Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my Alterna started laying at about 10am this morning. I just checked her and she has 14 good eggs out, no slugs, and it looks like there is another 3 or 4 more eggs still in her.

Before this my highest alterna egg count was 13, has anyone ever get 17/18 eggs from one of your girls???

I don't think it's a record or anything, but i am curious to know how common it is..

~ Mike Russo

These were taken yesterday 6/3. She started at 10am and the last 2 eggs were laid at around midnight last night.

She finished up with 17 good eggs and no slugs. Then she took a meal this morning with no problem at all.. She is indeed a trooper!

~ Mike Russo

The most fertile eggs I've ever gotten was eleven.

Wow! Way to go Mike. What kind of fertility drugs do you have her on??? Most I had ever heard of before was 15 and am not sure they were all fertile. Is your female from a certain locality [looks like a Val Verde county snake] or is it a generic? I would assume its at least an F1 or F2 or more to throw that many eggs. Wild alterna average 4-6. Again congratulations! Brad

Hi Brad,

No fertility drugs.. Just thawed mice!!

What's interesting is that she is a very average sized female and all of the eggs are nice & big. Before this clutch of 17 the most good eggs i ever got from an Alterna was 13.

Good guess on the locality! I picked this female up at a show several months ago and i was told she is a 5 year old Loma Alta who was bred for the first time last year. I grabbed her because i have been getting more interested in the dark alterna's and the price was right!

The Sire (Pictured below) who is also a Loma Alta was produced by Randy Wright and has been in my collection for about 4 years.

Good to hear from you!

~ Mike Russo

Hey Mike,
I give your male a strong 9 on a 1-10 scale. Very very attractive. Let me know when the eggs hatch [mid August]. Good luck.
BA