Caring for Pregnant and Gravid Females The next step is caring for gravid or pregnant females. They need to have extra care taken of them to ensure they remain healthy. They must have plenty of food and water so they do not dehydrate or suffer from malnutrition. If your female is an egg-laying species, you should also have an egg-laying container ready at this point. This is simply a large 30 to 40 gallon rubber traschcan filled with 10-12 inches of moist potting soil with a plant potted in it. We prefer to use schefflerras because they are sturdier than ficus benjaminas, which eliminates the need for sticks. Clamp a dome light fixture with a 40-60 watt bulb in it to the side of the container for light. After about a month, the female should have a reduced appetite and a large, bulbous mid-section. We have, however, had females that eat up to the day they deposit their eggs. She may also seem restless, constantly wandering around her cage, and may attempt digging holes in the pot of the plant in her cage. At this point, she should be placed inside the egg-laying container. For large species, however, this gestation time may be longer, up to a few months. In our experience, older females tend to have longer gestation