Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My western hognose laid 19 eggs (18 good, i hope! and 1 slug)six weeks ago. she was quite thin after laying, so i've been feeding her up and have not reintroduced her to the male. However, she had a shed 9 days ago and is acting very suspiciously-racing around the cage, burrowing constantly etc- i.e doing exactly the same things she did just prior to laying the last clutch. I've heard that westerns can lay a second clutch using stored sperm- how common is this, and is it possible this soon after the last clutch? I'm kind of hoping this isn't the case, as it can't be very good for her to have a second clutch after losing so much weight from the last clutch. On the other hand, her behaviour is a little worrying if it isn't due to her being about to lay. Any information/experiences gratefully received.

Thanks

Jo

Question answered!

Evelyn (the hognose) has just laid two more eggs, and there are more near her vent. Hope she comes out of this OK. I'll 'feed her up' obviously, but is there any other 'aftercare' anyone else can suggest? I really am worried that two clutches this close together is too much.

Thanks

Jo

Dust all her food with calcium and vitamins. That will help her replace what she has lost during egg production. I start dusting the food for my females when they start breeding.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Thanks Jenea,

I'll definately get out to the pet shop tommorrow and buy some (its the middle of the night at the moment-UK). Evelyn's laid 5 now and seems to be doing OK. Do you have any suggestions about which supplements I should buy/ dosages etc?

really grateful for your help

Jo

I use Rep-cal and Reptivite. I just put 1/8 tsp of each in a deli cup and jostle the mice around in it until they are covered. I do this once a week, even though I feed twice a week when they are gravid. I basically double the food and dust when they are breeding. I have almost no slugs with my females, and they all maintain a good weight throughout the breeding season. Taht is just the way that I do it. Some breeders might have other methods.

With your girl having double clutched, I would give her a little boost with the vitamins to help her rebound faster.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

You may find that as you did not remate her that the fertility rate falls, but you will get some fertile eggs. Good Luck.
-----
www.hognose.co.uk

thanks everyone. It's now five am and she's laid 8 good looking eggs and five slugs so far. I'm thinking she must be narly finished...

Jo

would you recommend this for corns also?

I use it for any female that will eat while gravid. For females that do not eat while gravid, I do this before they breed. Just think of it a prenatal vitamins.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown