Dr. Michaels...I know with your Vet-med background you may have some particularly good insight. I would love to hear anyones opinions of course. Here's my question:

I've got a huge female (over 3600 grams before last breeding) that has been a wonderful breeder for me the past three seasons. In '03 she gave me 10 fertile eggs and 1 slug, in '04 she gave me 9 fertile with no slugs, and again this year (today) she laid 9 good with no slugs (almost 1100 grams worth). Now I know that many folks advocate giving them a year off every now and then, or even every other year. I have always incubated artificially and she has always gotten right back on food within days of laying. She eats like a frieking mule, and I seriously have to cut back in the fall so that she doesnt become obese. Since the number of eggs has been consistant over the years, I feel like shes not getting "used up" or overstressed, but I was just looking for opinions. Would you necessarily give her a year off every so often, or continue to breed her as long as she stays healthy and keeps pumping out large clutches?

Also, on a related note...do you think there is any benifit to letting them maternally incubate a clutch every so often? I always feel a little guilty when I pull eggs from a capable and devoted mother.

Thoughts on these questions.......?

[ Hide Replies ]

• A reproductive husbandry question for Serpentcity and anyone else breeding for a while now...... - JP, Wed Apr 6 18:08:49 2005
• Thanks for asking.... - serpentcity, Wed Apr 6 21:46:50 2005
• RE: Thanks for asking.... - Flora & Fauna, Thu Apr 7 00:32:02 2005
• Big Girls - RandyRemington, Thu Apr 7 07:22:12 2005
• Interesting.....thanks....np - JP, Thu Apr 7 07:25:08 2005
• RE: Big Girls - coldthumb, Thu Apr 7 11:48:41 2005
• RE: Big Girls - RandyRemington, Thu Apr 7 22:52:01 2005
• Thank you ...np - coldthumb, Fri Apr 8 19:22:08 2005
• RE: Thanks for asking....( a couple of pictures of her) - JP, Thu Apr 7 07:20:15 2005