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fertile slugs

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  • 06-17-2012, 10:40 AM
    hotrod5603
    fertile slugs
    This has been a tough breeding season for me. South florida didn't have much of a winter this year and as a result, I have gotten alot of slugs. this is my 12th clutch of the year. in the first 11 clutches, I have had a total of 24 slugs. this female axanthic was barely over 1500 grams and did not get very big during development so I was expecting more slugs. well, I was half right.

    [IMG]http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/z...5603/002-2.jpg[/IMG]

    All 4 eggs have good veins. Has anyone had eggs like this before? if so, did any go full term? I am hopeful for the 2 more developed eggs but the other 2 I have little hope for. All i need is 2, 1.1 this was a Pied X Axanthic pairing.
  • 06-17-2012, 10:44 AM
    Redneck_Crow
    Those are called "boob" eggs, for obvious reasons, and go ahead and incubate them. Many of them hatch out just fine.
  • 06-17-2012, 10:44 AM
    Rat160
    Re: fertile slugs
    boob eggs! I have not had any but I know people that have hatched babies from boob eggs.
  • 06-17-2012, 10:59 AM
    hotrod5603
    Re: fertile slugs
    I have had plenty of boob eggs, I just have never seen it to the extreme of the 2 that have barely been shelled.
  • 06-17-2012, 11:07 AM
    Redneck_Crow
    I saw this on another forum, so there is hope.

    http://www.captivebredreptileforums....tml#post418952
  • 06-17-2012, 12:01 PM
    Andybill
    Re: fertile slugs
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Redneck_Crow View Post
    I saw this on another forum, so there is hope.

    http://www.captivebredreptileforums....tml#post418952

    Insane! that is so cool. little bitty guy!
  • 06-17-2012, 12:11 PM
    mykee
    Re: fertile slugs
    "Fertile slugs" is an oxymoron. You can either have slugs, or fertile ggs, not both. Those are (fertile) boob eggs, they usually go full term but with tiny babies inside. Good luck.
  • 06-17-2012, 12:52 PM
    WingedWolfPsion
    Yes, for whatever reason, the babies seem to develop only in the calcified part. However, I did see photos from a clutch recently that was almost entirely decalcified, but were normal-sized eggs. The hatchlings were typical size, they actually made it.

    The thing to watch is that the decalcified part of the egg can become infected, and if the infection gets into the live part, it can kill the embryo. Try to keep it very clean, and if it starts vigorously molding, a bit of antifungal powder might be in order. It can get pretty bad, and the baby will still be fine, though.
  • 08-10-2012, 11:48 AM
    hotrod5603
    Re: fertile slugs
  • 08-10-2012, 12:09 PM
    snakesRkewl
    Re: fertile slugs
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hotrod5603 View Post
    This has been a tough breeding season for me. South florida didn't have much of a winter this year and as a result, I have gotten alot of slugs.

    I'm baffled, we had almost no winter and 2 slugs out of 8 clutches so far, if the no winter thing was a factor don't you think it would be a factor for everyone?

    As far as I know slugs are caused by females not eating enough to produce healthy eggs :confusd:
  • 08-10-2012, 12:34 PM
    hotrod5603
    Re: fertile slugs
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by snakesRkewl View Post
    I'm baffled, we had almost no winter and 2 slugs out of 8 clutches so far, if the no winter thing was a factor don't you think it would be a factor for everyone?

    As far as I know slugs are caused by females not eating enough to produce healthy eggs :confusd:

    slugs can be caused by many things... My snakes this year were kept in a garage. the avg temp in the garage never dropped below 85 degrees for more than a day or 2. without the access to cooler temps, it's harder for them to develop eggs properly and the males sperm is often killed by hotter temps. that's why the mild winter affected me so much. now that a room mate moved out, they have been relocated into the house where i can control their temps better.
  • 08-10-2012, 07:00 PM
    FireStorm
    I'm not entirely sure that tbe weather is to blame...I am in FL as well and we heat our room into the mid 80s year round. We are close to 30 clutches, no slugs here. How hot did the room get?
  • 08-10-2012, 07:13 PM
    joebad976
    Re: fertile slugs
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by FireStorm View Post
    I'm not entirely sure that the weather is to blame...I am in FL as well and we heat our room into the mid 80s year round. We are close to 30 clutches, no slugs here. How hot did the room get?

    I would have to agree with Firestorm And SnakesRKewl. I am in FL too and I am up to 10 clutches without any slugs and waiting on one more to drop any day now.
  • 08-10-2012, 07:22 PM
    SlitherinSisters
    It's a neat baby for sure. That sucks about all the slugs. What where your hot side temps?
  • 08-11-2012, 12:23 AM
    hotrod5603
    Re: fertile slugs
    Florida is a big state, and there is a big climate difference from north and central florida to south miami. Last year I had 10 clutches, one first time breeder slugged out and out of the other 9 clutches, I only had 1 slug. The only thing that changed this season was the temps. same snakes, same racks, same feeding, same methods. there is a reason for cooling snakes for breeding and this year, I had no cooling at all. they stayed at summer temps all year.
  • 08-11-2012, 05:53 PM
    FireStorm
    I don't beleive that BPs need a seasonal temp drop to breed. I don't cool mine (I heat the room) and I had no problems. I know there is a difference in temps between where I am in FL and where you are, but my snakes are in a climate controlled room, so the cooler temps outside have nothing to do with it. I also know other breeders who do not drop temps for breeding. It seems more likely that the high side temps on top of being in the warmer garage were too much. My room is heated to 84-85F year round, BUT there is no direct heat in my racks so my snakes really never get over that 85 degree temp. I've had great results this way, over a period of about 4 years, so I personally think maybe BPs don't really need high temps in the 90F range. I agree with you that something caused your slug problem, I just doubt it was the lack of a seasonal drop.

    Disclaimer: I realize that ambient heat/no direct heat is not an option for everyone, and I don't advocate that everyone take the heat out of their racks. I am happy to discuss my setup in more detail, just not trying to hijack this thread.
  • 08-12-2012, 07:22 AM
    hotrod5603
    Re: fertile slugs
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by FireStorm View Post
    I don't beleive that BPs need a seasonal temp drop to breed. I don't cool mine (I heat the room) and I had no problems. I know there is a difference in temps between where I am in FL and where you are, but my snakes are in a climate controlled room, so the cooler temps outside have nothing to do with it. I also know other breeders who do not drop temps for breeding. It seems more likely that the high side temps on top of being in the warmer garage were too much. My room is heated to 84-85F year round, BUT there is no direct heat in my racks so my snakes really never get over that 85 degree temp. I've had great results this way, over a period of about 4 years, so I personally think maybe BPs don't really need high temps in the 90F range. I agree with you that something caused your slug problem, I just doubt it was the lack of a seasonal drop.

    Disclaimer: I realize that ambient heat/no direct heat is not an option for everyone, and I don't advocate that everyone take the heat out of their racks. I am happy to discuss my setup in more detail, just not trying to hijack this thread.

    don't you love how you have to be so politically correct so nobody gets their panties in a bunch over something so simple... lol
  • 08-13-2012, 11:05 PM
    Robyn@SYR
    Best of luck with those.
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