Nonfertilized eggs easier to pass than fertile ones?

Samantha12 · Feb 10, 2014

I posted this in health and medications, but it wasn't getting much attention, so I figured I'd repost it here.

My oldest and smallest girl had a rough summer last year. She dropped 4 clutches of nonfertilized eggs. I hadn't wanted to breed her because she's one of those can't-break-45-grams kind of gals. Imagine my disappointment realizing she was gravid. I was worried sick about her all last summer with laying and then I looked today and she seems to be producing again :main_no: I'm curious if there's a higher risk of her having health issues with these duds compared to fertilized eggs? I read and was told by my reptile vet that it's usually infertile eggs that cause egg binding and I'm crazy worried. She didn't lose very much weight from laying last year, and she bounced back quite well, but I'm still concerned.

DrCarrotTail · Feb 10, 2014

Do you own a male gecko? If so I might move him as far away from her cage as you can so she can't see or hear him. I might also lower the temperature in your tank to about 87-88 degrees for a few weeks to make her think winter is coming. These two things usually cause females to stop ovulating but not always. Many times they will absorb the ovulates that are developing before they turn them into eggs if they can. I'm not sure if infertile eggs are easier to pass but I wouldn't think so. I think you should just keep a close eye on her and if they look big and white for more than 2-3 weeks or if she starts acting sick or her weight decreases dramatically I would get her to a vet ASAP. Its common for females that are carrying large eggs not to eat until they lay them so eating is not a good indicator. Good luck!! Keep us posted on what happens!

Samantha12 · Feb 10, 2014

DrCarrotTail said:
Do you own a male gecko? If so I might move him as far away from her cage as you can so she can't see or hear him. I might also lower the temperature in your tank to about 87-88 degrees for a few weeks to make her think winter is coming. These two things usually cause females to stop ovulating but not always. Many times they will absorb the ovulates that are developing before they turn them into eggs if they can. I'm not sure if infertile eggs are easier to pass but I wouldn't think so. I think you should just keep a close eye on her and if they look big and white for more than 2-3 weeks or if she starts acting sick or her weight decreases dramatically I would get her to a vet ASAP. Its common for females that are carrying large eggs not to eat until they lay them so eating is not a good indicator. Good luck!! Keep us posted on what happens!

I have two males, and after last season I've kept them in a different room than her and feed/handle her before them so she doesn't get the scent of them. I lowered her temps last night, but I tried that last year too and she still layed. Unfortunately she's starting even earlier this year than last year so I'm concerned she'll lay more than four clutches. They appear to already be getting calcified; I'll posted a pic later tonight when I feed her. She has quite an appetite and kept hungry all during her laying last year, but she is still pretty small.