Search results for "axolotl eggs"
| Results 1 - 265 of 265
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Sorted by: Relevance | Sort by: Date
|
Results per-page: 10 | 20 | 50 | All
|
[…]cinereus) is even still to be found in Manhattan…so keep looking and learning! Further Reading Axolotl Care and Natural History Original article describing the newly-discovered Axolotl […]
[…]air pump that provides just enough aeration to keep the eggs slightly in motion. Providing Cover Axolotl eggs are typically attached to plants or other structures, as seen in the accompanying photo. Once they begin to hatch, I’ll add additional plants, nearly filling the tank so as to separate the larvae […]
[…]insects and other invertebrates and small fish. Adults are major predators upon small axolotls and axolotl eggs. The larvae are largely carnivorous, but may consume some algae as well. Their main predators are herons and other wading birds, fishes and larger axolotls. Reproduction Males deposit spermatophores (sperm-filled capsules) on the […]
[…]laboratory subject. Please note: the aquatic larvae of all species of salamanders are termed “axolotls” in some references, i.e. as in “tiger salamander axolotls”. The name as used here refers to young and adult Ambystoma mexicanum only. Classification Class: Amphibia Order: Caudata Family: Ambystomatidae A complex of a dozen or […]
[…]eggs are a great concern among many captive amphibians, although I have not run into such with axolotls. The Eggs Please see the Natural History of Axolotls for details on courtship and mating. Females have been observed to pick up several spermatophores during the night, although it is not clear all are […]
[…]http://www.mexico-herps.com/caudata/ambystoma/ambystoma-andersoni. For information on the Mexican axolotl, please see my article The Natural History and Care of the Mexican Axolotl http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2008/12/19/the-natural-history-and-captive-care-of-the-mexican-axolotl-ambystoma-mexicanum-natural-history-part-1/. Photos courtesy of Michael […]
[…]bulb is best used for illumination, as it will not add significantly to water temperature. Axolotls do not need a source of UVB light. Axolotls are native to cool, high-altitude lakes, and do best at water temperatures of 62-70 F, with a dip to 50-52 F in winter, if possible. […]
[…]not to follow the “normal” rules…at least not as I learned them! Recently, bio-engineered axolotls that glow fluorescent green have appeared in the trade. Rearing axolotls in the lab differs in some respects from home care, but much of value is contained in the protocols of institutions maintaining large research […]
[…]treatment, scar healing, and the regeneration of human tissue. Further Reading Mexican Axolotl Natural History and Captive Care Endangered Axolotls Found in Mexico City […]
[…]record the weight (and date) on the cover. The cover should not be ventilated – for most reptile eggs, a once- daily check provides enough oxygen exchange (ventilation may need to be increased for large numbers of eggs once hatching time nears – please write in if unsure). Keeping Track […]
[…]years after its “near-death experience”. Other interesting experiences have involved Mexican Axolotls. An individual in my collection became bloated and was unable to submerge. A veterinarian who worked with me at the Bronx Zoo prescribed Itraconizole and other medications, but the infection proved resistant to all. I refrigerated the animal […]
[…]below if you need a reference to a local veterinarian experienced in turtle care. Hatching the Eggs While the eggs of Common Snapping Turtles and other consummate survivors will often do well at room temperatures (in a hot room, in summer), a reptile egg incubator will greatly simplify the hatching […]
[…]Choke Hazards I came upon the idea of using the Cone Worm Feeder many years ago when raising axolotl and red-spotted newt larvae. I fed them largely upon live blackworms, which always clump together, even when finely chopped. I found that larvae of both species sometimes choked to death while […]
[…]is a small sample of the newts and salamanders that are discussed at length: Eastern Newt Mexican Axolotl Olm Tiger, Spotted and Marbled Salamanders Hellbender Lesser and Dwarf Siren Red-Backed Salamander Mudpuppy Fire Salamander One, Two and Three Toed Amphiumas California Newt Fire Bellied Newt Dusky Salamander Spanish Ribbed Newt […]
[…]to show such reproductive flexibility. When breeding near shaded ponds, hourglass frogs lay their eggs on tree leaves overhanging the water (the tadpoles drop into the water upon hatching), thus avoiding fish and other aquatic predators. However, when utilizing ponds exposed to the sun, the majority of the frogs lay […]
[…]breeding habits of this most prolific turtle. Video of a Snapping Turtle digging a nest and laying eggs. Snapping turtle laying eggs image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by […]
[…]is continually added to the retained eggs, draining the female’s supplies and rendering the eggs ever-more difficult to pass. Eventually, the eggs will break and/or decay, and an infection known as egg yolk peritonitis will set in. If untreated, the female will die. Determining if your Turtle is Gravid Another […]
[…]is acquiring eggs to feed them. Most egg-eaters are too small to take regularly available chicken eggs. Depending on the size of your snake you may feed eggs from pigeons, Coturnix quail, doves, Button quail, or finch. Generally speaking, Coturnix quail eggs (the quail egg eaten as a delicacy) are […]
[…]in late summer or early fall. Clutch size varies from 3-21, with 9 eggs being the average. Eggs and Hatchlings Eggs incubated in moist vermiculite (use a vermiculite: water ratio of 1:1 by weight – please see article below for details) at 82 F will hatch in 45-75 days. The […]
[…]hatchlings in large exhibits without having been aware that a nest was present. Incubating the Eggs The eggs should be removed to a reptile egg incubator set at 82-85 F. At these temperatures, the eggs will hatch in 60-70 days. The hatchlings average just over 5 inches in length, and […]
[…]Reading Salamander larvae Still Being Used as Fish Bait in the USA New Population of Endangered Axolotls Found…in Mexico City! Twelve Rare US Amphibians in Need of […]
[…]eggs. This puzzled me until it was discovered me (not by me!) that the flies lay their own eggs on the shells of reptile eggs – the hatchling maggots are so tiny that they actually enter the egg via the air pores in the shell! It’s not known whether they […]
[…]on the Venezuelan llanos. In many different animals, sperm can remain alive and able to fertilize eggs for years to come. Queen termites mate once and somehow produce fertilized eggs for up to 20 years after! Further information concerning research with this species at Wollongong University is available […]
[…]site, but its better to induce them to lay in a specific place, so that you can easily remove the eggs for incubation (it’s difficult to successfully incubate eggs in an outdoor nest). Constructing an Outdoor Nest Site Gravid females will be drawn to dark, moist, protected nesting sites that […]
[…]be the oddest urban herp experience – Hunting Alligators in NYC’s Sewers. Urban Amphibians: Axolotls Found in Mexico City Park Snakes of NY: Photos and Information Snakes in Indian Cities Milksnake image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by […]
[…]The captiulum’s collar is a favored food of ants of the genus Leptomyrmex. The ants carry the eggs into their nest, where the collar is eaten. The stick insect’s eggs are then discarded in the ant colony’s underground rubbish pile, where, protected from predators and the fires that regularly ravage […]
[…]that most amphibians, especially largely-aquatic species such as African Clawed Frogs and Mexican Axolotls, absorb water and dissolved chemicals over a much greater surface area than do fishes (scale-less fishes, such as eels, loaches and most catfishes, are similar to amphibians in this regard). In fact, when we administer fish […]
[…]– Oxytosin and Surgery If your turtle appears to be gravid but cannot seem to deposit her eggs, prompt veterinary attention is necessary. As mentioned in Part 1 of this article, retained eggs invariably lead to infection and, eventually, the female’s death. Oxytosin, a medication used to induce labor in human […]
[…]oophagus (egg-eating) poison frog tadpoles, the chicken frog larvae do not wait until the eggs are actually deposited, but rather swarm about the female’s cloaca, eating ravenously as the eggs emerge. It’s quite a scene! A Taxing Time for Mom Subsequent research has revealed that the harried mother uses her […]
[…]beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, caterpillars, mice, shrews, voles, ground nesting birds and their eggs, small snakes, lizards and their eggs, and carrion. Averaging 2-3 feet in length, exceptionally large specimens can top 4 feet. Glass lizards, as their name implies, quickly autotomize (shed) their tails when handled or captured by a […]
[…]spring and summer. Despite being persistently arboreal, females descend to the ground and bury the eggs in moist earth or below leaf litter. Mature eggs can be seen through the abdominal skin of the females. The eggs hatch in 3-6 months, depending upon temperature, and the young reach adult size […]
[…]the male provides most or all of the parental care (please see photo of male Midwife Toad carrying eggs). Such eggs are generally deposited on land, and direct development (from egg to small frog) is typical. Chiromantis hansenae, by contrast, produces many tiny eggs and deposits them above-ground, and tadpoles […]
[…]eggs sent danger signals, apparently via vibration, to the youngsters within. (Red-Eyed Treefrog eggs are attached to leaves overhanging a pond. When under attack, tadpoles burst from their eggs, fall into the water, and swim off). It is not known whether other of the Delicate Skink’s 10 relatives, collectively known […]
[…]Frog and certain other tadpoles develop within a moisture-retaining nest. The Brown Leaping Frog eggs were at least 10 feet from water, and not in a position to be carried there by rain. Also, this was the first time any frog has been observed attaching eggs to tree bark. A […]
Spring in the northeastern USA is prime time for amphibian watchers. Its arrival is most noticeably announced by frogs – first by spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer and wood frogs, Rana (Lithobates) sylvaticus, with a succession of others following close behind. However, the season’s earliest greeters are silent. I have observed […]
[…]captive breeding seemed to have occurred in the 1950’s. Courtship and Fertilization of the Eggs One female was in breeding condition, as evidenced by the circular, swollen ring about her cloaca and the dark brood patch on her back. Several males were giving forth their metallic, clicking breeding calls, so […]
[…]to induce egg laying. Odder still, however, was the fact that a male placed in the tank with the eggs (and without the female) on the following day fertilized the eggs. He was in breeding condition, as evidenced by the rough “nuptial pads” along his forearms, and perhaps was responding […]
[…]gray foxes, night herons, alligators and other animals prey upon iguanas, only raccoons take eggs, hatchlings and sub-adults in significant numbers. Iguanas…Here to Stay? Young iguanas are now especially common at the site, pointing towards an even greater population increase in the future. Hand-collection, although possible, is a daunting task, […]
[…]hog nose snakes take young ground nesting birds, mice, shrews, toads, lizards, snakes and reptile eggs. In one study, they were found to be a major predator on Pacific pond turtle nests. Those I’ve kept have done very well on small mice and quail eggs. Other Interesting Facts This snake’s […]
[…]A Rusty Wandering Spider (Cupiennius getazi) was photographed while consuming Red-Eyed Treefrog eggs, which had been deposited on a leaf overhanging a small pond. Interestingly, the spider appeared to defend its food source. The eggs did not spontaneously hatch when disturbed by the spider, as they do when attacked by […]
[…]of water. The substrate should be placed within a small Tupperware or similar container and the eggs half-buried into the substrate. Weigh the container, with substrate and eggs inside, and note this figure on the container’s lid. Re-weigh once each week – any drop in weight is the result of […]
[…]of Sydney biologists have revealed that large skink eggs develop into females, while small eggs become males. Furthermore, removing yolk from a large egg resulted in a male hatchling, despite the fact that female genes were present; adding yolk to a small egg over-rode the effect of the male genes […]
[…]species have been shown to actively raise the temperature of their clutch by coiling about the eggs and “shivering”. In captive situations, I have observed incubating female blood pythons (Python curtus) and Burmese pythons (P. molurus bivittatus) to raise their eggs by 7F above the ambient air temperature. Field research […]
[…]to manipulate the hatchlings’ sexes. Please post below for further information. When removing eggs from a terrarium, be sure to make a small pencil mark at the top of each, so that they are not accidentally rotated. Oils from the skin can clog air pores, so use powder free gloves […]
[…]dose and a soak time of approximately 1 hour – gradually increasing both if necessary. For eggs, I dilute the Methylene Blue in water and then use an eye dropper to place it on the eggs (approximately 1 drop per 2 inch square of egg mass). Treated amphibians will be […]
[…]efforts and very willing to consume their progeny. Amazingly, a female in my collection deposited eggs without entering amplexus, and a male fertilized the eggs the following day…please see the article below for details. Observing Breeding Behavior Despite their generally bold demeanor, paired African Clawed Frogs are extremely sensitive to […]
[…]gills, never see the light of day, do not mature until age 16, and reproduce by both laying eggs and bearing live young. Despite their very unique natural environments, Olms do quite well in zoos, often living into their 70’s. Due to the Olm’s rarity, researchers have maintained a breeding […]
[…]reports indicate that Giant Horned Lizards mate in April-June, with gravid females laying 10-30 eggs after a gestation period of 60-70 days. The eggs hatch in 10-12 weeks when incubated at 85 F. Horned Lizard Care Horned Lizards are hard to resist, but it is a mistake to attempt keeping […]
[…]Additional clutches of 1-2 eggs are laid throughout the breeding season, to a total of 8-10 eggs per female. The eggs hatch in 30-45 […]
[…]forearms). Male Smokey Jungle Frogs use their powerful rear legs to whip the jelly surrounding the eggs into a frothy mass of sperm, jelly, skin secretions, air and water. This nest surrounds the eggs and is deposited in a natural (or possibly self-dug) depression in the ground, usually at the […]
[…]them to bark within hollows and beneath bark. Oddly enough, captives almost always deposit their eggs on the ground, even when provided with seemingly suitable arboreal sites. The eggs hatch in 40-60 days. One member of the genus, R. l. trachyrhynchus, gives birth to live young. Diet Fruit, sap, nectar, […]
[…]female Crocodile Skinks may produce up to 6 eggs each year. Female Crocodile Skinks guard their eggs during the 70 day incubation period. In captivity they cover the eggs with substrate when foraging and lunge at intruders. The hatchlings stay in close proximity to the female for approximately 2 weeks. […]
[…]to store sperm. Those purchased as adults, or separated from a male, may still produce fertile eggs. As mentioned above, females that have not mated may also develop eggs, which must be deposited. Stay alert for signs that a female may be egg-bound – lethargy, swollen abdomen, straining – […]
[…]producing huge egg masses shortly thereafter. I estimated the average clutch to contain 500-600 eggs, but up to 12,000 eggs have been reported as being produced by a single female. The eggs hatched in 4 days at 78F, and the tadpoles were among the most ravenous I’ve ever encountered – […]
[…]need further information. Veterinary intervention may be required if the female refuses to lay her eggs. In many cases, an injection of oxytosin is effective in causing the eggs to be expelled. Further Reading I’ve written about my experiences with wild green iguanas in another article on this blog. Please […]
[…]were likely 60-70 years old. Several times I was called to Kennedy Airport to identify turtle eggs found in luggage (and, in one case, filling 2 shopping bags!). Twice I was tempted to identify seized eggs as belonging to a sea turtle, but upon close examination and some research into […]
[…]up to 6 tadpoles to individual pools at the bases of bromeliads (like all Dendrobatids, their eggs are deposited on land) and call to their mates when feeding time arrives. The female then visits the pool and deposits an unfertilized egg, which is consumed by the tadpole. The Effect of […]
[…]or in trees, are protected by virulent skin toxins, exhibit complex breeding behaviors, and lay eggs in on land. Mantella reproductive strategies roughly follow those of the Poison Frogs. Males call during the day from exposed sites on land – light markings on the vocal sacs may serve as a […]
[…]the fall and winter may also be useful, but is not critical (please write in for details). The Eggs Gravid female swell noticeably, and their 2 eggs will be visible through the skin in time. A well-fed female may produce 3, or possibly more, clutches of 2 eggs each. I’ve […]
[…]usually occurs in the spring, with healthy females producing multiple clutches of 2-16 eggs each summer and fall. At 82 F, eggs typically hatch in 65-72 days, but a range of 55-85 days has been reported. Hatch rates are invariably high, often approaching 100%. The young average 6-10 inches in […]
[…]with eggs being produced after a gestation period of 35-50 days. Clutches may contain 2-10 eggs, with 5 being typical. Eggs hatch after an incubation period of 75 days at 82 F, with a range of 65-105 days, depending upon temperature. Hatchlings average 12-15 inches in length. Further […]
[…]body, the female scrapes together a pile of rotting leaves and other vegetation, into which the eggs are deposited. Some construct a two-chambered nest, with the upper chamber serving as retreat for the female, while others merely coil on top of the leaf pile. The female guards her 20-60 eggs […]
[…]their tails, and eventually pick up the spermatophore that the male has dropped. Several hundred eggs are laid, each being individually attached to an aquatic plant. Females use their rear legs to bend a plant leaf around each egg – quite an ordeal, and well-worth watching! Adults may consume eggs […]
[…]basking bulb, or an additional one, should be used to warm the nesting area. Incubating the Eggs Senegal Chameleon eggs have been successfully incubated at temperatures ranging from 72 to 80 F. At 77 F, they typically hatch in 6 months. A high-quality reptile egg incubator is the surest […]
[…]in 1-7 hours, and can include 50 -350 individual egg-laying trips to the surface; as many as 1,000 eggs may be deposited. The Eggs The tiny (2 mm diameter) eggs float and stick to aquatic plants. Those of H. curtipes are brownish in color; H. boettgeri eggs are a bit […]
[…]season. Amplexus and egg-deposition occurs on land. Thereafter, males guard their 20-40 large eggs for approximately 20 days. Once the tadpoles begin moving within the eggs, they are taken into the male’s mouth and maneuvered through openings that lead into the vocal sac. Perhaps as an adaptation to its most unusual […]
[…]arrives. Please see these articles for further information on collecting insects. Incubating the Eggs Eggs may be incubated in vermiculite or moist sphagnum moss. I prefer to use a vermiculite and water in a 1:1 ratio by weight (please see this article for details on setting this up), but success […]
[…]Frogs were included in the study. The increased tadpole survival was attributed to higher quality eggs being produced by female frogs. Infertile eggs, which are deposited by females as food for their tadpoles, were also believed to be of higher nutritional value following carotenoid supplementation. A number of the […]
[…]seem not to remain nearby). Amazingly, in 8 instances a male joined the female in protecting the eggs. Other Rosenberg’s Monitors are the primary threat to eggs. Females guarding nests attacked male intruders twice their own weight, and repelled them in most cases. The vicious fights that ensued frequently left […]
[…]or so. The Eggs If all goes well, you will one morning find yourself in possession of thousands of eggs. It is wise to plan ahead and arrange for friends or nature centers to take some of the eggs, as crowded conditions can cause the loss of the entire clutch. […]
[…]territory are attacked, and a wrestling bout ensues. Eggs A single egg strand, containing 200-650 eggs, is laid by each female. The egg strand is attached to a large rock, which protects it from fast currents. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days. Tadpoles The tadpoles are dark with golden flecks […]
[…]to a live-bearing lizard! Populations in New South Wales’ warm coastal regions produce eggs, while those inhabiting cool mountain slopes give birth to live young. Cool temperatures are associated with live-bearing in herps ranging from Alpine Newts to European Vipers, but only 2 other lizards (Bougainville’s Skink and the Viviparous […]
[…]by shining a strong light at the shell (a process known as “candling”). Some of the eggs were buried in “nests” located on sloping ground, where sun exposure would vary, while others were located on flat ground, where the sun would strike the eggs evenly. All of the embryos in […]
[…]also take the eggs and chicks of doves, quail and other ground-nesting birds, lizards and their eggs, tortoise eggs, locusts and other large insects and carrion. These lizards are well-adapted to a harsh environment in which food is often scarce. They gorge when food is available, consuming up to 50% […]
[…]eat nearly every day without fear of obesity setting in. Breeding Clutches range in size from 6-15 eggs; when incubated at 85F they hatch in approximately 275 days. Mertens’ Monitors have evolved in habitats subjected to fluctuating weather extremes, and their eggs are quite resilient – incubation periods of 180-330 […]
[…]species. Mine thrive upon waxworms, crickets, crayfish, super mealworms, roaches, chicks and quail eggs. Pink mice are given every two weeks or so. Canned insects and monitor diets are often accepted and should be included as a source of dietary variety. Breeding Females lay 2-6 eggs at a time, and […]
[…]unique organs located on her 4th pair of legs. She then remains on land carrying her fertilized eggs for a month or so before heading to the sea. In most populations, all gravid (egg-bearing) females march seaward at the same time, resulting in quite a spectacle. This may be an […]
[…]small clutches and weak offspring. Mating occurs from March to June in most regions, with the eggs being laid 25-50 days thereafter. A second clutch may be produced in late summer/early fall. An average clutch consists of 16 eggs, but may range from 6-26. At 82 F, incubation time averages […]
[…]are likely to lay eggs within the terrarium, the substrate should be of a type that will allow the eggs to thrive until discovered. The tiny eggs of many geckos and anoles are easy to miss, and may desiccate if deposited in a dry area. Live Plants: the needs of […]
[…]useful food items are land snails (available in seafood markets), tomato hornworms, hard boiled eggs (in moderation, i.e. once monthly) and canned grasshoppers , silkworms and snails. Pink and fuzzy mice (these are preferable to adult mice and rats) may be offered every 10-14 days. My Observations of Wild Black […]
[…]survive in Madagascar’s forest canopy, reached 24 inches in length. Geckos generally lay 2 eggs, although some bear live young. Arboreal types often glue their eggs to tree branches or building walls. Most are insectivorous, but many take nectar and over-ripe fruits as well. The voracious tokay gecko, Gekko gecko, […]
[…]species have been shown to actively raise the temperature of their clutch by coiling about the eggs and “shivering”. In captive situations, I have observed incubating female blood pythons (Python curtus) and Burmese pythons (P. molurus bivittatus) to raise their eggs by 7F above the ambient air temperature. Field research […]
[…]that eat bark, their mother’s eggs and even their father’s skin, along with parents that carry eggs or young in skin pouches, vocal sacs and even stomachs. None, however, were known to give birth to live tadpoles. As you’ll see below, a herpetologist’s extremely lucky catch, at just the right […]
[…]female Senegal Chameleons. Depressed calcium levels will prevent the female from expelling her eggs; veterinary intervention is essential if death is to be prevented. The lack of a suitable nesting site can also cause a female to retain her eggs, even if she is in good health. Please write in […]
[…]actively seek the water’s edge. I’ve experimentally moved water bowls from under hatching eggs and have found that the tadpoles are indeed amazingly mobile on the ground and travel to the water’s edge with surprising speed. Lowering the terrarium’s temperature to 68F for 2 weeks, followed by a period of […]
[…]and others such as Marbled Salamanders, most Treefrogs and Toads, and many Newts, deposit their eggs in temporary pools of water that form in late winter and dry out by mid-summer. By avoiding permanent bodies of water, they remove the threat of fish predation upon themselves and their eggs and […]
[…]and legs. The female is eventually led to a nest site below the leaf litter, where she lays 4-6 eggs, which are externally fertilized. The male moves from clutch to clutch, shedding water on the eggs, rotating them and removing fungus. Males seem able to predict hatching, and are nearly […]
[…]in both zoos and the private sector. Reproduction Mating occurs in the spring, and 3-24 eggs are laid in June-August. The clutch is hidden in a burrow or, less frequently, below a rock or log. The young hatch in 64-79 days at 12-18 inches in length. Diet The natural diet […]
[…]cool (January-February in some areas), during much of the breeding season, and while incubating eggs. They are well adapted to long fasts, and frequently go off-feed in captivity. This can occur even in captive-hatched animals, tuned, perhaps, to an internally-controlled cycle, and is rarely a cause for concern. Individuals that […]
[…]the conditions that may have led to the prolapse – dehydration, constipation, straining to expel eggs and trauma caused by scent marking (rubbing the cloaca along the substrate) – are most common. Of course, environmental conditions must be evaluated with each species’ biology in mind – conditions that are suitable […]
[…]young tree kangaroos, naked-tailed rats, bandicoots, bats and other mammals, birds and their eggs, frogs, snakes, lizards and carrion. Captives do well on rats, mice, chicks, crayfish, large roaches and hard-boiled eggs. Image referenced from Wikipedia. Check back on Friday for more Monitor Species […]
[…]take this into their cloaca (reproductive opening) and fertilization occurs internally. The eggs are laid in compact, jelly-covered masses that are attached to twigs, plants or sunken logs. Each mass contains 50-160 eggs. The sight of 20 or more large, brilliantly marked salamanders writhing together in as they vie for […]
[…]for a period of 8 years or so. Gravid females seek secluded, moist sites in which to lay their eggs; damp sphagnum moss within a cave, flower pot, or cork bark retreat is ideal. Some individuals seem to prefer elevated nest sites; perhaps in the wild eggs are sometimes deposited […]
[…]rodent control measure. Diet Squirrels, rats, mice, bats and other small mammals, birds and their eggs; hatchlings feed largely upon treefrogs and lizards. Prey is overcome by constriction. Reproduction The 6-10 eggs are laid in May-June, but other than that reproduction in the wild is not well documented. Please see […]
[…]renders it a conservation concern. Listed on CITES Appendix II. Reproduction Females lay 6-12 eggs at a time, and up to 3 clutches per year in captivity (multiple clutches may be a function of food availability), with arboreal nest sites being favored. In common with other tree-dwelling monitors, they likely […]
[…]in rodent burrows, and have even been seen to enter iguana and sea turtle nests to prey upon eggs. Captive Care Mexican Dwarf Pythons can be kept as has been described for Calabar Ground Pythons, but need a drier substrate and less misting. A shredded bark – sand mix suits […]
[…]cyclic changes in temperature, light and humidity levels. Watch for young animals, as undetected eggs may hatch within the terrarium. Green anoles originating from the northern portions of the range require longer and cooler “winters” than do those from the south. In fact, southern-range animals are different, physiologically, from those […]
[…]due to shoreline development and the introduction of Bass, Carp and other fishes, which consume eggs and tadpoles. In recent years, deformed Green Frogs have been found in ever-increasing numbers. The cause is unknown, but pesticide or other chemical pollution is suspected. Farm ponds usually have a higher incidence of […]
[…]food in water-filled jars (stuffed with cotton) so that it remains fresh. Unfortunately, the eggs of most US natives require a period of cold temperatures if they are to hatch. I’ve had some luck refrigerating eggs at 38 F for 4 weeks, but the technique needs fine-tuning. Collecting (in pesticide-free […]
[…]while far from routine, is possible. Mudpuppies become sexually mature at 4-6 years of age. The eggs are laid individually in a cavity below a rock or log and take 6-10 weeks to develop. The female guards the eggs during the entire incubation period. The larvae are nearly 1 inch […]
[…]As an adaptation to the short summers in their native range, female Russian Ratsnakes retain their eggs for a time, and deposit them in a well-advanced state. At an incubation temperature of 82 F, they typically hatch within 40 days. The hatchlings measure 11-15 inches in length and differ […]
[…]of cork bark might be needed as well. Keep a sponge filter or corner filter handy for use once the eggs are deposited and the adults removed. Other Techniques The Zoo Med Canister Filter comes equipped with a spray bar…I’ve not yet tried, but since the filter can be operated […]
[…]and a filter that does not create strong currents (corner filters are ideal). Females lay 100-200 eggs, usually within 24 hours of entering amplexus; the eggs attach to plants, sticks and airline tubing. At 72 F, the tiny (7 mm) tadpoles hatch in 3-4 days. They remain motionless and attached […]
[…]The most dramatic I’ve seen (many times!) depicts a small dinosaur incubating a clutch of eggs, and is on exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Further Reading Please see my article on Titanoboa to learn about a 43-foot-long, 2,500 pound Anaconda ancestor. You can see a re-creation of […]
[…]referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Eric Guinther (Marshman) Centipede protecting eggs image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Marshal […]
[…]body of water) and other unsuitable habitats. For several years I collected Snapping Turtle Eggs along the Bronx River and gave them to a friend, who is a monk in a local temple. Temple members incubated the eggs and we held a release ceremony each August back at the Bronx […]
Dietary variety is the key to success in rearing many herps and invertebrates. Unfortunately, options for newly-transformed frogs and salamanders, Poison Frogs and other small species and hatchling spiders are limited. A diet of fruit flies, springtails and pinhead crickets sometimes suffices, but as I learned when rearing the endangered […]
[…]that frequent these areas. Diet Bats, mice, rats, squirrels and other mammals, birds and their eggs, treefrogs and lizards. Prey is killed by constriction; the tail is highly prehensile, allowing for long strikes at fast-moving, arboreal prey. There is some evidence that, especially in young animals, the red-tipped tail is […]
[…]and Snapping Turtles. Texas Horned Lizard Nesting A Texas Horned Lizard was observed to leave its eggs uncovered after depositing them in the nest hole, apparently to seek shade and rest. During the resting period, the lizard intently watched the eggs – the first such documentation of this behavior. After […]
[…]longer. REPRODUCTION In my experience, most females in NYC and the immediate environs lay their eggs on rainy nights in early June. I am always rewarded by the sight of nesting females on such nights and during the following mornings. If you have a chance to visit nesting sites during […]
[…]are often surprised to find that males are surprisingly vocal during copulation! Females lay eggs from May-October, often taking over 2 hours to dig the nest hole; 5-7 clutches of 5-30 eggs each may be produced each year. Egg output is related to the size and condition of the female […]
[…]Setup Snapping turtles are entirely aquatic, rarely bask and usually leave the water only to lay eggs. Hatchlings and small turtles are best kept in water of a depth that allows them to breathe by extending their necks to the surface. They mainly walk about the bottom and are not […]
[…]can raise their core temperatures and the temperature of the egg clutch. Females deposit 30-100 eggs after a gestation period of 100-150 days. The eggs hatch in approximately 85 days. The hatchlings are 30-32 inches long-large enough to consume adult mice right away and become sexually mature at a length […]
[…]tended by the male, and sometimes by the female as well. Males soak in water and then lie over the eggs to moisten them, and may tend several clutches at once. The eggs hatch in 14-18 days and the tadpoles are transported to streams on the back of either parent. […]
[…]coccinea, is rarely kept by hobbyists or zoos because of its preferred diet of lizard and snake eggs. A specimen in South Carolina, however, consumed a young, dead Corn Snake with which it had been temporarily confined. The Southern Hognosed Snake, Heterodon simus, is widely “known” to be a confirmed […]
[…]All Assassin Bugs, including the US natives, should be handled only with forceps. Assassin Bug eggs and nymphs are very tiny, and usually go un-noticed – be sure to use fine grade insect screening over their terrariums to prevent escapes. Environment and Breeding Red and White-Spotted Assassins can be […]
[…]on the pond bottom in densely vegetated sites. There is some evidence that females may guard eggs, but we do not as yet know whether fertilization is internal or external (great project for an aspiring keeper!) The eggs hatch in April and May; very little is known of larval period. […]
Harvard biologist David Blachurn knew he was onto something unusual when a benign-looking frog he was examining in Cameroon, West Africa kicked out and left him with a bleeding cut. Unusual indeed – an article (23 August 2008) in Biology Letters describes the hidden claws of Perret’s night frog as […]
[…]the breeding season. Females dig a burrow, which terminates in a leaf-lined chamber, for their eggs. There is evidence that, at least in certain populations, gravid females migrate to small, temporary water bodies before nesting; perhaps this safeguards the young from Salt Water Crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, and other river-dwelling predators […]
[…]to the Forest Monitor, appears to consume a more traditional monitor diet of birds and their eggs, small mammals, invertebrates and carrion. Further Reading The official announcement of the new species and photographs are posted on the website of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Black Tree Monitor image […]
[…]An increase in water depth may stimulate breeding outside of the normal cycle, but fewer viable eggs will be produced). Upon emergence from hibernation, the newts should be housed in aquarium, or their terrestrial terrarium should be modified to provide a large water area. Resting sites such as cork bark […]
[…]to a fatal infection known as egg peritonitis. It is important to note that females may develop eggs even if un-mated, and that captives may produce several clutches each year. Eggs incubated at 82 F typically hatch in 62-75 days. Males may stress or bite females during mating […]
[…]crabs, crayfish and squid. Pinkies or small mice may be provided once weekly, and hard-boiled eggs can be used on occasion. All meals (other than fishes, crabs and rodents) offered to growing monitors should be powdered with calcium, and a high-quality reptile vitamin/mineral supplement should be used 3x weekly. I […]
[…]protecting them from predators and desiccation. It is not known if incubating females leave the eggs to feed. The 30-200 eggs, which are attached to each other in string-like fashion, are deposited in June/July in the northern part of the range and in Jan. /Feb. in the south. Inundation […]
[…]and green crabs, crayfish and squid. Mice should be provided once weekly, and hard-boiled eggs can be used on occasion. All meals offered to growing monitors should be powdered with calcium, and a high-quality reptile vitamin/mineral supplement should be used 3x weekly. I favor ReptoCal, ReptiVite and ReptiCal. Rodents […]
[…]occupied by the endangered burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), displacing the birds and destroying eggs and chicks in the process. Ever hungry, the 4-6 foot long behemoths also assist the spread of undesirable invasive plants by eating their fruits and dispersing the seeds in their feces. Among one of their most […]
[…]body is marked with black, and the legs are banded, but individuals vary. Maternal Care of Eggs and Young Female Dark Fishing Spiders carry their egg cases, which may contain up to 1,400 eggs, suspended between the chelicerae (fangs), pedipalps, and spinnerets (large wolf spiders, which resemble fishing spiders, […]
[…]male frogs in the wild are being found to have inter-sex characteristics, including immature eggs within the testes. A recent Harvard University study found such characteristics in 21% of the male green frogs, Rana clamitans, in ponds in suburban Connecticut. It seemed that the affected frogs were more common in […]
[…]Music Frog is native to marshy habitats in central and southwestern China. Females deposit their eggs in burrows constructed by the males, and the tadpoles develop there as well. The ability to construct a safe burrow is, therefore, an important consideration when females go “mate shopping”. You can see photos […]
[…]low intakes. As a corner filters outflow is directed upwards, strong currents that might disturb eggs, larvae or weak-swimmers are avoided. Corner filters can be easily hidden with plants. Live Java Moss is ideal for this purpose. Sponge Filters Sponge filters provide mechanical and biological filtration, and are ideal for […]
[…]become involved in all aspects of marine turtle field work – counting and re-locating eggs, monitoring nest success, and, most thrilling of all, tagging the huge females at night as they finish nesting (often carried out while mounted on the turtle as she scrambles for the sea!). Depending upon the […]
[…]Booth Frogs”. Treefrogs that Break the “Frog Breeding Rules” Some treefrogs deposit their eggs on leaves over water, while others breed in tree hollows in the forest canopy. It was recently discovered that the tadpoles of India’s Brown Leaping Frog live on tree limbs and eat bark, while those […]
[…]usually occurs within a month after the snakes are returned to optimal temperatures, with 6-10 eggs being deposited 40-60 days thereafter. The eggs hatch in 55-62 days when incubated at 80-84 F and 95% humidity. The hatchlings average 12-16 inches long, and shed within their first 2 weeks. In contrast […]
[…]pet food. They are also extremely interesting in their own right, with females caring for their eggs and actually carrying food to the young! Why Earwigs? Earwigs are readily accepted by a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas, fishes, and scorpions, and provide nutrients absent from commercially-reared insects. They are […]
[…]by grappling, often rising onto their hind legs during tests of strength. All species lay eggs. Diet All monitors are alert, effective predators, with the various species taking an incredibly huge array of prey – termites and other insects, snails, spiders, crayfish and other invertebrates, birds and their eggs, frogs, […]
[…]expertise. In my work as a rehabilitator, I have been involved in removing and incubating eggs from road-killed Diamondback Terrapins, fashioning a “skateboard” for a 3-legged Ornate Box Turtle and a partial plastic carapace for a Gopher Tortoise, and many other interesting rescue efforts. Marine and freshwater species are also […]
[…]Turtles were exported from the USA between 2009 and 2011 (this excludes processed meat and eggs). Unfortunately, government regulation sometimes raises hackles among pet keepers. Throughout my career as a herpetologist, I’ve worked on numerous cooperative ventures between government agencies and private keepers – all showed promise, but were […]
[…]crickets with enthusiasm! Male African bullfrogs are diligent parents – they defend the eggs and dig channels to bring water to their tadpoles. You can learn more […]
[…]ponds, vernal pools, and marshes as winter ends (December in the south, May in the north). The eggs are attached to submerged vegetation at or near the water’s surface, often in areas that receive a good deal of sunlight. The eggs hatch in 8-24 days. The tadpoles feed upon algae […]
[…]lizards ate just about everything they came across – other lizards, snakes, turtle and bird eggs, small mammals, fish, frogs, crabs, large insects and carrion – and were major predators in this flooded grassland habitat. I managed to catch a few young tegus, but old, battle-scarred individuals were impossible to […]
[…]but cork bark offers, I believe, the best attachment site). The jelly surrounding each clump of eggs is extremely thin, so take care not to jostle the caves when you check them. The eggs hatch in 10-12 days, at which time the tadpoles slide down strands of jelly (which may […]
[…]in tiny, nutrient-poor pools within bromeliads, and would not survive without the unfertilized eggs provided by their mothers as food. Many other Poison Frogs do the same, but Mimic males stay near tadpole pools and call to their mates when the tadpoles need to be fed (how they know when […]
[…]no bounds – ground squirrels, rats and other rodents, possums, rabbits, bats, birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs, and other snakes are all consumed with equal gusto. Chickens and ducks (and cats, I’ll bet!) are taken near farms and villages. Tiger Ratsnakes as Pets It’s difficult for most snake enthusiasts […]
[…]water and in waters containing high fish populations. Large females may lay as many as 36,000 eggs, attached in strings to aquatic vegetation. In contrast to most frogs, both eggs and tadpoles are protected by virulent toxins. The tadpoles take 10 days to 6 months to transform, depending upon temperature […]
[…]they may seriously injure females if not monitored closely. A typical clutch contains 1-5 eggs, which hatch after an incubation period of 97-108 days at a temperature of 82F. The carapace of the hatchlings, attractively marked in dark brown with a bright orange rim, is 1.4-1.6 inches long. Diet Keeled […]
[…]moves against her, stiffens, and vibrates. This stimulates the female to release 1-5 unfertilized eggs, which comprise the tadpole’s sole diet. She visits and feeds each of her offspring, every other day or so, for the 43-52 days that they remain in the tadpole stage…no wonder these tiny moms eat […]
[…]Cuban natives have been transported around the world, hidden among plants and soil. Their eggs are laid on land, and the tadpole stage is passed within the egg, so the frogs readily establish themselves in greenhouses and other warm, humid habitats. It always pays to (discretely) poke around in walk-through […]
[…]consists of coconut husk and top soil. Millipedes need to burrow, especially when laying eggs and molting, so keep at least 4-6 inches of substrate available to them. A layer of gravel at the terrarium’s bottom will assist in drainage. Dietary Variety As we know little about the actual nutritional […]
[…]had it been overcome, eventually escaped. Reproduction Mating occurs from March to May, with 6-30 eggs being laid 27-28 days thereafter. Second clutches, laid in August, have been reported in captive situations but not in the wild. The eggs are secreted in cavities below fallen trees and rocks, or within […]
[…]length and width of the turtle) provisioned with 6-8 inches of slightly moist soil and sand. The eggs may be incubated in moist vermiculite at 82-84 F for 50-85 days. Gravid females that do not nest should be seen by a veterinarian as egg retention invariably leads to a […]
[…]however, the male African bullfrog turns his pugnacious nature towards defending his numerous eggs and tadpoles, and he is fearless in that task. I have seen footage of one leaping at the faces of African lions that had shown interest in his precious charges (the lions were only about 2 […]
[…]and deposit their small clutches of eggs on land. One or both parents may guard and moisten the eggs. Some species transport the tadpoles to pools of water upon their backs. Female Strawberry Poison Frogs and certain others lay unfertilized eggs as food for their tadpoles, awaiting a signal from […]
[…]Snakes produce unusually large clutches, which range in size from 20 to over 50 eggs. As the eggs are deposited below cover or within shallow burrows, a large nesting box should be provided to gravid females. Hatchlings measure 8 ½ – 11 inches in length. Temperament Rainbow Snakes are […]
[…]a well-planted aquarium, a group will provide much of interest to observe – and, perhaps, even eggs (more on breeding next time). Further Reading For more on Dwarf Frog care, please see: Distinguishing the African from the Dwarf African Clawed Frog Live Foods: Worms and Worm Look-alikes […]
[…]raise their own core temperatures and that of the egg clutch. Female Burmese Pythons lay 18-100 eggs after a gestation period of 60-150 days. The eggs hatch in 55-75 days. The hatchlings are 18-24 inches long (large enough to consume adult mice) and become sexually mature at a length of […]
[…]fed very well, and are good at negotiating domestic squabbles!). Female Leopard Geckos produce 2 eggs, which are often visible beneath the skin as they develop. Remove the male once copulation has been observed, or you notice a weight gain; watch also for overly aggressive males. Copulation is accompanied by […]
[…]insect larvae, snails, crabs, algae and other organisms. The newly described frogs deposit their eggs on the surface of the plant above the water, into which the tadpoles drop upon hatching. The tadpoles, at a mere 3 millimeters in length, are also among the world’s smallest. Other Recent Discoveries A […]
[…]to a fatal infection known as egg peritonitis. It is important to note that females may develop eggs even if unmated, and that captives may produce several clutches each year. The eggs may be incubated in moist vermiculite at 82-86 F for 60-85 days. Please post below for further […]
[…]the Rosy Boa can be. They are live bearers, so breeders are spared the trouble of incubating eggs, and the 3-6 young typically produced are large enough to accept pink mice. Garter Snakes, Thamnophis spp. Over 30 species of these attractive, interesting snakes may be found in North America. Garter […]
[…]vernal (temporary) ponds in which to reproduce, as these cannot support fishes, the main enemy of eggs and larvae. In many cases, the “ponds” are mere depressions that fill with rain for a few weeks, and then dry out. One of my favorite sites was just such a pond on […]
[…]not to puncture veins, as their common name suggests! The unique tadpoles seem to hatch from eggs deposited in water-filled tree hollows high above the ground, but beyond that we know nothing of their natural history. Tadpole Teeth Tooth structure is an important means of identifying tadpoles, especially given that […]
[…]I mentioned began calling in response to increased showers, but the females did not respond with eggs. As most green treefrogs in the trade hail from Florida and Louisiana, a dry period followed by frequent misting and a rise in temperature of 5-10 F might do the trick. You can […]
[…]of Grenada report that female Mexican lance-headed rattlesnakes frequently consume infertile eggs and non-living young after giving birth. This is said to be the first documented case of cannibalism among rattlesnakes (please see below for my observations, however). Interestingly, with a sole exception, the females did not consume young that […]
[…]and is listed on CITES Appendix I. Reproduction Mating takes place in May-June, with 5-16 eggs being laid (buried in the sand) in June-August. In the wild, females usually breed every other year, but captives may lay a clutch yearly. Diet, Natural and Captive Chuckwallas are largely herbivorous, consuming the […]
[…]to uncover further surprises. Further Reading Vibrations are also important to this species’ eggs – they hatch spontaneously when attacked by snakes. Read more here. For more info on frog hand signals, please see The Unique Panamanian Golden Frog. Red eyed Tree Frog (second image) image referenced from wikipedia and originally […]
[…]is known of the Fire Skink’s reproductive biology in the wild. Captives produce 4-9 eggs, which are buried in moist substrate and hatch in approximately 50 days. Males are territorial and fight if housed together. Diet Snails, spiders, centipedes, beetles, locusts and other invertebrates; fallen fruit, carrion, frogs, lizards; may […]
[…]suffocation as the cause of death. Reproduction Females guard and incubate clutches of 20-100 eggs, which hatch in approximately 90 days. Hatchlings typically measure 16-24 inches in length. Taxonomy Many herpetologists classify the African Rock Python as Python sebae. Others recognize two subspecies – P. s. sebae, the Northern African […]
[…]well on infrequent feedings (their metabolisms are incredibly slow) of minnows and earthworms, and eggs were produced a few times. One or two clutches hatched, but the tadpoles always expired quickly. Captive breeding was a priority, as they are found only in Lake Titicaca, 12,000 feet above sea level on […]
[…]both produced quite large clutches, as I remeber – perhaps they were in a hurry!). Seven to 15 eggs (average 10), laid at 3-5 minute intervals, will be deposited in the nest hole, which is then carefully re-filled with soil through the use of both front and rear legs. […]
[…]Like most of its relatives, it searches moist leaf litter for snails, slugs, frog and salamander eggs and, perhaps, earthworms. Unfortunately, it is already facing an uncertain future, as iron ore mining may destroy its only habitat. It was named in support of local people who oppose further destruction of […]
[…]find any water scorpions, diving beetles or other common aquatic insects, but many over-winter as eggs, and so are difficult to locate prior to maturity. Happily, the red-winged blackbirds were out in force, and calling all day. I’ve observed these early harbingers of spring to return to NY as […]
[…]miles) area in Dade County. Among the captured snakes was an 15.5 foot-long adult female with eggs forming in the oviduct, reproductively active males, and several young-of-the-year. The ages and sexes of these snakes, and their proximity to one another, suggests a breeding population. Also notable is the fact that […]
[…]enough to obtain a breeding pair, you’ll have your hands full…healthy females may lay 20-70 eggs at a time, twice each year! Incubation time averages 6 months at 77 F, and sexual maturity may be reached by 5 months of age. The Smooth Chameleon The range of East Africa’s Smooth […]
[…]and other plants, where they mature. Females of several species return to deposit unfertilized eggs as food…some even wait for a signal from the tadpole before laying (please see article below). Artificial Tadpole-Rearing Pools Keeping these little gems in a terrarium furnished with live plants is ideal, but not everyone […]
[…]its diet to toads, the Madagascar Giant Hognose takes toads, frogs, lizards, small mammals and the eggs of tortoises, lizards and birds with equal gusto. Captive adults readily accept mice and rats, but hatchlings often prefer lizard or toad-scented rodents at first. In time, they can be weaned-over to un-scented […]
[…]words, female roaches are, in essence, “trading” flight for the ability to produce additional eggs. Males of some species are though to retain the power of flight so as to be able to cover more ground when searching for mates. A description of the journal Cockroach Studies, along with photos […]
[…]as its east coast cousin, the Western Hognose takes toads, lizards, other snakes, rodents and the eggs of turtles, lizards, and birds with equal gusto.; locusts and other large invertebrates have also been reported as food items. I recall one study in which this species was identified as the major […]
[…]experienced lizard-keepers and zoos. Egg-Laying Swifts Several of the more popular Swifts produce eggs. Included among these are the Eastern Fence Lizard (S. undulatus), the Western Fence Lizard (S. occidentalis) and the Desert Spiny Lizard (S. magister). Please write in if you would like information on these and other oviparous […]
[…]fish food), can serve as the basis of their diet. Fire-Bellies often surprise their owners with eggs, offering an excellent introduction to amphibian breeding. Note: all newts produce skin toxins that can be harmful, and for certain species fatal, if swallowed; children must be supervised. Leopard Gecko, Eublepharis macularius […]
[…]Breast Spot Frog: one of the world’s smallest frogs. Macaya Burrowing Frog: unique in laying eggs below ground; there is no tadpole stage. Hispaniolan Crowned Frog: sporting a head ringed by bumps, this arboreal frog breeds in Bromeliads. Further Reading Conservation Update: the Lake Titicaca Frog Haiti’s Lost Frogs; includes […]
[…]Crickets breed readily, with the best results being had at 82-90 F. Females will deposit their eggs in bowls stocked with 2 inches of moist sand or earth. These should be removed often, as adults love snacking on their own eggs. Hatching occurs in 1-2 weeks at 85-90 F, and […]
[…]miles) area in Dade County. Among the captured snakes was an 15.5 foot-long adult female with eggs forming in the oviduct, reproductively active males, and several young-of-the-year. The ages and sexes of these snakes, and their proximity to one another, suggests a breeding population. Also notable is the fact that […]
[…]time to look and learn. Frogs that dye human skin yellow, snakes that specialize in eating only eggs or snails, iridescent skinks sporting tails twice their body length…the list is simply astounding. Today I’ll highlight a few that have especially captivated me; please post your own favorites (whether covered here […]
[…]territorial disputes. Mating coincides with the start of the rainy season. Females bury 8-14 eggs in the ground, and may produce 2 clutches each year if food is plentiful. The eggs hatch in approximately 69 days and the young average 2 inches in length. Hatchlings stay in close proximity to […]
[…]of these have evolved a primitive placenta. Many oviparous (egg-laying) skinks guard their eggs, and there is evidence that females may move the egg clutch in response to disturbances. A Few That Break the Mold Quite a few skink species depart from the group’s typical body plan and lifestyle. New […]
[…]prey, which includes a surprisingly-wide array of creatures. Rodents, rabbits, birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs and even small turtles are taken. Snakes, including rattlesnakes and other venomous species, feature heavily in the diets of some populations. I have first-hand experience with impressive biting power packed by most rodents, and […]
[…]tend to transform at the same time, and often form huge swarms. Most species mate and lay eggs without feeding, and expire in 1-3 days. This lifestyle renders it difficult to rear Bloodworms in captivity. I did have a colony established for a time in a large zoo exhibit, but […]
[…] Females scrape together a mound of dead vegetation in which to deposit their 20-30 large eggs, but appear not to guard the nest or young. Eggs are likely lost to wild pigs, Water Monitors and other predators. Conservation The False Gharial is extinct in several countries and is threatened […]
[…]and as a breeding site, Vampire Crabs have cut all ties with the ocean. Females carry their 20-50+ eggs about until they hatch or are ready to hatch, whereupon they are deposited in shallow pools of fresh water. Crab enthusiasts will be especially happy to learn that Vampires have […]
[…]were a daily occurrence – how they managed to breed I’ll never know (literally, since the eggs incubated unseen within the exhibit!). A susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections, often centered on the carapace, adds to the difficulties involved in keeping these unusual turtles. Nile Softshell Turtle (Trionx triunguis) […]
[…]be more widespread than is generally believed. Reproduction Mating occurs in the spring and 2-9 eggs are laid in the summer. The young, 12-15 inches in length, hatch after an incubation period of 2-3 ½ months. Hatchlings feed mainly upon small lizards. Diet Lizards are said to be favored, especially […]
[…]many tadpoles will not survive even under the best of circumstances. Some turtles lay infertile eggs, apparently to satiate predators and take attention away from viable ones – I have no hard evidence, but I would not be surprised to learn that weaker tadpoles serve a similar function. Feeding Tadpoles […]
[…]a single beetle may consume 7-10 caterpillars each day, and each female produces 800-1,000 eggs. Captive Husbandry Caterpillar hunters make fascinating terrarium subjects. Clad in beautiful iridescent colors, most are not at all shy about revealing a range of interesting behaviors. They do well at normal room temperatures and can […]
Surinam toads are well known for their bizarre reproductive strategy (please see article below), unusual appearance, large size and unique habitats. They make very interesting pets but, as most in the trade are wild-caught, present a few problems when first introduced into the aquarium. Last time we took a […]
[…]season, the plastron becomes somewhat flexible to allow for the passage of the 2-4 unusually-large eggs. Females sometimes have difficulty passing their eggs, especially if the diet lacks sufficient calcium. Gravid females usually become restless and may refuse food. They should be removed to a large container (i.e. 5x […]
[…]snake breeders start off with live-bearing species, so as to avoid the necessity of incubating eggs. In the Family Boidae we find a wide range of possibilities, one of the most popular of which is the beautiful Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria). Although not as widely kept as its much larger […]
[…]14 years ago – they have bred several times and show no signs of slowing down. They do not lay eggs, but rather give birth to live larvae. Some populations, particularly those living at high elevations, give birth to fully formed little salamanders, skipping the larval stage completely. How I […]
[…]upon the latitude, with mating concentrated in the spring. The average clutch contains 2-5 eggs (range 1-9); 4 clutches per year may be produced in the southern part of the range. The eggs are deposited in a shallow nest (muskrat lodges are favored in some areas), within decaying logs, or […]
[…]herpetologists Mary and George Rabb. An Unusual Degree of Parental Care Females deposit 60-200 eggs in pools of water located in tree hollows above ground. The tadpoles are large, and in time their body mass may exceed the volume of water held in the cavity. Perhaps this is why such […]
[…]minute pools to catch mosquito larvae, crabs that never descend to earth, tadpoles that are fed eggs by their mothers, salamanders observed nowhere else – the list of Bromeliad-dependent creatures is endless, and can provide a lifetime of interest to those who wish to study and keep them. Further Reading […]
[…]they are likely on the menu of predators ranging from spiders to small birds. Females produce 2 eggs, but the details of their reproductive biology are unknown. I’m looking forward to reading more about their lifestyles, especially their diet. Some years ago, I cared for a colony of tiny Kihansi […]
[…]the family Dendrobatidae or Aromobatidae. Those species that have been studied deposit their eggs on land. Males transport the tadpoles to water at varying points in their development. Most of the new frog’s relatives seem to have very small natural ranges. Any disturbance, even carefully-planned ecotourism, may put them at […]
[…]as the Common Boa (Boa constrictor), are habitat generalists. Reproduction All pythons produce eggs which in most if not all species are incubated by the female. By contracting their muscles, or “shivering”, females can raise the temperature of their clutch by as much as 40 F. With a […]
[…]fight, and often harass females with near-constant mating attempts. Breeding Three to five eggs are produced at a time, and females may deposit up to 4 clutches per year. Breeding usually occurs between August and December. Females sometimes have difficulty passing their eggs, especially if the diet lacks […]
[…]may reach 2-3 years of age. Breeding Both Sunburst and Green Diving Beetles deposit eggs on live plants. A dip in temperature and shortened light cycle for 4-6 weeks may stimulate reproduction, but is not absolutely necessary. Some have reported consistent breeding following a “drought/rain cycle” (water level is dropped […]
[…]breeding season, another characteristic that endears them to herptoculturists. All deposit their eggs in water. Newts generally spend about half of the year in water, but some exhibit a unique three-stage lifestyle – aquatic larvae, terrestrial sub-adults (or Efts) and fully-aquatic adults. Newts produce virulent skin toxins such as Tarichatoxin. […]
[…]which includes a surprisingly-wide array of creatures. Rodents, rabbits, snakes, birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs, fish, small turtles are large insects have been reported as being taken. I have first-hand experience with impressive biting power packed by most rodents, and find it amazing that Cribos do not utilize constriction, […]
[…]Aquatic Garter Snake (T. c. gigas) approaches 5 feet in length. Aquatic Garter Snakes add fish eggs and leeches to their diets on occasion. Plains Garter Snake, T. radix The emergence of thousands of plains garter snakes from hibernation is a tourist attraction in parts of southern Canada. A toad […]
[…]capsules) on the substrate; females take these into the cloaca with the cloacal lips. The eggs, 30-90 in number, are deposited in the spring. They are attached to the roof of a natural or self-made depression below a rock or log, and are guarded by the female until hatching occurs […]
[…]insects that have fallen into the water and carrion are also taken. Reproduction Diving Beetle eggs are attached to aquatic plants. The elongated, aquatic larvae are known as “Water Tigers” and, equipped with out-sized jaws, attack prey much larger than themselves. The larvae pupate on land – in mud at […]
[…]Brooding Frog Females of this species, missing from Australia since 1985, swallow their eggs, incubate them in the stomach and “give birth” via their mouths! Studying their ability to shut down the flow of digestive enzymes during incubation might have yielded important insights into human digestive disorders. Jackson’s Climbing Salamander […]
[…]females bask far more frequently than do others, and may consume the fetal membrane and infertile eggs passed with the young. Newborn Green Anacondas are secretive and rarely seen; little is known of their natural history. Further Reading You can read more about the research mentioned above in […]
[…]is native or was introduced to control rats (it seems better at controlling chickens and their eggs than rats!). Mammals Guam was home to only three native mammals, all bats. Two have been extirpated by the snake, and the Marianas Fruit Bat is now limited to a single small […]
[…]the sexes, preparation for breeding and egg-laying. The Tadpoles At 80-85 F, White’s treefrog eggs will begin to hatch in 24-40 hours. The tadpoles remain largely inactive for the first 1-3 days, during which time they should not be fed. Once they begin moving about, food should always be available. […]
[…]people report that both species often occur at high densities in certain areas, and that the eggs of many females may be found together. Interestingly, students of mine consistently claim to have observed Rough Green Snakes in abandoned lots in NYC (Bronx), but I have been unable to confirm this. […]
[…]and commonly sold as food for tropical fishes. I experimentally raised the larvae of Mexican Axolotls and Spotted and Marbled Salamanders solely upon blackworms, and had excellent results. Avoid Tubifex Worms, which are harvested from polluted waters. Live Earthworms are a near-perfect food for most newts (and amphibians in general), […]
[…]at age 3-5. Courting and breeding occurs in May and June, and females deposit 1-4 clutches of eggs (1-15 eggs in total) between May and July. Late-hatching young may overwinter in the nest and emerge the following spring. Captive conditions may alter all of the above, so please write […]
[…]commercial turtle foods are, thankfully, light years removed from the yesteryear’s dried “ant eggs” (actually ant pupae). While natural foods remain important, some remarkable advances now provide turtle keepers with an important safety net, and simplify the process of providing our pets with a balanced diet. Today I’ll review some […]
[…]– killing a few dozen workers will not reduce ant numbers but instead may set up a call for more eggs! Boric Acid Toxins that are taken to the nest and shared among the colony can be effective against Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis, the most common indoor ant in many […]
[…]In August, females excavate nesting burrows that may reach 5 or more feet in length. Their 5-30 eggs are deposited at the end of the burrow and are guarded for at least part of the 4-5 month incubation period. Sexual maturity is reached in 5-9 years. Diet Adults are largely […]
[…]orange to grayish-brown as it matures. There are some indications that females remain with their eggs for a time. Unique scalation lends the alternative common name of Keel-scaled Boa. Juveniles and some adults (especially females) appear to be largely arboreal. The Round Island Boa’s preferred habitat – forest and palm-dotted […]
[…]Hooks along the edges of the sperm packet latch onto the female’s genital opening, and the eggs are then fertilized internally. Gestation and Birth Gestation is highly variable, ranging from 7-10 months on average but sometimes exceeding 1 year. It is likely that stress, temperature and other factors play a […]
[…]is an impressive hunter of small fishes and tadpoles (please see photo of a female with eggs, currently in my collection). My nephew readily tackles snakes exceeding his own length, but when I asked him to swim under a dock and capture this spider, he quickly replied “No way, man”! […]
[…]D3 levels are now at normal levels, and several previously-infertile females have produced viable eggs. I’m interested to see if the effects of the bulbs and the sunlight can be distinguished (nothing tops natural sunlight, of course). Several Ringtail Lemurs that share the tortoise exhibit also became very fond […]
[…]in the early 60’s. I knew enough to bypass the recommended diet of “sugar water and dried ant eggs” but was ignorant of the beast’s UVB requirements. I did, however, gather that it craved sunlight, and during one basking trip the lizard escaped up a caterpillar- laden apple tree where, […]
[…]spermatophore is picked up by the female’s cloacal lips in typical salamander fashion. Eggs are individually attached to aquatic plants, with the tip of a leaf folded over each egg by the female. The incubation period is short, generally less than 2 weeks. The larvae sport external gills and are […]
[…]Thorny Tree Frog was found in a dense cloud forest in central Vietnam. Females deposit their eggs in water-filled tree cavities, but much remains unknown about other aspects of their life history. You can read the article describing this new species in the article linked below. Brazilian Pterosaur, Caiujara […]
[…]not taken as prey). Fierce predators in their own right, Fire Ants also attack lizards and their eggs. They likely affect plant communities as well, which in turn can impact horned lizard survival by altering the environment. Introduced Indian Mongooses are driving the St. Croix Ground Lizard to the brink […]
[…]You with an Egg Sac As a single mating can result in multiple egg cases, females sometimes produce eggs long after having been fertilized by a male. If you are not aware of a female’s history, you may find yourself with more tarantula-related responsibilities than you bargained for! While a […]
[…]are lung-less and tongue-less frogs, gliders and burrowers, frogs that brood their eggs in vocal sacs and others that form lifelong pair bonds. The first time I bred Surinam Toads, and witnessed 100 tiny frogs emerging from their mother’s back (please see photo), I thought I had seen the oddest […]
[…]and Odd Snake Meals From Caiman, Siamese Cats and African Hunting Dogs to centipedes and frog eggs, snakes have been observed feeding on many “unexpected” food items. In Venezuela, a Green Anaconda grabbed my co-worker, in what appeared to be a feeding attempt, while a recent study documented 150 Reticulated […]
[…]balls during the breeding season and a taste for a wide variety of creatures…birds and their eggs, fish, lizards, caiman, capybaras, pacas, brocket deer and a host of other animals have been recorded as prey. Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus I’ve captured and tagged some very large Green Anacondas, and have […]
[…]leads to a fatal infection (egg peritonitis). It is important to note that females may develop eggs even if un-mated, and that pets may produce several clutches each year. The 4-20 eggs may be incubated in moist vermiculite at 80-82 F for 55-65 days. Temperament Diamondback Terrapins make […]
[…](72 F by night, 82-85 F by day) initiated in late autumn. Clutches generally contain 5-10 eggs, which may be incubated in moist vermiculite at 88-90 F for 55-65 days. Hatchlings average 11-14 inches in length. Further Reading Python Eats Crocodile: Giant Snake Meals Green […]
[…]that may live for 10, 20 or even 50 years. Among them we find creatures that glide, brood their eggs in vocal sacs, form lifelong pair bonds and exhibit other fascinating behaviors. While the smallest is barely as large as a pea, the nine-pound African Bullfrog can chase lions away […]
[…]from the lower jaw! The newly-described Vampire Flying Frog, Rhacophorus vampyrus, deposits eggs in water-filled tree hollows high above the ground, but as yet we know little about the natural history of its most unusual tadpoles. Amazingly, Dr. Rowley also discovered another frog, the Quang’s Treefrog, Gracixalus quangi, and […]
[…]biology, so captive breeding is not considered an option. There is some evidence the eggs of lizards such as the St. Lucia Whiptail (Cnemidophorus vanzoi, please see photo) make up much of its diet, but it likely takes lizards, frogs, small mammals and birds as well. St. Lucia’s Other Reptiles […]
[…]are available. Fascinating snakes that specialize in hunting centipedes, spiders, fish and frog eggs and other unusual prey items are also known, but these are rarely kept as pets. A single adult of most species will do fine in a 10 gallon aquarium. Unlike more commonly-kept snakes, they do […]
[…]be watched closely, as males often bite females during courtship. A typical clutch contains 1-5 eggs, which hatch after an incubation period of 95-110 days at 82 F. Please see the article linked below for further information. The Yellow-Spotted Sideneck Turtle, Podocnemis unifilis, This attractive South American turtle commonly […]
[…]a variety of health concerns, including dehydration, depressed immune systems, parasites, retained eggs, malnutrition and shipment-related injuries. Please see this article, and be sure to purchase only captive-bred animals. Please check out my posts on Twitter and Facebook. Each day, I highlight breaking research, conservation news and interesting stories concerning just […]
[…]wrestle for dominance during the mating season (please see photo). Females deposit 6-17 eggs in mammal burrows, termite mounds, tree hollows and similar sites. The hatchlings average 15-24 inches in length. Black Mambas grow very quickly, with well-fed individuals reportedly reaching a length of 6 feet within their first year […]
[…]species for much of their lives. Reproduction Limited observations indicate that several hundred eggs are attached to aquatic vegetation in quiet pools among the rapids. The tadpole stage lasts for 2.5 to 3 months. In common with certain other frogs that inhabit noisy, rushing streams, Goliath Frogs produce no mating […]
[…]in Captive Diets Amphipods are readily accepted by newts of all types, Mexican Axolotls, many turtles, and aquatic frogs such as African and Dwarf Clawed Frogs and Surinam Toads. Salamander larvae and carnivorous tadpoles relish smaller species. They can also be offered to terrestrial salamanders and frogs; in these cases, […]
[…]it follows that diurnal amphibians will receive some exposure. On the other hand, the skin and eggs of some amphibians contain chemicals that filter-out UVB. We still have a great deal to learn. Providing UVB to Pet Reptiles and Amphibians Natural sunlight is the best source of UVB, but please […]
[…]numbers, and remains an excellent introduction to snake breeding. Females produce clutches of 8-26 eggs, sometimes twice yearly, and the 8 – 11 inch long hatchlings are not difficult to rear. Please see the article below for further information. Further Reading Corn Snake History, Breeding and Color Phases […]
[…]Australasian species spend the majority of their lives in water, emerging only to bask or deposit eggs. South American representatives vary in their habits – the Mata Mata Turtle is completely aquatic but others, such as the Twist Necked Turtle (Platemys platycephala), spend some time on land. Depending upon […]
[…]became one of the few of her kind to reproduce in captivity, and yearly rewarded us with fertile eggs. The heads of the male River Terrapins darken during the breeding season, and white eye-rings develop. We were able to document a display during which males pumped their throats and possibly […]
[…]as their pugnacious parents. Poison Frog tadpoles of several species feed upon unfertilized eggs deposited by their mother, Goliath Frog, Conraua goliath, tadpoles consume a single species of algae, Fringe-Limbed Treefrog (Ecnomiohyla rabborum) tadpoles eat their father’s skin, Brown Leaping Frog (Indirana semipalmata) tadpoles gnaw on wood (high up in […]
[…]skin folds (for oxygen absorption) suit the Ghost Frog for life near fast-moving streams. Its eggs have never been found. Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis As a child, I was fascinated by this heaviest of North America’s salamanders, and couldn’t imagine why grown men considered it “from hell” and would reportedly cut a […]
[…]cooling off period at 58-62 F seems to stimulate breeding behavior. Clutches generally contain 5-8 eggs, which should be incubated at 80-82 F for 80-90 days. Handling Individual tolerance of handling varies almost as much as does their color pattern! As with most snakes, wild-caught animals may remain defensive […]
[…]and initiate digestion; food is consumed in liquid form, in the manner of spiders. Reproduction Eggs are inserted into living or dead plants, and hatch in 2-4 weeks. The nymphs resemble the adults (incomplete metamorphosis) and mature in 4-6 weeks. Captive Care Enclosure The aquarium should be covered and the […]
[…]artificial bromeliads, which are equipped with tiny “ponds” in which frogs can deposit their eggs or tadpoles, are very useful (please see photo). An easily-cleaned, bare-bottomed tank, tilted on one side to create a water section, is ideal for African Bullfrogs, Horned Frogs and other giants that require frequent water […]
[…]suitable space and proper pre-conditioning, either species may surprise you with thousands of eggs…and the tadpoles are as rabidly carnivorous as their parents! Cost The cost of ownership of each frog is about the same. Neither requires UVB exposure, and they do fine with similar diets, terrariums and heat […]
[…]Environment This turtle spends most of it’s time in the water, leaving only to bask or lay eggs. An adult male or smaller female (some females top out at 12 inches, while others attain 18 inches in length) will require an aquarium of at least 100 gallons in capacity, but […]
[…]would be most valuable to this snake and its relatives. Field observations indicate that 4-8 eggs are typically produced. Temperament Mexican Vine Snakes are notoriously high-strung, and should be viewed as creatures to observe rather than handle. When approached, they open the mouth to expose its black interior and strike […]
[…]females bask far more frequently than do others, and may consume the fetal membrane and infertile eggs passed with the young. Newborn Green Anacondas are secretive and rarely seen; little is known of their natural history. Green Anacondas – A Most Varied Diet Green Anacondas take a wider range of […]
[…]via tongs to limit potential problems. Health Considerations Females may be troubled by retained eggs and other reproductive disorders if they do not mate. In order to avoid these life-threatening conditions, unmated females should be spayed. Gravid females need an appropriate nesting site…please write in for further information. Water Dragons are […]
[…]common species as fascinating as Kihansi Spray Toads (which produce tiny toadlets rather than eggs!), Blomberg’s Toads and the other rarities I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Classification Toads and frogs are classified in the order Anura, which contains 6,396 members. The world’s 588 toad species are placed in […]
[…]outdoor carpets are preferable. Females without access to suitable nesting sites may retain their eggs; please see this article for information on captive breeding. Light Green Iguanas will not thrive without a source of Ultra-Violet B light. Natural sunlight is best, but be aware that glass and plastic filter out […]
[…]have quite complicated reproductive behaviors, and exhibit a high level of parental care to their eggs and tadpoles. I will address this topic in a future article. An article with natural history details and information on the care of blue dart frogs in zoos is posted […]
[…]pink mice can be offered 1-2 times weekly. Canned snails and grasshoppers, and hard-boiled eggs, can be used to provide variety. Nile Monitors and similar species fare well on mice and rats alone; whole freshwater fishes are an excellent rodent-alternative for Water and Merten’s Monitors. Food (other than vertebrates) should […]
[…]by consuming tiny flies, ants and other insects that might parasitize the tarantula or consume its eggs. The toad, in return, receives a safe, moist home and the protection of an aggressive predator. Scores of other tarantulas and spiders, as well as scorpions, millipedes, pill bugs, centipedes, mantids, roaches […]
[…]infection (egg peritonitis); oxytocin injections usually resolve the problem quickly. The 6 -18 eggs may be incubated in moist vermiculite at 82-85 F for 55-80 days. Further Reading Turtle Water Quality Prepared Diets for […]
[…]call from concealed positions by day. Unlike most frogs, amplexus is dispensed with. The eggs, which may number over 100, are deposited on land, with the tadpoles being washed into nearby waterways by rains. Captive breeding needs more attention from private keepers and zoos – please write in for further […]
[…]over plants is a useful option. Breeding Well-nourished females may produce 2-3 clutches of 10-50 eggs yearly. Incubation periods of 6-8 months have been recorded, and the young reach sexual maturity 6-8 month of age. Captive reproduction can be tricky; please post below for further information. Handling Chameleons are best […]
That Reptile Blog – Reptile, Amphibian and Exotic Pet Care and Information
