Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This year i bred my female and albino corns to the same male just like i did last year. I got 22 eggs from one and 21 from another. Now they both are double clutching and both are laying slugs. I kept my male with them for about 5 days each. Was that to little? Should i not breed one male to 2 or more females? Also, I lost about 10 eggs from both females first clutches, i have them in a incubater that's set at 80 degrees. Last year i did the same thing and lost i think 7. They seem to be drying out. I'm thinking about useing greem moss next year to try to get better results. What do you think?

This year i bred my female and albino corns to the same male just like i did last year. I got 22 eggs from one and 21 from another. Now they both are double clutching and both are laying slugs. I kept my male with them for about 5 days each. Was that to little?

You mean 5 days way back before they laid the original clutches... or 5 days after they laid their clutches? hard to answer without specifics.

Should i not breed one male to 2 or more females?

This is my first year breeding corns. I had two females in the same communal tank with one male, when I got a third female to breed to him, I pulled the first two females. (they'd been with him for a couple of months). All three females laid their eggs within a five day period. One has double clutched (small but fertile clutch). I think that he could have bred all three a second time for second clutches if he had been given an opportunity, but he was only put with one female for an opportunity at a second clutch, from right after her post lay shed up to her next shed, then I pulled him. Some males, however, do have more or less to give!

Also, I lost about 10 eggs from both females first clutches, i have them in a incubater that's set at 80 degrees. Last year i did the same thing and lost i think 7. They seem to be drying out. I'm thinking about useing greem moss next year to try to get better results. What do you think?

It does sound like you might want to examine the technique of how you are using the incubator. What type of substrate did you use? What humidity levels did you maintain? I put mine on the shelf and just wait for them to hatch in their own time. (Still waiting).
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~Sasheena

Some males can handle more females than others. And it may be that you didn't catch the females at the right time for their second clutch. Also, the male may not have done his "duty" with the girls on the second round (unless you saw them connect). I know that I bred an 02' first time breeding male to three of my females and all laid furtile eggs and one is double clutching without a rebreeding and I am waiting to see if these are furtile from held over sperm. I had another first time male breed two females and one of the females double clutched without a rebreeding and all eggs were furtile, but this one could lay all slugs, we'll see. But if you were only breeding him to two females and then rebreeding after a long rest, I don't see why he should have a problem. That is why I wonder if you missed the opportune time for the second breeding.

About the eggs. One question is....are you sure all the eggs were furtile, because if some weren't then they would dry out as time went on. If they were all furtile, then how do you have them in the incubator? What medium and in what type of container? I also use an incubator and I put the eggs in tuperware containers in moist perlite and cover them and leave them - no holes in the containers and they stay moist and hatch out fine.

Well, hope some of this helps and good luck with your eggs/hatchlings.