Egg laying questions. Redfoot.

[ZEROPILOT]

How soon after mating can viable eggs be laid?
How long do you have to wait before you can "candle" the eggs for signs of life?
Thanks.

 

[Turtlepete]

I would say perhaps 4-6 weeks after mating the female could be laying fertilized eggs. A lot of it would depend on what kind of egg cycle that particular female is on. The two females you acquire could already be laying non-fertile eggs on a cycle, so if a fertile male copulates with them then perhaps the next clutch will be fertile. Not sure, really.

I don't bother candling, personally. The times I've tried, I've seen nothing, deemed those eggs infertile just to have them hatch in my face a couple months later. Sometimes you can see veins after 4-6 weeks, but from what I've seen, even those you see nothing can still hatch and be fertile. No idea as to why here.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks Pete. I asked because the new females are regular egg droppers I've been told and the last batch of eggs that I tried to incubate exploded in a horrible stink that I don't want to duplicate again.
I have not observed mating with my little male, but he and one of the older girls are courtship head bobbing and have been eating and sleeping together. Already inseparable it seems....

 

[allegraf]

I agree with Pete on the 4-6 weeks. Exploding eggs are generally a sign of too much moisture. Also they tend to have a season of sorts. Mine start August through to February. For cherries that is a few months behind the norm. Not sure when the northern season begins or ends.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

He said that each of his males tended to pick two females and would only mate with them....The two he sold me were "old maids". Females that males showed little attraction to. They lay several clutches a year.
Luckily, my male, Julio seems to like the old girls. They move in a pack like they've always been together.

 

[naturalman91]

i can't answer your question i was going to say 6-8 weeks but either way good luck on your future eggs can't wait to be doing it someday myself

 

[HLogic]

30 days is the approximate fertilization to deposition time though, in your case, it would be much more likely that fertilized eggs already exist from earlier matings at their previous home. Your male also looks to be slightly smaller than what might be expected to be a 'fully fledged' adult male.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Yes. My females are 15 years old and my male is just about five years old. (I also have a 3-4 year old female and a baby)
He is about 25% smaller.
I'm not sure if he can or can't even do the deed.

 

[HLogic]

Yes. My females are 15 years old and my male is just about five years old. (I also have a 3-4 year old female and a baby)
He is about 25% smaller.
I'm not sure if he can or can't even do the deed.

As with almost everything tort-related, size not age, is the determining factor. Somewhere between 8 & 10 inches seems to be when the magic happens for male RF's.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

How about how long after being deposited can you begin to see if the egg is fertile with a light?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I've got a bite on trading my two small ones for a large male adult. That'll leave me with three girls and a guy once and for all.

 

[tortadise]

What I have found with trying to introduce smaller males into a group of mature large females. The smaller males get intimidated. This has been true of many different clads. When I remove the smaller males, and or females they will all mate no problem with one another(if size is reasonably similar) but when placed with the larger ones they tend to not breed at all. But then again I keep quite a few so established alpha male is already in place during this introduction of a smaller one. Congrats on getting a big male. Should be pipping out little reds in no time.