Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Both adults have changed, while Fawn, the yearling has not. Otis has been head-bobbing so much the last few weeks he must be dizzy. He has also has starting pacing the front of the cage and digging constantly. He has worn 3 or 4 claws off of each front foot doing this. Why, when he has normally been such a laid-back guy? He is eating ok, but just seems stressed out. Saige is eating a lot more than usual and getting fat. She has normal bowel movements so I do not worry about a blockage. She spends a lot of her time in the cave instead of her usual basking and hanging out. She had a clutch on July 13 and had very red markings then. Most have faded and are gone now, but a few salmon patches have remained. Sometimes I think she looks lumpy, other times I don't see it. I have seen Otis try and mount her and the poor girl has a couple small injuries on her head that look like bite marks. Could she be gravid without getting the red bars even though she did last time? What are the signs of ovulation? How long after ovulation will she want to mate? And how long after mating will she lay her eggs? Is there another reason they could be acting like this?
On the other hand, the hatchling is 2 weeks old today and eating and growing like crazy. I dropped in a cricket that came with the small ones I purchased; I thought it way too big and was surprised to see it immediately gobbled up before I could fish it back out! Thanks for your input. Valerie

I Have emailed you back the answers to your questions twice now.
I dont understand why your not getting them.

Anyway what I said was, One of my females, Hopi, the mom of the little Kashaya baby I have posted, is gravid again, very large, but this time her orange was not very bright either.
But gravid just the same.

They can lay 3-4 clutches in a season, usually 3 but this is Hopi's fourth, poor thing.

After breeding they lay 22- 24 days later. They can lay another clutch 3-4 weeks after that.
But I find with some it is longer. My C. Bicinctores female is also gravid again, but she layed about 1 1/2 months ago.

So it is possible your girl is gravid again. She will start digging like crazy soon if so. Also you asked in one of your mails, if they retain sperm. The answer is YES, they do.

As far as your male, somtimes they do the glass dancing thing, looks as though they want out, but if they are out some will scratch the glass to get in. Weird.

He may just be SUPER CHARGED sexually right now, if he is head bobing and mounting his mate. Are his toes infected or sore? Or are they just worn down?
If he continues to be freaking, maybe take him out and put him by himself for awhile will calm him some.

I have an egyptian uromastyx that scratches at night when the lights are out, her nails are worn down and a couple off also.

I 'm glad the baby is growing and doing so well, they are adorable to watch.
-----
___

Eve / PHEve

Sorry, but I don't understand why I don't get your emails either. I sure appreciate the answers, though.
So if the lizards retain sperm is one male the father of all their clutches in a season? Or can a subsequent clutch be fetilized by another male? This has me thinking about litters of puppies with different fathers!!
Otis' claws are worn, but the digits themselves look ok.
Thanks for writing. Valerie

that several males can fertilize the eggs. You would stand a better chance of having them all hatch this way.

( I believe this is true ) But who the father would be would be anybodies guess or everybody, heheheheheheh

I dont know, we will have to find this one out!
-----
___

Eve / PHEve

I wonder if they retain sperm just for a season or how long? If longer, then I will never know who the father of Saige's future hatchlings are!! Good thing Fawn didn't come into season with all the boys we had visiting over the summer! Saige shed her skin today and is nice and soft and FAT! I have to hope she is gravid or I will have to find a lizard chapter of Overeaters Anonymous for her!