At what point do the eggs become fertilized?

[4theSNAKElady]

After watching the snakebytes video on bp breeding, i have a question...Brian talks about being able to palpate the female and feel the follicles at 12mm, at which time you should be pairing the female with the male. Then at 30mm they are the size of a chicken egg. If you are pairing her up to this point, at which point/size do the eggs actually meet the sperm and become fertilized?? Or can they become fertilized at 12mm or 20? Is there a BEST possible time for fertilization of the eggs? Id love to know, just to satisfy my curiousity...

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[BHReptiles]

The 'eggs' are fertilized at ovulation. At that point, the follicles move into the oviducts and the female releases the sperm stored up (the more sperm...the better your chances at fertilization...thus the pairing early). Once the female releases the sperm, it's a giant free-for-all. Now, there's no guarantee the sperm will fertilize the follicles at ovulation. They could all miss or she might not release the sperm at all (thus getting all slugs).


at least...that's my understanding.

[4theSNAKElady]

Wow! Thats very interesting!!!
I guess it also makes sense that youd want to pair as often as you can, to increase the amount of locks to better your chances at getting the eggs fertilized. Hmmm....well this kinda stirs up more thoughts about the whole bp reproduction process....if im understanding right the sperm meets the eggs at ovulation(at which point the eggs are 30mm+)...thats a HUGE size difference when it comes to comparing the size of human eggs and sperm meeting up!
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[snakesRkewl]

Now, there's no guarantee the sperm will fertilize the follicles at ovulation. They could all miss or she might not release the sperm at all (thus getting all slugs).


at least...that's my understanding.

Nope, not at all.
They are slugs from early on, they do not turn into slugs if they don't become fertilized.
I've heard the theory about slugs being caused by males, doesn't make any sense to me at all.
If you palpate, early on especially, but even later too, you can feel slugs far before ovulation.
If the female doesn't store any sperm, or doesn't release the stored sperm you would have infertile eggs.

if im understanding right the sperm meets the eggs at ovulation(at which point the eggs are 30mm+)

The follicles are typically about 44mm at ovulation.

[C&H Exotic Morphs]

Nope, not at all.
They are slugs from early on, they do not turn into slugs if they don't become fertilized.
I've heard the theory about slugs being caused by males, doesn't make any sense to me at all.
If you palpate, early on especially, but even later too, you can feel slugs far before ovulation.
If the female doesn't store any sperm, or doesn't release the stored sperm you would have infertile eggs.


The follicles are typically about 44mm at ovulation.

Jerry, is there anyway to explain how the slugs feel different from a good healthy follicle? Or is it just a feeling you have acquired over time and noticing how certain follicles have felt different and they end up being slugs?

[BHReptiles]

Nope, not at all.
They are slugs from early on, they do not turn into slugs if they don't become fertilized.
I've heard the theory about slugs being caused by males, doesn't make any sense to me at all.
If you palpate, early on especially, but even later too, you can feel slugs far before ovulation.
If the female doesn't store any sperm, or doesn't release the stored sperm you would have infertile eggs.

That's fascinating. I've always been told slugs and infertile eggs are interchangeable terms. I'm also interested in how you can palpate slugs before ovulation.

[snakesRkewl]

When you palpate the follicles they should all feel fairly even sized, like a string of pearls.
When you run across a slug it feels like a rock and is typically smaller than a healthy follicle.

That's fascinating. I've always been told slugs and infertile eggs are interchangeable terms.

Yeah they are completely different things. Infertile eggs are yellowy inside when candled, with no veins.

These are slugs, they are very different from infertile eggs that look just like a regular healthy egg, just no sperm fertilized it.
I felt these hard nuggets long before the female ovulated.

[BHReptiles]

Very interesting.

[GPreptiles]

That is true, actually, last year I had 3 eggs that looked perfectly healthy, and happened to be not fertile (had no veins at all) and molded around a week after begining of incubation.