Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Heres a pics from digging up newly laid eggs. They were laid right on the otherside of eggs that were in the process of hatching.

There was only on female in the cage, so they had to be hers.

We have also done this with caudos. Where the eggs were left in the cage and hatched, while other clutches were laid.

While this does not explain away the possibility that removing eggs induces another clutch to be laid. It may well be a contributing factor. But, that does not change a thing. If it is a contributing factor, then it can also be in nature too. Like if their eggs are consumed or disturbed. Nest raiding in nature is a common source of energy.

I think monitors, may be their own worse enemy. They may be the factor that causes them to dig such deep nests.

In Auffenburgs, Bengal monitor book, he tested Bengal monitors ability to "smell eggs" at different depths. Very interesting, you should read it, if you haven't. Cheers FR

I have found that my monitors typically like to lay in the same location in cages.

interesting isn't it?

is it us making sure that 'one spot' is ideal? or is it them knowing that one spot was ideal for them last time and was done so safely?

andrew

Cool stuff!

>> While this does not explain away the possibility that
>> removing eggs induces another clutch to be laid. It may well
>> be a contributing factor. But, that does not change a thing.
>> If it is a contributing factor, then it can also be in nature
>> too. Like if their eggs are consumed or disturbed. Nest
>> raiding in nature is a common source of energy.

This at least would be something that could be tested in the field. If a field biologist were interested, they could, after tagging or at least identifying all the monitors in a plot, pick half the females at random as the control and the other half as experimental subjects. After the females nest, dig up all the eggs of the "experimental subject" females and see if they lay another clutch.

>> I think monitors, may be their own worse enemy. They may be
>> the factor that causes them to dig such deep nests.

Kind of like I've heard of crocodiles, with the majority of the juvenile mortality coming from predation by adult crocodiles. I wouldn't be suprized at all from what I've heard of monitor's nest robbing abilities.

>> In Auffenburgs, Bengal monitor book, he tested Bengal
>> monitors ability to "smell eggs" at different depths. Very
>> interesting, you should read it, if you haven't.

Yup. I've read it. Fascinating. The only book of Auffenberg's I have not been able to get my paws on yet is the book on V. olivaceous.

It has, however, been a while since reading the Bengal monitor book. I may just read it again to re-familiarize myself with it.

Thanks for the info,

Luke

about the chicken egg removal, and laying again.

I have lots of native birds nest on my property. I enjoy watching the nests, not part of any study, but to just enjoy.

What I have noticed is, most, lay eggs within a day or two after the the last group of babies left. Some like the doves, have up to five or six clutches, and this is without removing eggs. They start laying in may, and all the way thru oct. Yes, they are often on babies during dove season.

So the chicken egg removal may only be subtracting the raising of the hatchlings part. They just move on to laying more eggs. Thanks FR