what went wrong suggestions?

[reverendsterlin]

I bred my 3yo Blizzard to a proven charcoal het amel this year expecting a 50-50 hatch. This was the girl's first litter, all but one (so far) eggs are infertile. Tiny eggs with a hard yolk, any suggestions on what went wrong? Everyone knows me, and I am usually on the other side of the question. I am considering double-clutching her now but would like info on what may have gone wrong so it doesn't happen again. 14 infertile, 1 possible good egg. Also it has taken almost 48+ hours for the lay so far (looks like maybe 3 more eggs still to come). Thanks friends.
Reverend Sterling Kyle

[Andy_G]

I honestly do not know what to say, but a friend of mine has also had this problem. Darren Boyd's female Blizzard corn has dropped all just bad eggs the past three years, and she took a long time laying them as well. It's not the male because he bred other females with the male and they had good eggs.

[eyespy]

I've been reading articles on Veterinary Information Network (VIN) that infertile or small clutches is becoming increasingly common in cornsnakes. It's thought that all the linebreeding that's been done to establish all the various morphs is finally catching up. Liver disease and adenovirus are also being reported with increasing frequency.

I sure hope that's not the case with your pair. Sometimes first clutches are infertile for no known reason and the female goes on to be a fine breeder. Sometimes males have low sperm motility problems that are also temporary I hope it's just a reproductive hiccup and not a fertility issue.

[Vanan]

I'd blame the male! Right ladies? ;)

[marisa]

Yeah that's right Vanan!

Replace that guy! *L*

Marisa

[unBOAlievable]

Not sure but I had it happen three times this year to me, 2 of which I had previously bred before with no problems what so ever. It happened to 2 Lampropeltis and 1 Pittuophis. They all took over 24 hours to lay there clutch with one king and the pit having to be cut out. The pit died in surgery and I had it sent off for a necropsy, so maybe this will tell something.

This was the pit's first breeding ever at the age of 4. I did get 6 good eggs from her. So I am going to keep them all and see if the problem could be linked to genetics but I really don't think it is.

[gonesnakee]

Maybe you were too late with the breeding, possibly missing her ovulation cycle or hitting it at the "tailend" of it. I would guess that or a problem with the male. Were both burmated properly? I too had 3 clutches this year with zero or low fertilty rates. In one case I'm blaming the male, but in the other 2 I'd say I introduced them to one another too late. Who really knows? I do beleive there is truth to the "linebreeding theories" also. Mark I.

[unBOAlievable]

They all bred before and once after ovulation and all were cycled at the same temps as I have always done. The two that had surgery all had good eggs up until dystocia set in. All eggs that were removed looked normal but were infertile.

[snakelover111]

i dont have any suggestions. hope u find out the prob though.