First eggs of the year, can small females breed?

[MarkS]

Got my first clutch of the year finally. Nothing special, just a little dinking around project. But I thought it would be interesting to post some pics showing weight of the female after laying and the weight of the eggs.......

[jknudson]

Congrats Mark! I'm going to assume this is an older female that just won't pack on the weight?

[LadyOhh]

Hooray Mark!!!

[MarkS]

Congrats Mark! I'm going to assume this is an older female that just won't pack on the weight?

Yeah, I've had her for three years now and for various reasons I suspect she was originally imported as a gravid wild caught and then sold after she dropped her eggs. She was a horrible eater when I first got her, it took months just to get her to take one small rat. But even once she started eating well she never put on any more size. So, I finally decided to breed her this year.

[jknudson]

Yeah, I've had her for three years now and for various reasons I suspect she was originally imported as a gravid wild caught and then sold after she dropped her eggs. She was a horrible eater when I first got her, it took months just to get her to take one small rat. But even once she started eating well she never put on any more size. So, I finally decided to breed her this year.

That's an even better story then! Glad to hear she's obviously well acclimated into captivity, and the fact that she's given you eggs, even better! Although smaller she looks obviously healthy.

[aaramire]

I thought that it would put too much stress on small females to breed??

[LadyOhh]

I thought that it would put too much stress on small females to breed??

Small YOUNG females...

[aaramire]

oh.... what is the difference besides age? i would think that if a small young female could become egg-bound because she is too lightweight, wouldnt it be the same for an older female of the same weight? sorry, I am just confused....

[LadyOhh]

To be honest, I don't have any good proof to back it up. I'll have to get my books out and then get back to you on that one.

The theory is, however, that females have time to develop as they age, and therefore are more able to handle the stress of egg bearing while being light.

[Sputnik]

Congrats Mark!

I have one small female that is gravid now for her first clutch. She is 1100g and about 5 or 6 years old.