As of July 29th: I just received my Clutch #10: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ted_cjjukd.jpg
So: this has been a tough breeding season for me: Normally by August, I have about 75% of my ball python clutches.
I'm expecting ~25 clutches from 40 females.
As a hobbyist: 10 clutches still seems pretty good...However, for whatever reason #3 and #6, both completely failed. :tombstone
The failed clutches were in separate incubators with independent controls and heating equipment.
All other clutches in those same incubators are unphased.
There was nothing unusual about the genetic crosses (Highway x Super Pastel Lesser & GHI/Fire x Pastel Lesser).
The pairings were from non-related family lines and the eggs seemed viable.
The only real connection between the two failures clutches were that they were laid by sisters, and these were both their first.
I have an entire clutch die once every few years. Having two clutches unexpectedly die in the same season is pretty ominous... https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...023_s7jdos.jpg
Lets hope everything is 'smooth sailing' moving forward...:)
07-29-2023, 02:01 PM
Bogertophis
That's a shame about the failed clutches (it does seem suspicious that those two first-time sisters both had bad clutches- might be something "going on" there?) & that so many others are taking longer too. Well, here's hoping that all those that do make it, at least do so spectacularly well with plenty of eye-candy, eh? -Don't they realize you're counting on them for photo shoots too? ;) Always sad to see an entire clutch die- it makes you question everything as to the genetics & the incubation- and I gotta say, those eggs (clutches #3 & #6) looked great at the start. You just never know. :confusd:
Since Granite is composed of quartz, and feldspar: the hardness of the Quartz is greater than the Feldspar which makes it often not polish evenly (with rock tumbling).
Pieces with higher quartz content and/or larger grains have better results.
Photo #316 https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jwyem5.jpg
Atlantis Wonder Jasper with a 66% Het Clown BP.
The rough material I purchased had significant imperfections (pores, cracks, voids) throughout the entire material, but, did take a high shine (compared to Utah Wonderstone).
