Quote Originally Posted by SPJ View Post
2 days ago a clutch was laid. I procrastinated and never set up the incubator.
Finally today it is tweaked and running at steady temps.
Do I move the eggs or let them be with the mother and just keep checking temps and keeping the humidity up?
Well- I actually just got finished reading a research article regarding ball pythons and the energy expenditure for parental care (which would then equal weight loss, which is always the argument.) Seems as though the author's research (Aubret, Bonnet, Shine & Maumelat, 2005) suggest that weight loss is due to maternal shivering done when temps drop beneath some critical level and the eggs need further warming. Their findings(and another paper I read about it today also) were that maternal weight loss when temps were controlled was not significant. Their findings also suggested that maternal brooding enhances the probability of healthy and viable offspring, compared to the eggs that taken and artificially incubated. NOTE: The incubation methodology was not what is being done on this forum. The incubation methodology was patterned after the nests, burrows, and mangrove habitats that the females lay their eggs and brood in.
So, should you leave your female with her eggs? If you keep the temps up, there ought to be non-significant weight loss.
Should you take the eggs out? Artificial incubation means you believe you have greater control over the outcome- and maybe you do!
So, good luck choosing!!!! I'll be right where you are next season......