To mate between the clutches...

[AntMan612]

(This post is actually a Breeding and Genetics question)

I have 2 gravid females who have recently laid their first clutches.

1) Is it safe for gravid females to mate between clutches?
2) If they do mate between clutches, does this increase the number of clutches they will lay?
3) If they were to mate with a different male (between clutches), would the offspring for that "season" be a scrambled mess of "half"-siblings?

Thanks

 

[Paco]

1. Yes. Some breeder introduce the male several times during the breeding season.
2. It varies from female to female, the average is 2-4 clutches from a single introduction. Can be more can be less.
3. Yes you could have offspring from both Fathers. The Offspring would only be from one Father or the other, not a combo of both.

(This post is actually a Breeding and Genetics

question)

I have 2 gravid females who have recently laid their first clutches.

1) Is it safe for gravid females to mate between clutches?
2) If they do mate between clutches, does this increase the number of clutches they will lay?
3) If they were to mate with a different male (between clutches), would the offspring for that "season" be a scrambled mess of "half"-siblings?

Thanks

 

[fallen_angel]

We actually bred one of our females to two different males this season and will be posting our results on sperm competition by the end of June

It is NOT ADVISED to breed a female with more than one male unless each male will make her produce different offspring (it's the only way to tell the babies apart). In our case, we have a Patternless female who bred with a Mack Snow and a Mack Snow Patternless. So basically, if we get any normals or snows, we know the father is the Mack Snow. If we get any Patternless or Snow Patternless, we know that the father is the Mack Snow Patternless.


Here is a chart that shows the estimated amount of eggs to be laid by a female per season, depending on age. The contents of this chart were taken from Wikipedia ("leopard gecko" search)

and of course, this is JUST an estimate.

 

[Halley]

1) Is it safe for gravid females to mate between clutches?

Yes, this will probably result in higher fertility rate, as well

2) If they do mate between clutches, does this increase the number of clutches they will lay?

Probably not, just the egg fertility %

3) If they were to mate with a different male (between clutches), would the offspring for that "season" be a scrambled mess of "half"-siblings?

Yeah, there will be some mixture. I would make sure the offspring will have a different phenotype though, other wise you won't know which one is the father.

 

[AntMan612]

Thanks very much to everyone for educating me on what is probably part of Reptile Genetics 101!

To summarize, the number of egg clutches is primarily dependent upon the age (and of course, health) of the female and not the number of matings. "DNA" deposited by multiple males will be stored by the female and will fertilize the eggs she does produce in some random order. (This is not advised.) DNA from the male donors will not combine to each other. More DNA increases the likelihood of having fertile eggs (which is a big plus, in my mind.)

If I have misunderstood anything, please correct me. Thanks again!

I separated the girls from the boy for purposes of laying their clutches without being disturbed, but I'll probably reintroduce him soon. (I think he misses them. It's hard to believe the notion I've heard that they're anti-social creatures. )

 

[Halley]

To summarize, the number of egg clutches is primarily dependent upon the age (and of course, health) of the female and not the number of matings.

As far as I know, yes.

"DNA" deposited by multiple males will be stored by the female and will fertilize the eggs she does produce in some random order. (This is not advised.)

Yes.

DNA from the male donors will not combine to each other. More DNA increases the likelihood of having fertile eggs (which is a big plus, in my mind.)

I'm assuming by DNA, you mean sperm, and if so of course.

I separated the girls from the boy for purposes of laying their clutches without being disturbed, but I'll probably reintroduce him soon. (I think he misses them. It's hard to believe the notion I've heard that they're anti-social creatures. )

If at all possible remove the male, unless you have multiple females in a group as it sounds like you do. However make sure the enclosure you move the females, to, is similar in set-up as the normal one, this way you avoid some stress on the female.

Pretty much though I think you have everything.