Hey folks, thought I would share some updates and new adventures. Comments as always are VERY welcome!
First an update on the two clutches.
Queenie's 12 eggs were reduced to 10 eggs, with one partly collapsed.... the collapsed egg still shows good veins, but has never plumped up. Therefore I consider that I have 9 good eggs and one questionable. They are due to hatch in 19 days.
Licorice's 15 eggs appear to all be dead. I've still got them on vermiculite, but am thinking of opening a couple of them up to see what there is to see. (is there an embryo? is it all just goop? Is there a live baby in that moldy, seepy, yellow fringed collapsed egg?
New adventures with my cal kings include breeding both these females again. They both have put on excellent weight. I've been feeding them Juvenile rats, and they've been voracious. Yesterday I put Queenie with Jester, who is the sibling to the father of her first clutch. He was old enough to breed last year, but showed no enthusiasm. He was down as the one to breed to her this year, but again, showed no enthusiasm. Finally last night, he showed SERIOUS enthusiasm. She also seemed pretty much into the procedure.... the minute he joined her she lifted her tail and just waited! They were together about four hours. When they finally disconnected there was a few spots of blood. I've heard of this with corns, but can't remember hearing of this with kings. Is this something to be concerned about? I know that it happens from time to time, but normally is nothing to be worried about. I plan on putting Jester with queenie a couple more times.
I put Licorice with Bishop, who was the father of her first clutch that went bad. She also seemed VERY receptive, tail in the air, etc. They were together for nine hours. When I went to pull him out she nabbed me, seemingly quite hungry! I gave her a small rat and she chowed down on him right away. I'll give her a couple of days and then re-introduce her to Bishop. My hope is that with more consistent lower temperatures she will do well and the eggs will be good instead of like the first clutch.
My Pyros have been together on three days together one day apart rotation. They seem to be doing well. But there have been no signs of her being gravid. 
Perhaps next year.
I'm still saving up to hopefully purchase a blotched male old enough to breed next year. My female Blotched/Apalachicola has shown every indication of being recuperated from her slight RI and if I had a male to breed her to, I think she would also be receptive.
Next year I will have four cal king females, 2 blotched females, a pyro, and possibly a couple of floridana. (but probably not). I think that will represent my capacity for being able to breed these guys! I've started to do all the math on the cost of pinkies, and I'm wondering if I have the capacity in my mouse house (12 x 8 foot shed) to raise the necessary critters to feed that many hatchlings!
Anyway, thanks for looking!
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~Sasheena
