So, this was going to be my first year breeding snakes after a 3-year hiatus. I got skunked. Two pairs of Hondurans - both re-absorbed egg/folicles. One pair of Andeans - female laid 13 (!!) infertile eggs though I have hopes that maybe three of them are good. And two female deppei deppei pinesnakes, also duds or reabsorb.
After years of having great success breeding, this is kind of a blow. I can point to one common factor that was different this year compared to years previous: The snake room was about 10 degrees warmer this winter than my previous year's breeding. Otherwise, all other husbandry was the same. The other factors: All of the Hondurans were young, 2011 animals and this was their first attempt breeding. The female Andean was a 2010 and was a first-timer as well. Same for the pinesnakes. So age could have been a factor. The females were also a bit small for when I normally would start breeding. The extreme hypo female was 425 grams and the tangerine albino was 450. Normally, I would wait until they were over 500 grams. The Andean was a big girl - over 900 grams.
All snakes are eating normal, even after their poor breeding experience, so at least I'm not dealing with eggbound, non-feeding females.
Photos are of past clutches to remind me that sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
Rob Haneisen
