Breeding season's not over until .....

DragnDrop · 06-20-04, 08:24 PM

.... until the fat gecko lays her eggs.

One of my het for blizzard females hadn't laid any eggs since the last clutch on May 2. Since I'm making some changes in my breeding projects, I had to clear out some blizzards and hets. She was done laying for the year, and spent the last 7 weeks gaining back all the weight she lost from breeding. I thought she'd be a good one to take to the Newmarket show on Saturday. On Friday night I checked her over, almost pudgy, her tail was fat, generally seemed to be in good enough shape to take the stress of spending time at the show sitting in a critter keeper.

Imagine my surprise when I unpacked the geckos at the show and found she'd laid 2 eggs in the critter keeper in the 5 hours since I'd packed her up!! One egg looked a bit 'off', but the other was perfect. There was no sign that she was carrying eggs when I checked her the night before, and eggs that close to being laid would have been obvious. She had the last laugh here.

What can you do with 2 fresh eggs at a show????
Luckily I had some pocket warmers and spare delicups with me. The eggs were lightly stuck, but I got them off with just the gentlest nudge, put them in a delicup with moist paper towel, then put the whole thing into a bigger cup with the heatpack.

Turns out Bruce from Arachnophiliacs (nice guy, great looking spiders) bought her right at the beginning of the show. I hope the eggs hatch for him, it's not likely they'd be too affected by the transport this early, they'd probably still be in diapause the first day or so.
(Nothing like knowing you bought a proven breeder, huh?

)

Gregg M · 06-21-04, 06:54 AM

Hey Dragon,
She did not go off feed??? That is a great breeder...... You should have kept her.....LOL

DragnDrop · 06-21-04, 08:41 AM

Nope, she didn't stop eating. As a matter of fact, she spent the last 7 weeks or so packing in the food like they typically do after they're done laying. But then again, she always ate at every meal, even while gravid. Thinking back, the only clue I've ever had that she was gravid was finding eggs.
I really would have kept her and all the ones I'm clearing out, but I do have to make room for some breeding projects for next year. This is the part I always hate.

thegeckoteam · 06-21-04, 08:59 AM

Thanks for the story....I will have to keep an eye on some of my females who I 'think' are done laying for this year. I guess you never know.

Painted Desert · 06-21-04, 09:00 PM

Hmmmm. Me thinks i knows what projects you might be considering.... i told you, stick to the blizzards!

I too have my eyes nailed on one of my hets... long since done, weight gain of apprx 20g or so..... but , i still "see" eggs.....

marisa · 06-21-04, 10:55 PM

"I hope the eggs hatch for him"

Wow! It's really nice that you gave him the eggs she laid while still in your possesion! Not everyone would do that.

Nice story.

Marisa

DragnDrop · 06-22-04, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marisa
"I hope the eggs hatch for him"

Wow! It's really nice that you gave him the eggs she laid while still in your possesion! Not everyone would do that.

Nice story.

Marisa

I figured if she'd held off laying them a few more hours, he would have found them in her laying box at his house. She obviously didn't want me to have them or she'd have laid them earlier.