Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Approximately a year ago I acquired Fred Albury's prized pair of eastern indigos (thanks again Fred). This past winter they bred and the female laid a batch of 12 eggs; two infertile right from the get go. The rest of the eggs seem to be more whitish-yellowish than the other indigo females I use for breeding which are more ivory/white in color. The eggs seem otherwise healthy and "normal". Any thoughts? I guess I will find out in another 85 days! Rob

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
1401 Middlefork Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
847-615-4388 office
847-283-8563 fax

Rob,

Many of my fertile eastern and TX eggs that hatch into perfect babies are that "ivory" or even beige-ish.

Some clutches seem more white, but the color doesn't usually seem to be a factor one way or the other...at least in my group.

I've observed that color is not an issue. We know that texture, granular, is key. Viable eggs will increase dramtically in size during the first month.

Shape as well. The mis-shapen, pointy-type eggs are almost always infertile.

That's true....but you will find that they actually lose length and gain girth and weight. Here are some stats:

Drymarchon corais rubidus eggs deposited 4/6/04.

Total clutch 9 eggs, 1 was infertile.

At parturition
Length/Diameter/weight
(mm)/(mm)/(gm)
1) 49.07/26.97/22.67
2) 45.49/28.62 /19.84
3) 59.69/29.69/34.01
4) 54.66/29.31/28.34
5) 73.91/30.98/42.52
6) 53.43/28.42/28.30
7) 67.18/30.73/39.68
8) 55.22/28.88/28.30
9) 79.27/30.88/45.36

At 30 days
Length/Diameter/weight
(mm)/(mm)/(gm)
1) 47.9/31.37/25.51
2) Infertile
3) 56.48/33.57/36.85
4) 52.20/33.45/31.18
5) 69.44/35.08/51.02
6) 49.53/35.25/31.19
7) 62.35/37.18/48.19
8) 51.51/33.88/31.18
9) 74.12/34.11/51.02

Incubation medium is 1:1 vermiculite/water by weight, incubation temperatures are 81 degrees f. days with a night drop to 78 degree f.