We were blessed on both the 20th and the 22nd of this month with
litters of beautiful little Redtails. The first was a result of breeding my two best Surinames and the other an absolutely gorgeous Peruvian female sired by a True Redtail male of unknown locale. The parents are my personal stock acquired years ago and were selected for their pattern uniformity and vivid colors. These are their first breedings and....and well...the babies are freakin amazing!!
They were very secretive in their courtship behaviors limited mostly to tail guarding (male laying on or around females)as observable breeding indications, though I did find semen attached to one males vent at one point. I attribute the success of these breeding to several key factors, including but not limited to:
Increased food for the females, decreased for the males. Increased daytime highs and reduced NTL's.
Keeping pairs seperate except during breeding attempts.
Several reintrodutions of the males, often breaking them to feed as noted.
Lots of fresh water.
These as I mentioned were long term captives, so this may also have been a factor.
The mother of the first litter gave birth 120 days after her P.O.S. suggesting to me that due dates probably coincide more with the marked ovulation than shed date.
These are the first True Redtail breedings for us. I posted a few pics in the photo galleries also. Hope everyone is having as much fun. Cheers!
dinopolis
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo 