Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Came home today to find my amel female had laid 6 eggs - all are brown and yellowish which I'm interpreting as infertile; none are white(photo attached, sorry its not that good). I was not expecting the eggs at this time - she was bred on May 4 - just 23 days ago - and she hadn't shed yet. I was anticipating the shed to give me an indication to "get ready". She was only bred that one time so there is no way she could have been impregnated at an earlier date so I'm a bit puzzled?

My first time attempt at breeding may not turn out to be a complete bust - I have another female which was bred at the same time - she appears geting ready to shed. I have my fingers crossed in anticipation - I hope it works out.

Thanks for listening,
Jim

. . . it's not possible to say precisely what went wrong, but here are the usual suspects.

1. She still has some good eggs that she'll give you six to ten days after the impending shed. Of course, it's possible she gave you all she had, and if large orbs are not obvious, six is probably all you're getting. By virtue of their small size, infertile ova are difficult to "hold". If there are fertile eggs still in her, the oviduct is holding them until they're ready for oviposition.

2. You bred her too late, rendering the eggs incapable of receiving sperm.

3. Your male had dead sperm from over-exposure to heat.

The 23 days after copulation is in the realm of fertile potentiality, so number 3 above is the likely scenario.

Good luck,

Don
South Mountain Reptiles

Don - thanks for the insight, I really appreciate it. #3 could be the issue - the female was brumated - the male was not - maybe the sprm was affected by the temps?

I have my fingers crossed that the next female produces some good ones - her shed is impending - she was also brumated - same male was used.

Thanks again,
Jim

Let us know what happens.

Don
South Mountain Reptiles

Curious why you did not brumate the male? Does he belong to someone else? I know many people will say Brumation is not needed for corns and some other colubrids as well but I have found that if they don't brumate you will get varied results.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

No good reason why the male didn't brumate. I picked him up late November - it was easier for me to keep him separated from the others in a different room for a few months without brumating him - maybe not a logical reason but that was it?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and respond,
Jim