My experience with this species correlates with what Hilde posted to the
list earlier. There are no problems with allowing the eggs to incubate in
place AND uncovered. Do not mist or attempt to remove the eggs is a
mandatory practice. Many gecko species glue their eggs, and it is up to the
laying female to select a spot that favors survival of the hatchlings when
they appear. Despite your fear of hatchlings falling to their deaths,
newborn G. vittatus are thin and certainly not going to break anything by
falling a couple of feet - if they even do. Species such as G. vittatus lay
their eggs on vertical surfaces to greatly eliminate the number of predators
that would normally otherwise eat their eggs. Normally when the offspring
crack open the egg, they typically set with their snout protruding and
adjusting respiratory rates, etc. The skin loosens and frequently they shed
upon emerging from the egg. The babies, with their freshly shed toes, are
at their best condition for scaling vertical surfaces.
I would not worry about where the eggs are laid, and what would happen with
the young when they appear. Your only potential problem is that if you
cease feeding the adults, or calcium starve the female, then they might be
forced to eat the offspring/eggs - and this is exceedingly rare. Some may
recommend keeping the juveniles in with the adults, I would not suggest
doing so unless you are interested in learning the degree of tolerance and
at what age the tolerance ends.
Jon
ps. yes, I have kept and presently do keep this species (for collectively
about 15 years)
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