Parthenogenesis?? I Hope So!!

Fascinating subject.


I've not yet had any issues with retained sperm as of yet, but I expect that the more people breed these magnificent creatures, we will see more of this occuring.

Wow; I would definately be interested in seeing if they do in fact hatch. Weird!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharilynn

Hello everyone!

I just stumbled upon this site while doing a bit of research on another forum site, I'm sure a few people hear already know about my story as I posted at 2 other forums, but people seemed interested enough there, I figured I'd let ya'll that haven't heard yet hear!!! Also... I'm also interested in your feedback, if you have any!! :rockon:

I rescued my ball "Mila" about 6 yrs. ago from being killed for no reason. She has never been near another snake since I got her, when I woke up June 28th she was coiled around a nice clutch of about 8 eggs! I did confirm that they are indeed fertile (they look like jumbo chicken eggs & do have veins)
I found someone who is helping me to pass this on to a couple Universities to hopefully be interested enough to want to do some genetic testing & publish their findings...I'm so excited!! and if she is not parthenogenic & retained sperm for that long....I'll still be excited!! I'm also going to try to find out a bit more about this snakes past. :salute:

Thanks,
~Shari

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Interesting Story...you may want to check out some of the citations in this thread. As a new comer may I recommend to you using the search function of this site as well--it can be very helpful!

Parthenogenesis has been verified in Burmese Pythons so it wouldnt be too surprising if it happened in one of their closely related cousin species. I dont think it is sperm retention. The Authors of the study on the Burmeses do a pretty good job of ruling out that as a possibility.

Keep us posted on these.....

Here's Mila protecting her clutch.....

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/mila1_e.JPG


Is she squishing the top one's too much??
I see a window........

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...2/mila21_e.JPG



Hope that worked!!
Thanks...
~Shari

Thats so fascinating. I know rats can hold of there babies until they feel its safe to give birth. But wow really keep us updated.

Eggs that are dimpling or caving in this early in the incubation process need higher humidity.

the humidity is 70% it never goes under 60% & it's just those top 2 eggs.

~Shari

Amazing! If I remember correctly there was a thread here, a Komodo produced fertile eggs in a Zoo after absolutely no male contact! Does she have an x-tra lg water dish?... I think I read somewhere that mothers maternally incubating needed a big water dish.... I think? :rolleye2:



Congrats again! And please keep us posted!

I've heard of some pretty shriveled up eggs hatching but if you could get the humidity up to 90+ that might be better. I know it might not be possible to do. I'd be tempted to pack the end of the cage she isn't using a foot deep in sphagnum moss and spray it down good with warm water. You don’t want the mom or the eggs wet but when artificially incubating we often keep humidity close to 100%. You also don’t want to mess up the cage heat flow or create an evaporative cooler but if the cage is low air flow and the moss wouldn’t block the heat that idea might get the humidity back up to where it would be in a hole in Africa.

Also, if there is glass exposed to cooler room temperatures where condensation is pumping moisture out of the cage air you might insulate that glass on the outside. Maybe use a blanket or foam insulation panel but be careful of fire dangers.

It's up to 80 right now....I do have spaghnum moss in there & have been spraying it & letting it dry & a wet towel on top of her hide....I have no trouble at all getting those levels up, thank goodness!! 60 % is the lowest that it will go, but its usually between 70 & 80, but can & will get it higher!!
Also, I have it in a room with no AC it is pretty warm & humid in there already.

I have 2 water containers in there, a large & a small

Thanks!
~Shari