She's too small for this!

[Khrysty]

So one of my smaller girls, Belle, she's around 8 months old but only 36g or so, is producing eggs. Nope, not just ovulating. There are two white shelled eggs in her belly.

I know that sometimes females will produce infertile eggs just because they're crazy pants, but I guess I can't rule out the possibility that these ARE fertile.

I'm 99% positive that she has NEVER had any contact with a male. But I'm not with my babies all the time. She was left in my sister's care for so long and has only been at school with me for about two weeks. It's possible, I suppose, that she's been with a male. But I doubt my sister would jeopardize her health like that, especially because we HAVE full grown females at home. If she wanted to breed, she would have used them.

Bah, so anyway. Yep, eggs. Now what?

Both of my incubators are at home..so even if they are fertile, the eggs will probably be tossed.

I really genuinely hope she absorbs them--but since they've already been shelled I don't think that's likely at all... She's so small, you know? I have no idea how she would handle laying. I couldn't stand to lose her. Not only is she overwhelmingly sweet and calm, but she's so gorgeous. I just love the little thing.

Idk..I guess I'm just looking for support more than anything. Is there anything, even, that I can do?

 

[Khrysty]

nobody has anything to say? Advice? Help? Well wishes?

I'm worried :/

 

[JordanAng420]

Well, I don't know if there's much you can do at this point except try to put more weight on her. I guess try to increase the amount of food you normally give her. I think at 36 grams she'll be able to handle it, she'll just be superskinny afterward. I wish you good luck, Khrysty. Keep us all updated.

 

[Neill]

I had a very tiny girl that kept dropping infertile eggs think got up to like 6-7. Brought her to my vet and he said not to worry about it. In all his years working with lizards he has only actually come across 2 egg bindings. I tend to follow his advise he runs the wildlife center near me and also has a private practice of vet med for exotics. All funds go to wildlife center.

Keep her comfy, feed, and watered and just keep an eye on her.

 

[Khrysty]

Thanks. I brought her back here with me because she's not growing as quickly as the others and I wanted to monitor her. And then this.

She's not the best eater...I've been trying to increase her food intake but she's really only eaten about 5 crix and 3 mealies in the two weeks she's been at school with me

 

[Vision Geckos]

Last year, I had a female lay eggs at just 30 grams. I was afraid she was going to explode. Either from the belly or ... you know. She came out of it just fine, and then ended up eating like 20 meal worms every night afterward for a week. I just made sure she had a lot of calcium when it was happening because I didn't want her to be taking it from her bones. Best of luck! I'm sure everything will turn out just fine.

 

[Khrysty]

Last year, I had a female lay eggs at just 30 grams. I was afraid she was going to explode. Either from the belly or ... you know. She came out of it just fine, and then ended up eating like 20 meal worms every night afterward for a week. I just made sure she had a lot of calcium when it was happening because I didn't want her to be taking it from her bones. Best of luck! I'm sure everything will turn out just fine.

Thanks It's nice to know yours got through fine. I hope she'll just lay this one clutch and be done with it

 

[steve905]

Feed her some waxys they're high in fat and will pack on the pounds quickly

 

[Khrysty]

Feed her some waxys they're high in fat and will pack on the pounds quickly

er..grams? lol
Yeah, waxies are ok..if nothing else to get her eating again. I'd hate to feed her only waxies during this whole thing...she won't get very much nutrition

 

[Hopefull Monster Geckos]

Last year I had a female that was only 20 grams and about 1 year old (her previous owner didn`t take care of her) lay two fertile eggs they didn`t hatch but she is now 50 grams and will be breeding this year so I doubt that you girl will have any problems if she does lay.

 

[roger]

what about offering a pinky or two ??

 

[Khrysty]

She's entirely too small to take on a pinky. Even the tiniest newborn is bigger than her whole head! I'd be scared she'll choke

 

[GeckoGathering]

Waxies

er..grams? lol
Yeah, waxies are ok..if nothing else to get her eating again. I'd hate to feed her only waxies during this whole thing...she won't get very much nutrition

Feed the waxies.
Info on them says adults no not eat.
That's not true.
They eat nourishing stuff.
Here they get.
Layer hen crumbles (great nutritional item),
orange peel, carrot, high pro.cat food.
I mix it in with the wood shavings
they come in.
They keep longer too.
You need to take out moisture items
if stored in a 55-60 degree fridge.
Take care. Hj

 

[Khrysty]

Feed the waxies.
Info on them says adults no not eat.
That's not true.
They eat nourishing stuff.
Here they get.
Layer hen crumbles (great nutritional item),
orange peel, carrot, high pro.cat food.
I mix it in with the wood shavings
they come in.
They keep longer too.
You need to take out moisture items
if stored in a 55-60 degree fridge.
Take care. Hj

If I raised my own waxies, or bought from someone that I knew, then that would be a possibility. Waxies from the pet store (which is where I normally get them) come from such a questionable background...I don't know what they've been fed or how they were gutloaded. Idk..

 

[Khrysty]

Turns out she only weighed around 23g when we first found out she was gravid (our scale was off before)

Now she's up to 29.3 but the eggs are HUGE. I'm thinking the weight gain is all in her tummy. Still a little worried about her but she's eating just fine and she's just as active as ever. She now has a lay box in her tank..that's really all I can do for my little girl

 

[Kristi23]

I hope she does okay for you. I had a young female (around 6 months old and 35 grams) lay infertile eggs for me two years ago. She was never bred and she only laid the one clutch.

 

[Vision Geckos]

I'm sure the weight gain isn't just from the eggs. I mean you have to figure hatchlings only weigh like 2-3 grams at birth, and the embryos certainly haven't already begun to REALLY develop yet. I'd say maybe 3-4 of the grams could be eggs, but the rest is natural.

 

[Khrysty]

I'm sure the weight gain isn't just from the eggs. I mean you have to figure hatchlings only weigh like 2-3 grams at birth, and the embryos certainly haven't already begun to REALLY develop yet. I'd say maybe 3-4 of the grams could be eggs, but the rest is natural.

Thanks, I didn't do the math lol. Its nice to know she really is gaining weight. Girl's got a lot of growing to do..with or without the eggs

 

[rubym]

We got a rescue 2 years ago that was only 21 grams and gravid. She laid 4 infertile eggs and 2 fertile eggs. We made sure that we kept her well fed and gave her extra calcium and vitamins. She is now 89 grams and is no worse for her rotten experience. Good luck and I hope everything goes ok for your little girl!

 

[Khrysty]

We got a rescue 2 years ago that was only 21 grams and gravid. She laid 4 infertile eggs and 2 fertile eggs. We made sure that we kept her well fed and gave her extra calcium and vitamins. She is now 89 grams and is no worse for her rotten experience. Good luck and I hope everything goes ok for your little girl!

Thanks for the well-wishes and the optimistic story She's still doing great, hasn't laid yet but there's now another set growing within her *angryface!* She's still gaining steadily and eating just fine. I'm confident she'll come out of this ok.

One question, though: is there any truth to the rumor that a female bred too young could have her growth stunted?