Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How long after mating does egg laying take place? Mine mated about a month ago. I sepparated the female about a week and a half ago so she could have a little peace, but she stopped eating. I force fed her three pinkies last night and she ate them.

Thank you,

Brian

It usually takes 20-30 days from copulation to lay. DON'T force feed her, it is completely normal for her to go off of her food before laying. Do you have a lay box for her and is she in it yet? Also the pinkies really aren't good for her and there is really no reason to be feeding them.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

I thought everyone agreed that the extra calcium that females get from pinkies is good for them during egg production........... I fed themn to my dragons before and after egg laying......... especially after to fatten her back up quick and replace the calcium she had lost during egg production..... Unless a female is very young we all know they will produce more than one clutch. Why would you not want to feed pinkies? I know they are very fatty but that is what you want to give her during a time as critical as between clutches. As long as your not giving them to her all the time it should be fine.

I do agree though that you shouldn't stress her out by force feeding especially if she is close to laying.
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

I used to give them to my females after clutches also. Since then there has been a lot of discussion and findings that make it a questionable practice. They are very high in fat and yes they will pop the weight back onto a female after she lays very quickly. They do have a risk of parasites (f/t will solve that though) and impaction though. Plus raw fat, even to add weight really isn't that good. It's better to give a well balanced diet and extra calcium to get the weight back on. In an emergency I'd probably still resort to one if her weight was at a critical level but I haven't run into that. What I've done to help this is I don't breed my females if they are under 350 grams and I prefer 400-500 for a minimum, they take the stress of being gravid better and even after multiple clutches don't wear down too bad. I also increase their bug count through the whole process. I will say that I never personally had any problems with pinkies but there are people that have and I'd hate to lose one of my girls when it could easily be avoided.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps