have chucks been known to breed and develop eggs? I brought my pair out of brumation around April 10th.



In an earlier post "first time pushups", I mentioned how, after having my chucks for almost a year, I never witnessed any pushups until both the male and female did some within minutes of putting them outside. After that day however, the pushups seemed to stop completely, that is until last week. They were only outside for about a week. They've been inside for quite some time now. Last week I witnessed the male gently bite the female's neck and she drug him around for a bit. After that failed attempt, he let go and she took cover under a rock. Since that day, and including today, I have witnessed him doing pushups followed by failed attempts at breeding. Unlike the first time, now, whenever he lets go, the female usually doesn't go into hiding but instead seems to be leading him on. Sometimes I wonder if the male was bigger than her (they're pretty evenly sized except she is wider than him now) if he would be more successful.



If her width is at least partly due to developing eggs, how late can eggs be into development (obviously before calcification) to still be successfully fertilized? Do females have any ability to delay or suspend development? I know that with some lizards, development can be at least partially triggered by the sight of a displaying male. I suppose some of the male's pushups might be for territorial reasons but I think they are part of his courtship ritual because, since last week at least, they are always followed by a breeding attemp. Sorry for the long post but any answers to my questions would be a great help.



Thanks,

Perry

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