Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have what looks like a gravid female that is ready to drop. I just wanted to get others opinions on whether it was too early or if other breeder's were having eggs yet.
Thanks,
Shane Mader

I got three females I've seen locked up multiple times I'm getting nervous about as well. Mine all seem to still be gestating cuz I've seen no signs of digging or slugs but I'm anxious. My females dropped eggs on June 6th n 12th last year but I woke them n paired them up 2 weeks earlier. Got about eight pairs of rios together as well I need to produce to cover my rodent bill!

The weather here in Colorado has been strange and my heloderms seem more attuned to storm cycles than most Herps I've worked with. In my limited few years workin with them I noticed they are much more inclined to breed during a stormy period and also lay during a storm or full moon.

For me what makes these animals so fun is the more I learn the less I know. Even the pros are bewildered by these critters.

Peace

Wont dare jinx myself and start giving exact numbers, but there is Gila eggs incubating at Jurassic Pets this lovely morning. And man it seems almost everyone my Rio females swallows ping pong balls!

I forget about that patchy pre-lay shed they do but I NOTICED IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. Thanks again Dr. Seward for this n the other priceless tips. You are awesome. Also Steve Angeli really helped me a ton with hands on information and I really appreciate it.

I pull my pregnant females water dishes when I notice this shed or any shed close to nesting time. I'm checking everyone twice a day by then anyhow so I just give them a chance for a drink every other day while I work on them. This is just a trick I taught myself when a beaded laid a dozen plus huge eggs her first time in drowned a couple perfectly good looking eggs in her water. I imagine a good soak relieves them in labor but I'm still sore with myself for loosing those eggs. I love these lizards!

LATERS!

Peace

I'm having bad luck--8 eggs all infertile. I have two females. One has now laid 7 egss--all infertile and over a 3-week period. Dates were 6-11, 6-15, 6-16, 6-17, 6-19 and 2 on 7-1. The second one laid 1 on 6-8 and sxtill looks garvid.

Any feedback/positive advice welcome.

8th. egg found today and also looks like it's infertile as well. Yellowish and slick rather than white and leathery.

Sorry for your strife. I can relate. I got problems with infertile eggs too. Not gonna let it frustrate me because the more homework I've done its a whole lot more common than most working with these critters will let on. JUST LIKE REGURGING!
One of many things that leads to their value n scarcity in captivity n nature. SUCKS though...........so does the overwhelming arrogance among most the heloderm keepers out there. There is a few pros that are the best n open books like Dr. Seward n Mr Angeli and always try n help me. But it's surprised me how hard the wanna bees try to covet knowledge on these animals husbandry they don't even understand. PATHETIC GREED

I've looked over n refined every aspect of my Gila care I can consider n two females kept identical one produces bad eggs n one good so idk.....even with their mates kept identical. Even those two given males reverse paired the next season give me totally unpredictable results. I wouldn't doubt physiologically they are like a Panda Bear or something n timing n everything has to be just perfect for things to work.Personally I think the weather influences there fertility to an extent...... Another frustrating thing for me is I've found good eggs embryos die the first month or so too often and I cant figure out "WHY"

....seems once we get the courage to ask why in life we must find the grace to accept there is more questions than answers out there or we will go nuts.....

peace

I finally had a few eggs. 6 bad ones but my other female laid 1 perfect egg on 7-4. I was waiting for her to have more but it's been 6 days and nothing else.
What is the latest anyone has had good eggs?
The female that dropped just one egg still looks gravid.Has anyone else had good eggs a week apart from the same female?
Thanks

My female laid a 9th. egg on 7-8 and it looks like it could be fertile---I sure hope so. So this female has laid from 6-11 to 7-8, a whole month apart. So if it is fertile and the 8 before it were infertile what would that tell us? I'll keep you posted as to whether it is or not.

The other female laid one egg 1 egg on 6-8, infertile, and still looks gravid. So it's either gravid, egg bound, or just fat.

Last year my oldest female passed two slugs about a week before she was due then two fully developed fertile eggs right at six weeks post hook up then two fertile eggs a week later. Of those two eggs one embryo mysteriously passed about a month incubating the other hatched on the money 120 days at 82.5........The year before she dropped all slugs over about a month n a couple were these weird long twin eggs..... Humbling maybe but makes me super proud of her baby too! All my animals are young with my oldest females n males only 5 1/2 years so I'm thinking they and I will become more successful as we mature some. I noticed my males this year are much more receptive to females without simulated combat or any tricks. I know Dr Seward told me once "it wasn't too hard getting them to breed or hatching eggs it was getting good eggs."
And believe me he loves these animals so much I doubt he would keep a secret about success in reproducing them from anyone.

Anyhow folks I really appreciate the open brainstorming on such a sensitive issue! GOOD LUCK to everyone.....I'm excited like a lil kid to see the results from my rios this season real soon. Got some beautiful animals on a loan I've never seen anywhere out there in the public and it looks very likely I've got eggs coming from them finally. Well I got hope.

It's great reading everyone's reports. I'm in the same boat as most everyone else. I had 1 female lay all infertile eggs (6) Then another one have 1 good egg on 7-4 then 4 more good looking eggs on 7-10. I'm hoping for the best.
Question for Dennis from the last post. I know you said the one egg hatched right on the money, what about the other two? I've always heard if there is a gap in deposition that all the eggs won't hatch or aren't viable. I ask because this is my situation.
Thanks, Shane

No just the last two eggs in that clutch were fertile in the end. Every time I can think of so far my fertile eggs came all at once. I've had bad eggs a day or two before n after good eggs couple times, just never good eggs then bad eggs then good eggs again. IDK honestly n this is just one thing that intrigues me with these animals...I've worked almost obsessively with herps for 30 years or more n hatched about everything out n there has to be a reason for bad fertility in gilas but I don't see it yet. Starting to think the answer is beyond anything of basic husbandry because my animals thrive on adversity it seems more than the stress of micro management. I'll bet storm systems n barometric swings somehow influence prime time ovulation or something to do with conception though....maybe its 180 though in its the males sperm likes storms idk.....most keepers see their colonies go nuts for spring storms though.....I've seen this tons with others species too n surprised its not considered more...maybe I'm nuts too....

I'd like to acquire about a hundred sexually mature female Gilas next few years n then worry about numbers n production. LOL