Posted by:
hiss_n_herps
at Thu Feb 7 23:21:52 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by hiss_n_herps ]
Don,
The deformation in the heads you are seeing is due to the way I had to restrain these guys while I was trying to photograph them. You just can't hold two of these guys still like I was doing with one hand and hold the camera and take the pictures with the other hand and not apply more pressure than you would really prefer to apply. They wanted to twist around in my hand and turn their heads in opposite directions at the same time when I wasn't applying at least a little pressure. No harm done though.
As far as the incubator goes, I think the temps are correct. I didn't double check them with my digital temp probe this time though so the temp inside the egg chamber may have been a little warmer than inside the incubator where the thermometer was. I used a Styrofoam Hovebator incubator to hatch the last two clutches of eggs and they both came out between six and seven weeks. I have used this in the past to incubate Standings Day Geckos which all seemed to hatch in about 45 days (also a bit early) but with no deformities and about equal sexes hatching out. I also used it for tons of baby Leopard Geckos two years ago without any problems. As far as the egg chamber goes, maybe the Hatch-Rite and Sphagnum Moss held the clutch temps up a bit higher than the thermometer actually read or maybe my unit is just getting old. Keep in mind that I did get a higher female ratio in each of the two clutches which also would suggest high incubation temps. I could also believe that this female may have held her eggs a little longer like the Anery Motley female did. I would definitely throw that out there as a big possibility since I didn't have an egg box in the enclosure with her early enough. So if that is the case then it puts incubation at 7 weeks plus which is a bit more believable. I definitely could believe the higher temp theory since I did have one with what I would consider as a major deformity (half way down the back the spine dips down slightly, then back up and then twists to the side at about 30 degrees from the vertical plane).
I'm glad you took the time to reply to this post. I have enjoyed the discussions and I'm glad to hear you think there may be some ultra in there somewhere. That just means I will probably hold back most of the clutch for a few breeding trials. Besides, I would really like to know what the Orange Amel morphs are going to look like. That is unless the rest of my projects really take off. With all of the Boa and Python morphs I'm working I could easily have over 200 babies next season. I told myself not to get started with the corns. Too late for that, I already have 17 corn/milk morphs not including the babies that I hatched out in the last two clutches. I could be up to my armpits in baby snakes next year. OHHH WELL.... I enjoy it.
Thanks for your time and I look forward to more discussion with you in the future.
Chris
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RE: Ultramels . . . - hiss_n_herps, Thu Feb 7 23:21:52 2008