Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bred a normal female to a bumblebee and to a pinstripe. She laid 14 beautiful eggs. So far I have lost 5 of them. Never lost one of her eggs before. I have opened 4 and found spider-patterned babies in three of them and the other was 'patternless' ??? - maybe just hadn't developed a pattern yet. The 5th bad egg is under some good eggs. They are due to hatch this Friday or Saturday.

Is this 'normal' for spider babies to expire in the egg, presumable due to their defect? I'm bummed!
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.

I have bred spiders for 5yrs. I haven't lost one during incubation...knock on wood. I do know that individuals that are under developed will have reduced/funky patterns or may even be patternless depending on the stage of development. I'm sorry for your loss but would not blame a morph for the outcome in this case. Luck of the draw if all elements were optimal.
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

Thanks. I so bummed! The one I opened yesterday was about half size and may have been a bumblebee. WE did have a power failure that lasted overnight a few weeks ago and their temp got down to 81 degrees. That wouldn't have been the cause of the earlier three eggs, tho. OH, well, nine eggs isn't a bad clutch size.
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.