Post-mated Merauke females

[Susann]

My, X-ray vision show 8 baby Meraukes

[Richard.C]

Glad ive got my lead undies on,lol

She definatly looking ominous susann,interesting the gap between her and maddie dropping,did she use the heat less perhaps?

[Susann]

interesting the gap between her and maddie dropping,did she use the heat less perhaps?

Xyla's first mating was a couple weeks later than Maddie's, and I think she has been basking less than Maddie; or at least she started basking later than Maddie --it's only been very recent that I find Xyla under the heat.

[Richard.C]

Ahh,that would explain it then

My last mated northern this season, by about 2 weeks actually beat the first mated ones by about 2 weeks,but shr was in a better heared enclosure alot smaller in size so was more active,especially early in gestation

[Susann]

Xyla is at 182 days today from her first mating; just past the 6 month mark.

[Richard.C]

The joys of waiting,lol

[spandangle]

That thing is a real plumper! She is stunning. Love to see what the bubs look like.

[sacs4010]

Wow, she is looking pretty large there. lol

[Susann]

If anyone else has updates on their girls, we'd love to hear/see them

A couple videos of Xyla breathing. You had better hang on to something, this is exciting stuff!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ORyE4-PnA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SCQz5g ... e=youtu.be

And yes, that's the same skink, videos are shot just a week apart; that's how big of a color-difference shedding can make.

Here are a couple shots of Rosy:

IMG_5243.JPG

IMG_5244.JPG

and here's why I figured I'd better post some; I really didn't hold out much hope at all that Rosy would become gravid this time around because she mated so far after the other two girls. Well, call me crazy, but I think she's put on some weight and is breathing slightly heavier... I stuck her on the scale; she has gained 175 grams since breeding in January-February!
I still don't know if I dare to be hopeful or not yet, but I'm going to be keeping a closer eye on her for sure.

[Dakota]

I do hope it is okay to post this, I have wanting to for a few months now.


(I accidentally dropped some of her calcium in her cage, I cleaned it up after I noticed it (which was just a few seconds after I took this photo. )

It has been:
212 days since first mating
211 days since second mating
210 days since third mating
177 days since last mating

(though this picture was taken 11 days ago)

But I'm just not sure.. I mean, she is doing the air gulping, yawning excessively, overall lazy (although sometimes she takes a super hyper spell!). As soon as her last mating gets to 200, I will count myself out for this season. I'm kindly thinking she must naturally have a lower metabolism (yes, I know it is defined by their external environment), because I do not feed her no more than the other skinks, and she seems to be the one to retain the weight the most.. who knows

I have decided to not breed her this November, neither. I figured, I have treated her as a gravid female ever since I got her (which was last year!), it would be nice to just have her as her for a while. I still most likely plan to breed Xaunder to Hunter, though.

For those that were wondering about Virginia.

[Susann]

Awesome; good to hear about Virginia, and good to see her so healthy looking --whether she's gravid or not.

Maybe you should try her later in the season? Like Jan-Mar. That way you'd still get to enjoy her without worrying about her being gravid, and obviously, if she didn't take again this past season, she's not "catching" in that Nov-Dec window.

[donkeybuff]

Good to see you here Dakota! She looks massive, hopefully there are a ton of little baby Meraukes in there.