I've been trying to figure out why my clutch rate went from 75% in 2009, 80% in 2010 down to 50% in 2011. I know I had a couple females that had gone 2 years in a row and probably took the year off, which I totally understand. Did I do differently that could have cause lower rates?

I got out my VPI book and read their breeding section again, which is such a great resource! Everyone should have that book! I also printed out the follicular development chart Larry posted ( thanks Larry!) and I noticed something. Right when it starts to get cooler, it gets a lot dryer........ Bingo! Last season, I switched my snakes from aspen to cypress right before the breeding cycle and I keep them on moist cypress the whole season. I'm really beginning to wonder if that was part of the reason.

So, as soon as I get back from Tinley, the girls tubs are getting cleaned out and put on Aspen. I'll switch them back to cypress right before they lay to increase the humidity.

I'm sure there are many reasons I got lower rates last year, but I want to make sure I'm not the reason! Lol.....

I'd love anyone else's observations. I have a low sampling of data with less than 20 breeding females, so who knows if this will help. I'll let you all know next summer......

Hard to say..... I had more slugs this year than the previous 4 years combined, and I didn't change anything. I also have two friends that said it was the lowest percentage year this past season as well.

I don't think it would be the bedding. If any thing the extra humidity is a good thing. 60% to about 80% is good. I live in florida and for some reason I can't keep the humidity up in my snake room to save my life.

Maybe some of your females are taking the ear off to recoup.? Breeders say all the time they wish all the females laid every year but that's just not the case alot of the time.

I wouldnt atribute the low clutches to the bedding so much as females are most likely tired and need the year off.

just my thoughts hope this helps

I love these kinds of discussions.

In Canada this year it seems everyone is having late years. Almost everyone i talked to had ovulations and egg laying very late this year.

Im beginning to think a lot of what these animals do is completely beyond our control and not matter what substrate, feeding regiment and different temps we all keep them at there are external factors that dictate the coarse of the season that we are not in control of.

My best guess is barametric pressure amongst others!

Todd

I love these kinds of discussions.


My best guess is barametric pressure amongst others!

Todd

Me too... It's the engineer in me, I tend to over analyze everything.... :dunno: My season was early, short and done. My incubator has been off for over a month.

The weather is probably the over all control, who knows..... But I do know that I made a change last year and wont be repeating it this season..... It will probably work as much as a lucky rabbits foot...... :rolleyes:

I love these kinds of discussions.

In Canada this year it seems everyone is having late years. Almost everyone i talked to had ovulations and egg laying very late this year.

Im beginning to think a lot of what these animals do is completely beyond our control and not matter what substrate, feeding regiment and different temps we all keep them at there are external factors that dictate the coarse of the season that we are not in control of.

My best guess is barametric pressure amongst others!

Todd

i'm on board with this for sure

Looking at it we had less than 50% of our girls go this year as well. I basically put it down to the fact that we moved in June. Not sure, but the stress of being put in tubs and jostled around during the move for probably over 12 hours could have stressed them out and had them re-absorb.

Also I wonder if the excessive temps across the USA could have had an effect. Yea we may control the temperatures in our snake rooms, but we all know how storm fronts and such still change our animals behaviors.

Ultimately too many variables exist to track every single one, let alone control it.