Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is my favorite female that I have. She's the one I was hoping for a clutch from this year the most. A couple weeks ago I noticed how skinny she was getting though, and have just been trying to get her to eat, not breed. She's been refusing food since late summer and really hasn't been a good eater since laying a clutch 2 years ago. Don't know why, she used to be a pig.

After she laid, she's been my biggest problem feeder(eats, just not consistently at all). She did have appropriate weight at the beginning of the season and locked up with my male cinnamon twice. Apparently it worked cause this is what I saw this evening when I got home from work. Now I'm really concerned though. Look at how skinny her tail is. Anyone think this could be bad?

I don't want anything to happen to her eggs and definitely don't want anything happening to her. She's an awesome breeder. 2 years ago she was only with a male het albino twice and gave me 7 eggs. I would be thrilled about this but look how skinny she is. Nothing I can do now, but do I need to be concerned? Sorry so long. I felt the need to explain. Thanks a lot for any comments. Ryan.

I am no expert but it looks like what is called tail suck. Which is normal. if you go on to markus jayne's site he has pictures and says that is is normal.
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1.0 Het for pied
0.1 Het for Pied
1.5 normal balls
1.1 bearded dragons
0.1.0 Sulcata tort
1.3 kids
1.0 husband
To many little critters list

I see what you mean about the tail, but she really doesent look that bad, i have seen much thinner animals lay with no problems, while i wouldnt recommend breeding an under weight female, they come in under weight and gravid as imports often and i have never experienced or heard of any problems. She should be fine, i would just give her a year off after this year if she dosent start eating well for you ..
Good luck
Kim

She is fine man. There tails sometimes do that when they ovulate. Her is a picture of a female that just ovulated for me, notice the tail. Good luck man hope you get plenty of Cinnies.

That's basically exactly what I was thinking in the back of my mind. Just needed other voices to verify it for me. I'm developing OCD seeing them breeding successfully. I just want to make sure everything is perfect and nothing gets screwed up. I can finally call myself a breeder this year after keeping snakes for 20 years. It's like a whole new realm. I love it. I hope I can prove that black back of hers, as a recessive trait, next time by breeding one of her sons back to her. If she proves out, I've got poor man's clowns, if not, still got cinnies. I got her as a het albino but she didn't prove out 2 years ago, so I'm not gonna focus on that so much. Anyway, thanks for the comfort. Good luck fellow breeders. I'm such a geek for this $h!t : )