final neo size this season

[reverendsterlin]

well all the neos have refused food for the last two weeks so I took my final measurements of the year. All were clutchmates born July 1st, some have refused several meals over the season and some less, some were slower moving up prey size, but all were happily sucking down large juvi mice by end of season.

#1 44gr. 21.5 in.

#2 50gr. 21.5 in.

#3 67gr. 22in.

#4 75gr. 23in.

[vanderkm]

Great info and appreciate you sharing. I wish I had my scale before the hatching season this year - really worth knowing where these guys are at. Have you noted much difference in clutches hatched early in the season vs those hatched later. My corns that hatched Sept 3 are very slow to get going and I wondered if it was because they are a late hatch.

mary v.

[reverendsterlin]

I think that may have to do with the female not being as primed for the second clutch(I'm assuming your talking on a double clutched female). A little less nourishing yolk, smaller egg/clutch sizes. On single clutched females maybe it could be that the later breeding is affected by the animal being more active in the summer so having traded fat for muscle faster reduction of of reserves while eggs are forming. When I double clutch I always seem to have more eggs go bad, more neo's getting assist fed, more babies that I just find dead in the morning. As for late first time clutches, I have no clue, never done it. I always try to stuff them so they get that first shed done by end of March with laying in May. Hope this at least gives you some possible ideas Mary. :D

[reverendsterlin]

opps, and part of the reason I like to post neo measurement updates is so those folks just feeding pinks or fuzzies still can understand why some animals are going to be ready to breed at 18 months 300+ grams while other animals not as aggressively fed may not be ready until their 3rd year gets them to that 300+gram mark. Animals I produced and a pair I traded Blazin for 2 summers ago will be breeding this season with the smallest female already 324gr. The males are different I don't think any have broken the 270gram mark but then males don't need the size to do their jobs, they got the easy part lol. HOWEVER once they break that 300gram mark they get reduced to 10-14 day 1 item feedings so that the slower growth rate as adults doesn't cause any fatty deposits.

[vanderkm]

Thanks Rev,

This female was one we got during the summer with no info on her history, but I suspect she laid that spring as she was lean when we got her. When she stopped eating for us and started cruising her cage we gave her a lay box and got 21 eggs. All hatched but many non feeders driving me crazy - they are in brumation now for their last chance!

mary v.