills]

I think that's more of a general rule based on Zach's observations, as a safe point for newbies.

However, Indo's come from high humidity forests, where at night the humidity hits 100%. While I wouldn't mist to raise humidty, I don't think 65-75% will hurt.

What is your substrate?

[Zach]

Haha, I just added more to my post. Remember that they are at groundlevel. Humidity is much lower on the ground, and it isn't high humidity year-round everywhere. To just sit in a cage week after week in 75% humidity is MUCH different than natural fluctuating levels in the wild.

[NomadOfTheHills]

That is true, but I think we need to find out more information about the situation.

Humidity cycles, from 100% at night, probably to no more than 50 at midday.

Its interesting though, I would think humidity would be higher near the ground, away from the dessicating rays of the sun.

[Bird_Brain]

That is true, but I think we need to find out more information about the situation.

Humidity cycles, from 100% at night, probably to no more than 50 at midday.

Its interesting though, I would think humidity would be higher near the ground, away from the dessicating rays of the sun.

Not only that, but wouldnt the humid air (air with water) be heavier than normal air, thus making it settle more at ground level? I know when I had the humidifier going in my iguana cage, I could see the "fog" or humid air being blown up into the air and then settling back down.

I would think that the humidity would be higher at ground level. Zach, why do you say that the humidity would be lower at ground level? Just curious.

[Geoff Gates]

John,

Why do you think there would be 100% humidity at night?

As an Aussie & keen surfer I've been to a few of the Indo islands (usually during June, July, August) and i can tell you that what usually occurs is only a brief shower of rain (that might be heavy) at 3 o'clock.

It is humid (being in the tropics) but no way known would there be 100% humidity at those times of the year. Just an observation.

Maybe at times during 'the wet' season would there be lengthy periods of very high humidity.

[amcurls]

I thank you folks for your guidance. The humidity level does vary from day to day and even from location in enclosure, i.e. highest near water bowl ( tera-cotta plant dish, midrange near hide, low range on basking rock). I also fog about once a week, which they seem to enjoy. I also periodically check weather in Merauke (link on this site).

[Marie]

Disclaimer: meteorology is not my thing.

Weathermen report relative humidity, right? Relative humidity is the amount of water in the air relative to the amount of water the air can hold at a certain temp. The higher you go in altitude, the cooler the air, and cooler air holds less water. This means that the relative humidity higher in the atmosphere would be higher than closer to the ground. I was wondering... Do you think it would be better for the reptiles if we monitored dew point than relative humidity? Dew point refers to the temp at which the water in the air evaporates at the same rate it condenses. Warmer air holds more moisture...

[Shadowfax]

Has someone been using google?

[Marie]

Has someone been using google?

yahoo!

[Christi Rose]

Disclaimer: meteorology is not my thing.

Weathermen report relative humidity, right? Relative humidity is the amount of water in the air relative to the amount of water the air can hold at a certain temp. The higher you go in altitude, the cooler the air, and cooler air holds less water. This means that the relative humidity higher in the atmosphere would be higher than closer to the ground. I was wondering... Do you think it would be better for the reptiles if we monitored dew point than relative humidity? Dew point refers to the temp at which the water in the air evaporates at the same rate it condenses. Warmer air holds more moisture...

Wow I feel dumb, I just taught a class on weather and I don't get anything you just said

[NomadOfTheHills]

John,

Why do you think there would be 100% humidity at night?

As an Aussie & keen surfer I've been to a few of the Indo islands (usually during June, July, August) and i can tell you that what usually occurs is only a brief shower of rain (that might be heavy) at 3 o'clock.

It is humid (being in the tropics) but no way known would there be 100% humidity at those times of the year. Just an observation.

Maybe at times during 'the wet' season would there be lengthy periods of very high humidity.

I forgot about the dry/wet seasons near the tropics...

Anyway, this is where I recieved my information, page 191 of the bluey bible, "The natural habitats of the animals are marked by a relative mean humidity of more than 70% in the afternoon (Grunewald et al. 1982). This degree of constant humidity is no easy to maintain and is usually only achieved by reducing ventilation. As, however, Tiliqua gigas also does well at lower humidity levels, it may be acceptable to compromise to maintain only a humidity of above 40% during the day, and mist the terrarium thoroughly in the morning before, and in the evening later, the heaters and lights are switched on and off, respectively. This causes the humidity to rise to 70-80% at night and decrease again in the day. Goresman (1998) also noted that the animals appear to feel well at nightly humidity levels of 100%. If the diseases of the breathing system are noted, the humidity must be raised during the day also."


Hmm, I guess I remembered that passage incorrectly.

[Fatal_S]

Wow I feel dumb, I just taught a class on weather and I don't get anything you just said

I feel smart ^.^ After years of pilot meteorology training, I understand that totally! Good thing too considering I'm teaching it to the groundschool future-pilots now. The best thing about meteorolgy is clouds! I love pointing to a cloud and explaining what type it is, if it's gonna rain, what fronts are moving where. Met can be so much fun!

Marie, I'm going to think about what you said, and then I'll respond.

I forgot about the dry/wet seasons near the tropics...

Anyway, this is where I recieved my information, page 191 of the bluey bible, "The natural habitats of the animals are marked by a relative mean humidity of more than 70% in the afternoon (Grunewald et al. 1982). This degree of constant humidity is no easy to maintain and is usually only achieved by reducing ventilation. As, however, Tiliqua gigas also does well at lower humidity levels, it may be acceptable to compromise to maintain only a humidity of above 40% during the day, and mist the terrarium thoroughly in the morning before, and in the evening later, the heaters and lights are switched on and off, respectively. This causes the humidity to rise to 70-80% at night and decrease again in the day. Goresman (1998) also noted that the animals appear to feel well at nightly humidity levels of 100%. If the diseases of the breathing system are noted, the humidity must be raised during the day also."


Hmm, I guess I remembered that passage incorrectly.

Wait, I was under the impression that RIs tend to be connected with High Humidity levels. If so then why on earth would we raise humidity if we see signs of an RI? I'm confused.

[NomadOfTheHills]

See, it depends on the species. For shingles and such, RI comes from high humidity. But for species fro naturally humid places, more humidity is needed. For many species of python, RI are caused from too well ventilated enclosures.

One of my pythons lives in a rubber maid tub, with no screen, just about 20 air holes drilled in.

[Leigh]

100% always makes me laugh, 100%=a puddle

[Marie]

Wow I feel dumb, I just taught a class on weather and I don't get anything you just said

I feel smart ^.^ After years of pilot meteorology training, I understand that totally! Good thing too considering I'm teaching it to the groundschool future-pilots now. The best thing about meteorolgy is clouds! I love pointing to a cloud and explaining what type it is, if it's gonna rain, what fronts are moving where. Met can be so much fun!

Marie, I'm going to think about what you said, and then I'll respond.

I'm glad somebody on here understands weather. All I know is that when the dew point is above 65, I start to get crabby.

[Zach]