Reptile & Amphibian Forums

to double clutch a female, normally you would feed her heavily after she drops her eggs and put the male right back in with her. But what if you miss the opportunity to do this and she goes into her next shed cycle? Is the opportunity lost, or can you still double clutch her by doing the feeding/breeding after she finishes her shed cycle?
-----
Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

Hey Paul,
The opportunity isn't lost but a bit tougher. I've received viable clutches after sheds. The only thing you have to worry about is egg resorbtion or the season changing. I had a ghost last year that was for certain double clutching but it was into Sept and she never laid. She bred successfully this year and deposited an egg from last. I have a few that have shed this year after laying and are still breeding so I think you will be okay. I've never had a problem yet with that.

mgl

Thanks Matt. Many of my hondurans layed while I was on a long vacation so I didn't have the chance to plump them back up for a while.
Hope your season is going well...
-----
Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

Season is going well, just now the waiting game...I can't wait to give that pair I received from you a go, they are very clean

take care
mgl

did you get eggs from them this season? I can't remember if you said they were big enough yet or not...
-----
Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

np

Paul:

Maybe I've been doing this wrong for the past three years but when I double clutch my Hondurans I give the female a full shed cycle before re-introducing her to the male for breeding and then she normally lays her second clutch after the next shed.

for example:

I had a Honduran lay her first clutch on June 1 last year. Her next shed was July 3. She was then introduced to the male three times over the next two weeks. After laying her first clutch and through breeding she was fed heavily. She had her next shed on August 13. Second clutch of eggs laid on August 22. Most times my Hondurans lay their second clutch within a week of their first clutch hatching.

I tend to be a few weeks later tham most so I usually have second clutches hatching as late as mid November.

Rob Haneisen