Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey i was wondering what you guys think i should about brumating my female lizzy. she had a clutch this summer (didnt work out) and i was wondering if i should breed again next spring. doenst breeding shorten her life span? as much as id love to have little lizzy's running around i dont wanna lose her to shortend lifespan. does anyone have an imput on this. i guess i could brumate her, then not breed her, but tell me what you guys think.thanks
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Guy LoPresti
2.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Adrien)
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion (ceasar "caligula" )
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs (groucho charles bugs Gracie)

Hi Guy, I personally do not brumate EVERY female each year. ( Even that does not mean they will not become gravid, just reduces the chance of fertile eggs somewhat.

I can only say from over the years that I think sometimes (read my recent post about a hatchling) things do not go right and you have problems. But most of the time it works out okay.

When a female continues to have 3 and four clutches a season in my opinion I think it wears on them and zaps energy and definitely calcium, so it is very important to condition them ALL year as far as good food, lighting, suppliments. Several clutches even begins to show in each set of youngsters after awhile, smaller/ weaker hatchlings.

Even if you brumate and do not mate her she will more than likey ovulate/ become gravid and just lay infertile eggs.

I guess what I'm saying is it's up to YOU to try and make sure she's really well nourished/ healthy before you brumate/breed next season, and then let nature take it's course.
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PHEve / Eve

so your saying it doesnt matter if i do it or she will ovulate anyways. so its up to me then to decide if she breeds or not.well i saw what one clutch did to her and it scared me to think about it happening again.shes bounced back quite well. if i condition her well enough could i breed her again, or do you recomend just skipping a season?
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Guy LoPresti
2.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Adrien)
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion (ceasar "caligula" )
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs (groucho charles bugs Gracie)

Eggs are eggs, whether they are fertile or not. You cannot just choose to "skip a season". By not brumating, you may reduce her chances of becoming gravid, but by no means will eliminate the possibility. If she becomes gravid, she still has to produce and lay the eggs whether they are fertile or not, and she will be very skinny afterwards. I know it is scary how skinny they get after laying, but if she bounced right back last time, I wouldn't worry because that all sounds very normal. As Eve said, it is having many clutches in a season that will really wear her down. Brumation is another factor in her health, as it is natural and is what they do when nature dictates their environment. I'm not saying that it is crucial every year; it is just normal for wild lizards. Brumating can be just as scary as the egg laying process.
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Valerie

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.--

God bless the USA

i guess you have a point on that one...it doesnt matter whether i brumate her or not, shes still gonna lay eggs but in terms of breeding her next year i guess thats a up to me in terms of maintainng her longevity...
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Guy LoPresti
2.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Adrien)
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion (ceasar "caligula" )
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs (groucho charles bugs Gracie)