Greetings and Salutations!
We have currently have 4 female Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus) of breeding age and size. We have high hopes for this year, and will update on the successes and disappointments as they fall out.
First off, Agrias. Our oldest female, and who took half a decade to get to a safe size to breed, we paired her with Shippo.
So far Agrias has produced one clutch! Though sadly the eggs did not make it. She had a little difficulty with the last egg, so we did not reintroduce Shippo, but we’re watching and feeding for a second clutch regardless. Currently, she has shed within the time frame that might indicate it was a second pre-lay shed. So we’re on tenterhooks to see if there will be more eggs or not in the next week!
Next Up, Sheik we paired with Tomba,
She produced her first clutch right on Easter Weekend! (very exciting!) about half of the clutch made it to hatching, and the lovely half a dozen babies they produced proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that both parents were Het for Toffeebelly as advertized!
Currently she has shed within the time frame that might indicate a pre-lay shed, so we’re waiting and checking to see if there will be more eggs!
Thirdly, Ginger, one of our newer adult females, was also paired with Shippo, and for a while we thought we must have missed her window, but she’s looking very gravid at the moment! Has not gone into pre-lay shed as of yet… but her rapid weight gain and what palpations we’ve done would seem to indicate gravidity. I guess time will tell!
Last but not least, we acquired a proven female breeder Mary Ann, also paired with Shippo, (he’s quite the lil’ stud).
She has successfully laid our largest clutch so far, and all fertile to boot! All the eggs currently look fantastic! So we’re feeding her back up and gave her a bit more time with her boyfriend to see if she’s up to a second batch.
Mary Ann did in fact double clutch! though only one of the eggs was fertile. Still! Thrilling news!