Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, back on the 17th I had posted that Stumpy had laid some eggs that were fathered by Luke, the dragon I got in an exchange with Joe.

Since then I had noticed that some of the other females were looking a bit plump and puffy. Last week it became obvious that Jewel and Cedar were gravid and would be laying very soon. For Jewel this is her first clutch and she is my F1 captive bred and she had only been with D2 and Tuck, also captive bred.

We had to go out of town for a family affair and I knew I didn't dare leave Cedar and Jewel in the same viv or I would never be able to tell the eggs apart once they were laid. As per Murphy's law they were both bound to lay while we were gone for the 4-day trip so I separated them to be safe. We arrived home late Monday and sure enough, there were 12 eggs in the big viv where Cedar was and there were 18 in with Jewel. Both moms look great and ate nightcrawlers even though it was past their bed time

I had the 3 clutches from Lil' Darla, captive bred to captive, but none were fertile. I had a hunch they were infertile due to the color when I candled them but had to give them a shot anyway. Well, this is not the case with the eggs that Jewel laid. I can not be sure that all are fertile as some don't look as pink as others but it is obvious that some of the eggs are fertile as they glow a strong pink color when candled. Hurrah!!! Yippee!! I am really expecting to see some F2 babies in about 6 months! I am really excited! Also, this means I will have babies for some of the people who have contacted me looking for dragons! Whoopee!!!!!

Marcia

Congradulations
maybe by the time they are big U and I can do an exchange
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

I don't know that you will have babies by then but you never know, we may be able to work something out

Marcia

I have babies now
not captive bred, but still young ones
On the topic
Erowen is pretending to not move, and even though I have treated her for the parasites her belly is still really puffy
I have soaked her twice, the second time she did not poop, and I fear I M stressing her for nothing
how long after copulation will they drop eggs?
she is big, but I do not see any lumpyness, maybe she is not gravid (but most WC are right?)
are they supposed to have a big pendulous belly?
I will get pics this week, and put them up
maybe I M worrying over nothing
She just does not move much, stays in the same place, on the same stick, for DAYS (or so it seems)
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

Not all WC females are gravid, it is just real common. If she is large enough to be gravid it takes 4 months for the eggs to develop enough to be laid. The smallest I have had lay was just a bit over 4" snout to vent.

I would try not to stress her too much. Maybe eliminate the soaks except for when you give meds.

Looking forward to pics,

Marcia

Great news. Given your experience do you expect two more clutches from this female? A crop of 30 F2's sounds wonderful! Look forward to keeping tabs.

I am hoping so. When Lil' Darla laid hers there were 3 clutches totaling 27 eggs. Unfortunately all were infertile. So, I am hoping that Jewel will lay another clutch or two. She is my largest CB and if it weren't for her horns she would be hard to tell apart from my WC. She laid a large clutch, 18 eggs, so there could easily be more than 30 if she does lay another clutch or two.

My record for one female has been 65 eggs in 4 clutches and 52 eggs in 3 clutches from a given individual female.

I look forward to your updates and will keep all updated here as well.

Marcia

Wow that is really great to hear. I am excited for you!! I am hoping to find my female armata gravid soon as I have been seeing some displaying and chasing, and that will be some good news for me. Rusty (the gravid female I have) has still not laid yet and she stopped eating about 5 days ago. I was getting a little worried about her until yesterday when she started digging a few different holes. I just checked on her and she has her head stuffed into one of those holes and I am hoping will be laying today. I will post a new message if she does! Congrats marcia!
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Joe
joebradbury@attbi.com
aim and yahoo messenger - UTDstud18

I do hope the armata is gravid, we need more info on them. We already know the temperament is different but that's about all.

I'm glad to hear your girl is digging. I am always a nervous wreck until they lay. You can probably imagine how difficult it was to leave for 4 days knowing my girls were ready to lay any day. I am so relieved that they both did well.

Do keep us posted, we need more captive!

Marcia