This latest bunch were incubated at room temperature, which was always between 82 and 84. The bunch before suffered a heat spike with the AC failed. My guess now, due to the fact that I got more deformed babies, is that it is pharmacological in nature.... some environmental poison is probably responsible. Perhaps the water fed the momma snakes caused problems, or the water fed the feeders (same water), or the ant spray hubby used outside the mouse house that the mice got ahold of. My earlier disappointments caused me to re-examine all of the practices that I have followed and I've changed a lot of things. The snakes AND the mice drink bottled water now, no pesticides are sprayed near the mice or the snakes, and hopefully no further AC failures will effect the snakes. I even plan to use a different male for all but one control breeding. Next year I'm going to change the way I incubate the eggs and try to keep the eggs from actually touching the vermiculite substrate on the off chance it is the substrate that is causing the problems. The most baffling part of the problems I had is that the kingsnake eggs, laid within five days of the corn eggs, suffered much fewer problems. I lost a whole clutch (but the female was gravid during the AC failure, putting her in distress), and the other clutch of 12 only got 9 to hatch out, but those 9 are perfect in every way.

In any case, If I continue to have luck with kings next year, and BAD luck with corns, then I think I'll be planning to sell my corns and stick with kings. BUT, I hope with the variety of changes I will be making, I will avoid whatever caused my tragedies this year.
-----
~Sasheena

[ Show Entire Thread ]