Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last night one of my females dropped her babies(mostly ovum). It was sad to see her work so hard and push out 8 unfertilized and only 3 babies. 1 of the babies was too small and is dead this morning. Another is full term but showing no signs of life and the other is small but very active. They are all still in their yolk sac. Should the bigger one be moving or how long will he stay in this state, He does not move if you touch him, although he had moved yesterday. The little one has a ton of yolk left and quite a bit of fluid in the sac with it. Are these guys doomed? This was her first litter, are these low rates my fault or typical?
thanks Matt

Does not sound promising. On the larger one, tear open the sack immediately!! Poke and prod it to see of you can get it moving. On the smaller one with lots of yolk, keep it damp and also open the sack. if it survives the next day or so, you will want to remove the remaining yolk.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Just wanted to check back and see how they are doing, hopefully doing well.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for asking. The large one was dead and had not developed all the way. Very strange, about the right size but his eyes had not developed and the other one was developed completely externally but was just to small. They are all dead. Sort of stinks but makes me want to perfect this so it does not happen again. Are these things normal for a first litter or are there things I could have done different?

Sorry (but not surprised) to hear that. Probably best they went quick.

IMO it's never "normal" for a litter to perish like that. Yes, sometimes it just happens. Sometimes it's in the genes of the parents. More often than not I would look to the specifics of environment for breeding. Was there a cooling cycle, if so what was it and what could/should be done differently. Temps and humidity while gravid. Food. etc.

Look here for details on how I breed mine but understand, some details may need to be different for you to get the best results in your location.

my breeding care sheet
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats