Surprise Boot Keys Clutch!!

[Nanci]

I guess I got more than I paid for! Scarlett was "ovulating" when she arrived, but it turns out she was actually gravid. When two of her sisters in two different homes laid clutches (one fertile, one infertile) I gave her a lay box. She was horrified by the "torture chamber" and refused to use it. But then she shed. I fed her once or twice more, on schedule, and then a couple days ago the lay box became appealing. I checked today when I got home and lookee lookee!!

[Nanci]

I'd heard her sister's eggs were small, but these looked about like I'd expect. (The yellowness is from the halogen light).

[Nanci]

I'm actually pleased that the eggs look great- I'd hate to have her go through all that for slugs. So the eggs are in the incubator, with what remains of Cherry's clutch (one of which dented today- in a good way, I hope!!) There are five and all look fertile. (Her mom was laying clutches of 8 or 9, at her mature age).

[Nanci]

Here's the little mommy- 20 grams lighter but in excellent condition! No retained eggs. I'm going to feed her tomorrow, so she doesn't get too far off from her 5-day group, which feeds on Sunday.

[ArpeggioAngel]

Awesome Nanci! Congrats!!

[Memphios]

Scary! And great! Congrats Nanci!

[StrangeCargo]

Congrats Nanci! I'm sure she'll bounce back quick! The babies will be great!

Your friend,
Graham

[Susielea]

Wow, that's amazing!!! Lucky you and good job Scarlett! I can't wait to see the little ones in a couple of months :D

[CALIVIK]

OMGoshGirl how cool is that!!!! Congrats!!! :D

[wstphal]

Wow! What a great surprise! Those look like good eggs, too.

[CULEBRA85]

wow nanci thats awsome!!!!

[ceduke]

What a lovely surprise, congrats!

[wstphal]

So, Nanci, are you going to sell these babies?

[Nanci]

Well..._if_ I did, they are already all spoken for!! I guess if everything goes well, though, I will go ahead and breed Scarlett next year.

[wstphal]

Yeah, if she laid a clutch this year at 80 gms, if you don't brumate, she will definitely be ready to go next year.

I wonder what Boot Keys genes look like in morphs...

[vetusvates]

Yay!!! Congratulations, Nanci!
And thanks for the penny. :D
OT, but are these localities any less terrestrial or more arboreal than mainland corns. I mean, they remind me of brush and tree climbers.

[Nanci]

Graham speculates that they are quite arboreal, due to possible flooding of their little key. They have to be able to get high and dry.

[Cattsy]

Very cool!! Can't wait to see the babies :)

[stephen]

Congrats Nanci!..............:)

[carol]

So sad, I would have never thought you were the "suprise clutch" sort, I guess I know now.


;)



Congrats Nanci!

[Nanci]

The hanky panky did not occur while in my possession, I'll have you know!

[carol]

The hanky panky did not occur while in my possession, I'll have you know!

I know, I know. :-poke:

:D

[CrazyCorn]

Congrats on the awesome clutch Nanci! I can't wait to see the pippies. I am amazed she was gravid at that size but I guess you can blame that on the island roots in her. I had my Pewter do a similar thing this year where I was feeding her one day and noticed she had about 9 surprise eggs in her. I had bred her this year and got 18 eggs in April but she decided to double clutch on her own.

[ratsncorns]

What a nice surprise!!! Congrats!

[Nanci]

Well, at least I knew she was up to something, so I had time to prepare for a clutch if she actually was gravid. It would have been very sad to find dead eggs dried up in her bin. She was such a good little mommy, all curled protectively around them!

[diamondlil]

What a wonderful surprise!

[zorro]

Very nice Nanci, glad all went well. That locality stuff is getting more and more interesting to me. You wanted some more eggs to incubate anyway, huh?
Congrats
John

[carnivorouszoo]

Wow, is dad the same or??

[Lynnea]

Congratulations, Nanci, that's the best kind of surprise!

[Nanci]

Phoenix is the proud daddy!

Look at my little momma, having her post-lay snack!!

[lesleym]

Congrats, Nanci! We acquired a couple of boot key babies last year, unfortunately we never could get them to eat mice and had to return them. Looks like you're having better luck, though! I wish you all the best.

[Nanci]

Thank you! Both of these are excellent eaters. I was told that the whole clutch ate pinky mice right away, although a couple needed anole-scented mice once or twice.

[Jessicat]

Congrats, Nanci!! You desurve a bit of good luck to come your way! Also, I'm sure Scarlett will recover quickly with you as her care taker!!

[Iguanagirl8662]

Congrats, that's a wonderful surprise. I can't wait to see the babies.