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Double Clutching

endrin

endrin

New member
I was wondering, i have a new female that never 2nd clutched before but is for me. Now, i wonder if it has to do with the fact that i power feed my females after they lay ( Mouse every 4 days for a month after laying.) That seems to be the case with just about every female I get. I never introduce the male again it just happens.
 
I've been trying to discourage double clutching by feeding mine more slowly and steadily after the first clutch, and that seems to have prevented it in a couple of my gals. The other two still double-clutch but produce smller clutches with a higher proportion of slugs.

There does seem to be a link between double-clutching and feeding.
 
Thought so, rock and a hard place on this one. I hate seeing my girls all skinny after eating.
 
You know this year I tried to discourage a double clutch out of a girl that always does and it seems it didn't work. So now I am probably more worried because she hasn't gained her weight back and is still going to lay another 10 eggs or so. Now I know that she will double no matter what I do so I might as well push the food to her.
 
From what I've seen, there are some snakes that seem to be genetically "pre-programmed" to double clutch no matter how much or how little they are fed, while others will not double clutch no matter what.

cc_8051.jpg
 
This year I tried to discourage double clutching, and it worked. But I only bred one female. She laid 26 eggs, 23 of which were fertile. I only fed her twice (small meals) between her lay, and when the eggs hatched two months later. She did double clutch, but they were all slugs, which is what I was hoping for. Good thing too, because she laid 16 more eggs. It still takes a lot out of her, but its a lot less energy to make slugs compared to fertile eggs.
 
I think genetics play a significant part. Certainly I've had females which have never double-clutched, despite repeat matings and "top-up" feeding after a first clutch.

If they're genetically predisposed then that's probably the starting point. Feeding rates might be a way of encouraging/discouraging it from there.
 
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