Slug Outs

[donkiez]

This is my first breeding season and while it started off slow the last week have been eggaliciouis. My question though is about slugs, Ive had a few and Im wondering how many is more than usual and if I should be double checking my husbandry or something else? Out of 5 clutchs Ive had 1 complete slug out, and another clutch that looks like a complete slug out (might be 1 viable egg), Ive also had two other slugs in my three other clutches.

[twistedtails]

This is my first breeding season and while it started off slow the last week have been eggaliciouis. My question though is about slugs, Ive had a few and Im wondering how many is more than usual and if I should be double checking my husbandry or something else? Out of 5 clutchs Ive had 1 complete slug out, and another clutch that looks like a complete slug out (might be 1 viable egg), Ive also had two other slugs in my three other clutches.

Did you cool your animals before breeding? What is your hot spot at?

[donkiez]

No I didnt cool them because they are in the basement which gets kind of cold anyway. Hot spots are 90ish. I was under the assumption though that cooling just simulates the natural breeding environment to stimulate their breeding response, which was pretty much accomplished. Am I wrong?

[m0esgirl]

i know people that dont cool, and it works for them, i myself cool because it gets my girl in the mood....i dont think anyone really knows why girls slug out sometimes, or why some people get more slugs than others, i dont *believe* its a husbandry issue, but im not an expert.

[bones93]

I had one girl slug out this season as well and another lay 4 slugs and 2 "boob eggs" Those two are at day 34 and look pitiful but there is a living snake in each LOL. Yesterday I had a female lay 5 perfect eggs and 1 slug.

I use belly heat on my animals but I talked to one breeder in my area that says since he switched to back heat he has cut down on his slugs considerably. Maybe a coincedance? Not sure. I think my next rack may be back heat tho.

were your females too young maybe? or under/over weight?

[WingedWolfPsion]

I did NOT cool this year...and I have not had a single female slug out. I have had slugs with some clutches--but just one with each, and only 2 or 3 total.
Last year I did have a female slug out--I cooled last year.

This year has definitely convinced me that cooling is not only unnecessary, it might even be counterproductive. I have had more bred females lay eggs this year than in years past (this is my first year not cooling).

I use belly heat.

[donkiez]

All my females are big girls rangeing from 1400g to 3000g. I aquired them all last summer so I was only half expecting them to go for me this year anyway, so far Im 5/8 have laid and two more look very promising. So they were getting it on! I was wondering if maybe they slugged because they new to my collection and still semi stressed about their new enviornment.... As far as I can tell though their husbandry is perfect.

My actual stats so far are
1st clutch, 7 of 10 hatched, 2 bad eggs 1 slug.
2nd, 5 good eggs 1 slug
3rd, 6 slugs
4th, 1 good egg 5 slugs
5th, 6 good eggs.

Not terrible but still not as good as I hoped.

For those of you who have breed mutiple season, do you notice the same females laying sluggs season to season or does it seem to be random?

[ClarkT]

Are your slugs mostly from the smaller females? Just wondering if the size has anything to do with it.

[donkiez]

Size does not appear to the issue here. One of my biggest females was 6 slugs 0 good eggs, and my smallest just laid 6 good eggs with 0 slugs. I also use belly heat for what its worth.

Im kind of just chalking this up to luck of the draw, with the possibility of them being new additions adding to it. I also just had another clutch last night with no slugs my odds arnt looking as bad as they were a few days ago.

I would still like to know what other peoples odds on slugs and slug outs are and if they notice the same females dropping slugs every year.

Thanks guys this has been a helpful thread for me.

[LadyOhh]

Slugs are unfertilized and or undeveloped eggs. Did you leave the male in long enough?