Breeding season going downhill: my theory

[acpart]

This is my third breeding season. The other two have been very successful with minimal infertile eggs and a few minor defects. I'm doing everything the same way this year: Albey's incubation method, hobovator with proportional thermostat, same supplementation (repcal and herptivite) and feeding schedule. The only thing that's different is the male/female pairings. The beginning of the season went as expected with 24 hatchlings from 4 proven females (one of whom is not a good breeder and produced 1 hatchling from 4 eggs, as expected). My last hatch was the first week in July. Since then (and to a certain extent before then) the eggs have collapsed and molded within a few weeks of being laid. I feel that the eggs are infertile, rather than that there was a developing fetus. I did have 1 egg that was clearly developing and stopped. When I opened that egg there was a nearly full-term dead fetus. The others have been so collapsed and hard when I've finally given up on them that it hasn't been possible to open them up, but my sense is that they're empty. I am candling eggs but it's difficult for me to tell sometimes if there's something there or not. I'm incubating for female at 82.

My theory is that the male who is in with 3 of the females (2 proven and one first timer who has had a number of infertile eggs and finally may have some that will hatch) lost interest in his females awhile ago. I know that the females can store sperm, but from what I've read on the forum and experienced myself, one mating is often good for about 3 clutches. My most successful hatching has been with the male I've used for the past 2 years, although one of her later clutches also collapsed.

Does this sound plausible? Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions?

Aliza

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I'm sorry you are having a disappointing season, Aliza. Over the years, I have had great seasons and poor seasons as well. If you are using the same male with your females, he could very well be the problem.

This year I have had a higher percentage of egg failures than usual, and have been disappointed with my patternless and bold stripes. I have many first-timers, and several young females that started ovulating in the 40 gram range and are just now big enough to breed. My season got started late, and seems to be ending early.

I know of another breeder who has had a series of full-term babies die shortly after hatching for no apparent reason, and another with a less than 50% hatch rate this year. These things are very frustrating when we really don't have any idea what the causes are, and it's my experience that they just go away by themselves and we never have the opportunity to learn from them.

Next year will be better...

 

[acpart]

Thanks for your kind words, Marcia. My biggest regret is that producing the eggs takes so much out of the females and then there's nothing to show for it. I'm satisfied with the 24 babies I've gotten so far and am hopeful for another 10. In a way it's easier having fewer to sell than I anticipated. I mostly posted to make sure there isn't something I'm doing wrong that I should change. I'm still looking forward to the rest of the season and to next year.
Aliza