09 Season starts to my dismay

[acpart]

Ollie the egg producer, as usual, without benefit from a male, laid her first clutch of slugs for the 09 season. She started running around the living room digging at 11 this morning and I discovered 1 egg in the cage. I hauled in one of my big garden containers from the porch and she spent the entire day digging and laying. The last egg actually slipped out when I was drying her off after the bath I gave her when I thought she was done. The grand total of this clutch was 32 eggs! She is 6 years old and didn't get done till after 7pm. I keep hoping she'll give it a rest, but no luck. Last season she laid 85 eggs in 4 clutches. This girl is never going to meet a male.

Aliza

 

[T&KBrouse]

Aliza, I can completely understand your frrustration. My girl had been doing the same thing and I anticipate her dropping eggs at any time... Again...

Our poor girls. Its gotta be tough on their little bodies.

 

[Kristi23]

I'm glad now that I got a male. That poor girl. I hope she doesn't lay as many this year.

 

[acpart]

Second clutch of slugs: 27 eggs. Total is now 56.

Aliza

 

[Alliemac]

Wow. I'm glad I have a boy too.

My sister's iguanas are all ready to lay too...they are actually late this year but the season seems to be late for most female iggies around here.

 

[acpart]

Second clutch of slugs: 27 eggs. Total is now 56.

Aliza

Make that 28. She was up really late last night trying to dig all over the place and dropped another one.

Aliza

 

[Saille]

Is it possible to spay a beardie?

 

[VampyricAngelX]

Wow, if she were with a male you'd be over run with babies in the end.

 

[acpart]

Wow, if she were with a male you'd be over run with babies in the end.

THat's why she's not with a male.

Aliza

 

[Alusdra]

You probably could get her spayed... I think that's becoming routine with iguanas, and my vet said he had spayed leos.

 

[Rockinar Dragonz]

Your poor girl laying all of those infertiles at 6 years old You might just want to consider getting her spayed. Passing infertiles is much harder on a girl than passing fertiles. Also, as I'm sure you probably already know, unless you are providing her with increased calcium supplements, she could develop some other issues. Laying does take a lot out of them. Our females get totally pampered when gravid with the highest quality feeders/supplements/veggies and care to help them along. Even with that, they still are completely exhausted afterwards.

 

[acpart]

I worry that the stress of spaying her will be greater than the stress of laying eggs. She does get very well fed and supplemented. When she's at her peak she weighs close to 600 grams.

Aliza

 

[Rockinar Dragonz]

You may be right about that. I've never had a female spayed but do know of some people who have had it done for the same reason. She's a nice big girl so it just might be that it's harder on you than it is her .

 

[acpart]

The hardest part is finding a good laying area for her. SO far I've dragged in my big outside planter, but by the next time it will have plants in it. She rejected the 10 gallon tank with eco-earth. I guess I'm going to have to get her a big planter of her very own.

Aliza

 

[Rockinar Dragonz]

Have you tried just a simple oversized dark colored rubbermaid tub? You can fill the right half with 12"-18" deep 50%/50% mix of organic (no additives or fertilizers) potting soil and children's play sand. Moisten it with warm water just enough so the mix will hold it's form when she digs. Hang a dome light over the soil to heat soil mix to about 85 degrees. Place it in a semi-private quiet spot. She'll probably go for that :main_yes: