General Care Discussion :: Nesting Q's

[BullDog]

So with my first female, I'm doing all my research on nesting and egg laying.
Read the reproduction page from the main site, plus a heap of old post, but still managed to think of few Q's.

First, for the 50/50 sand/organic mixture, is potting soil ok? And should the sand be washed or anything?
Should the substrate be moist or dry?
Is it something that I can have mixed up and ready in a big container, then just bring it out when she exhibits the signs of being gravid?
Should I put the uv light over the nesting area when she's in there?

And as an update, I haven't seen her basking yet, but it's only her 3rd day here, and I realized the light wasn't close enough for it to be warm enough.
But she's been totally snarffing the cuttlebone, but not much veggies yet.

[RunninWideOpen]

i've not been through the nesting routine yet with my girls, but i thought i'd bump your post back to the top for ya.

i'm planning on using top soil (not potting soil per say, which usually has fertilizer in it), and keeping the soil moist.

you don't need to do anything really unless she's showing signs. My big girls are 6" and they still haven't laid for the first time. It still could be years before they do.

[BullDog]

Thanks for the bump
That's a good point about the potting soil have fert in it. Never thought of that.
The only thing about not having something at least semi-ready is if it happens in the winter, I can't exactly go dig some soil from the garden when it's frozen solid under 2 feet of snow
Hmm, maybe I can find some sort of bagged soil that doesn't have fert in it.

[RunninWideOpen]

I buy bagged top soil all the time, just dirt, no additives. I use it for my box turtles.

smart to think about being prepared during the winter though. i don't have that issue here.

[steve]

I'd say have a place you can go outside as a backup. A majority of the female RES on this site do not enjoy indoor nesting areas.