Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sweetie lay any eggs for you this summer ? How is the breeding project ?

Hey Rhino 5, Sweety laid 16 monsterous eggs on the 3rd. of aug. 5 didn't make it but the rest are beautiful. YESTERDAY two fat babies were born.My first baby rhinos,so the breeding prodject is going great ,thanks for asking.I think it had a lot do with her new mate bruno, whitch I got from david blairs private colection. He is 25 years young and shows no sign of his age. He is massive now at over 20 pounds, so he can handle sweety who is over 14 now.I noticed alot of your eggs didn't make this year, I'm sorry about that, but there is always next season.I you have any sugestions about the new borns, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again Backyard Herps

..and thanks for sharing a little background info on ur herps.
I have yet to see (in person) a rhino over 20lbs. Do you happen to know Bruno's SVL ?
73 Day incubation, that is on the fast side, you must have been running above 86 degrees. Regarding the juveniles, just be careful of dehydration during the first few weeks when they are still very vunerable. hope to see some baby pictures in the future. Again, Congrats and Good Luck.

Thanks so much it is so incredible.I know it seems fast but the temp according to about 5 different electronic sensors, read between 85 and 87 at all times. I personally think she waited longer to lay them do to the new male. I had to give her a nest site outside the cage on the other side of the yard before she was happy.I was so worried she would become egg bound.THE BABIES are between 12-1/2 and 13-1/2 inches long,and 3-1/2 to 4-3/4 grams in weight.They are beautiful with thick white stripes, outlined in black and allready have blue-grey on their arms, hands, and tail. Are these lengths and weights normal? I am worried about dehydration, what should I do? The cages are from 104 to 83 degrees and the babies seem to pick the warmest spots.I have a bowl of shallow water in there. Should I mist them or not? Anything you could think of to keep these guys healthy would be great. Thanks for your time and interest. Oh yeah the male bruno was about 15 pounds when I got him but in 1-1/2 years has put on so much weight its amazing. He is 21inches SVL and 43 inches STL,but missing afew off the end of his tail.

Very typical for females to get very restless prior to laying, it usually makes it easier if the male is removed from the equation. Late July to late August was normal egg laying time for S. CAL, so I would not be surprised if Sweetie lays at the same time next year.

Lengthwise your babies sound about right, I think you meant to say 3-1/2 to 4-3/4 oz, not grams for weight. If you meant ounces, they sound normal -- a picture would help. Temp wise you could go a few degrees hotter and colder, but what you describe should work. Be wary of the water bowl becoming a toilet. Misting is OK, as long as it is not overdone. Too much and you grow mold and other diseases. If they are thirsty, they will drink moving beads from a misted window faster than that from a bowl. A food processor to make rich veggies can be helpful. Some like to use tofu to jump start the weight, I prefer to offer occassional meal worms. Once they have absorbed their eggs and start eating, dyhydration becomes less of an issue. Congratulations again, and good luck.