Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, just wondering what those of you that breed Eastern Indigos consider to be a safe weight/size to breed your Eastern females. Thanks for your time! Dan

Please?

I'd also be curious to get input on this from those who've done it. Considering how often this species egg binds, I'm curious if this is a species issue or a size/weight issue. I'm not sure I'd ever put in the time and effort to raise a female indigo and breed her with a large possibility of binding and death. Talk about a heartbreaker....
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Chance Duncan
Science Teacher, Herp Enthusiast, and Reptilian Conservation Proponent
www.rvexotics.com

I'm not one of the experts! Of the two females gravid this year
1 has given me eggs two years in a row,completing oviposition
both years in a couple of hours with no problems. I waited until
she was 5 years old almost 6 feet and probably around 10lbs but
this is only a guess. The other female was 5 years old a little
over 5 feet and again around 10lbs. She became egg bound and after 72 hours I was lucky to find a competent vet to do the
surgery. That was 2 months ago and she is doing great! I feed
her heavy id say. No way in the wild would she have been able to
eat all that chow without alot of work on her part. I'm not going
to push the others the same way. Whats my Hurry? Ask me again in another 2 or 3 years when I have a little more experience!

Thanks
Seth

Hope the eggs go well for you! Dan

Seth:
I went thru the same problem with my female E Indigo. She got egg bound and $1,200 later she is fine. Would you consider trying to bred your female again ?

Mark

Hi Mark, I'd have to say no,and as long as I can resist the
urge to pair her up again in the future she will stay retired.
Shes healthy and strong right now. Glad your's is doing well.

Breeding occurs in the wild at around four years of age but age five would be a better size, the females weight will be at it's least in winter but after it warms up they eat everything in sight that will fit in their jaws, Males hardly eat a single meal till thier done chasing the females, but the females weight is only a matter of clutch size and is not required before breeding, in other words: adult females will breed at a certain age regardless of their weight, their weight is put on afterwords. The eggs will absorb most of the mass she aquired but then after the drop date and a brief rest period she will again eat like mad, in my opinion weight has lots to do with clutch size and egg girth but little to do with breeding, males literally rape females, breed weather the females like it or not...JB