Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone had a problem with getting gravid females to eat? I think I have a couple gravid females but the last 2 weeks they refused food.
Both ate fine last year at this time, but I didn't have any eggs.
Thanks,
Shane

Hi Shane
A little earley to be gravid but possible. I would guess your animals are ovulating. Mine usually start breeding in about two weeks from now. Some females will definately not eat when gravid.
Anyway
Good luck
HorridumAngeli

Lol I bet nothing ever refuses a meal at your place STEVE! wink

A little earley? Steve I never thought I was a little anything.

Hey Shane. I hope all is going well with you. I was told you had posted a question so I figured I would reply.

Two things. Steve's right about it being early, at least for me and how I cycle here in Florida, but I know others in other parts of the US that are a month or more earlier than my group's cycle. My females start laying in July but that's not to say that yours may not be sooner.

Second I have had females refuse food and feed up until the week of oviposition (one fed 4 days prior to laying a completely fertile clutch of 6 eggs). I have also had a female refuse food and lay 8 infertile eggs so go figure.

Anyway I try and feed females as much as possible small amounts of food during breeding and up until oviposition. It has been my experience in my group that a female looses on average approximately 1/3 of her body weight to produce a clutch of eggs. So that is like a 100 lb woman giving birth to a 30 lb baby (and no Steve my son wasn't that big when he was born - LOL )

Anyway I try and off set that loss by regular feedings so that they are not so depleted prior to going back in the hibernaculum.
I return their feeding to normal after oviposition.

This is just what has worked for me and what I have observed. I hope it helps.

Best of luck and keep me posted on your success.

Kevin

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Kevin Earley
Gila Monsters - Beaded Lizards - Ball Pythons

talking gilas Shane instead of beadeds.

Kevin
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Kevin Earley
Gila Monsters - Beaded Lizards - Ball Pythons