What's New Pussycat

Apologies once again for being slack.  I thought I would post an update on how things have been going since the momentous last post.  Well, the short answer is they have been pretty much business as usual.

Our clutch of eggs are ticking along nicely from what I can tell.  They look nice enough and none look to have gone bad or have mould on them.  I have opened the containers every week or so to let some fresh air in as advised and they look just as good close up!

I believe Lolly might be gravid again.  It is not uncommon for Dragons to have 2 or 3 clutches in a season from what I understand, so it is not entirely unexpected.  But, here is where it gets interesting.  Next week our family up and flies out for our semi annual holiday to parts far off and exciting.  So let the juggling commence.

I have arranged board and lodgings for Lolly and Booster at Reptiles Inc. for the time we are away.  Additionally I have arrange with my neighbours to watch the incubator for signs of life as it were.  They are under instructions to take the containers to the afore mentioned establishment in the event that the action gets under way before we arrive home.  Had I left the incubator at 29 degrees, we might be seeing little dragons now.  I chose to lower the temperature a little to see if we could draw it out a bit.  I understand that it can take 40-60 days for incubation depending on the temperature.  Higher = faster.  Lower = slower.  26 is as low as I have been recommended to maximise the viability of the eggs.  I stuck with 27 in the hope that we might be able to hold the action off until we return from our holiday.

I have also told the friendly folk at Reptiles Inc. that Lolly could be gravid.  Based on her behaviour in the last few days, I would suggest that she is.  Given the same behaviour last time and the fact that I cannot feel any eggs in her belly as yet, I am hopeful that she will hold on until our return.  Another thing to cross our fingers over.  I am confident that the fine people looking after her will be incredibly capable to care for her and any eggs.  But, it will be so much more satisfying to do it ourselves!

I have added a new link on my recommended sites.  I came across a fantastic looking forum in the last few days.  The Australian Bearded Dragon Forum looks like a very supportive and informative community that is starting to form around a solid core of knowledgeable people.  I would recommend it to anyone who stumbles across my little corner of the intermaweb.

Finally, I have recently taken up Geocaching, which, has seen me out and about in the foot hills around where I live for the first time despite having lived here for over 10 years!  Why does this interest you?  Well the photo in this post is of a beautiful Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) that I saw while out on one of my treasure hunts.  It was one of a couple that I saw that I assume formed part of a colony as that is how they live.  I didn't find the treasure I was looking for on that occasion, but, this was certainly an excellent substitute.