Current Pairings for 2011-2012

The 2011-2012 breeding season started a little earlier for me than normal.  Rather than cycling the first two pairs this year ahead of time I chose to introduce the males to the females to judge interest.  I tested this method out with the pairings listed below and so far I'm happy with the results.  These pairs represent a high yellow x melanistic cross and a blue Highland mix x Aru cross.  Please see each pairing below for more information.  I plan on making more introductions in early 2012 so please come back often to see what I have in store!

Squeeze x Fern - High Yellow x Melanistic pairing

GM-06-28	GM-05-38

I'm hoping that mixing potent yellow genetics into Fern's potent blue/melanistic line will produce some yellow offspring with some melanism.  Squeeze sired his first clutch with a high yellow line female last year and those offspring look be transitioning to very high yellow yearlings.  This is a first time breeding for Fern.  I expect a mix of yellow and maroon offspring from this pairing.

Estimated price: TBD

Update 10/2011:  No cycling was done ahead of introductions and the original male placed with Fern wasn't a good match.  Squeeze was my replacement male and copulations started almost immediately.  Cooling began that same evening.

Update 1/7/12:  Fern solidly off food and looking very plump.  Suspected follicle development over the last few weeks.

Update 1/9/12:  Fern began her ovulation today.

Update 1/19/12: Fern is basking and looking good.

Update 2/8/12: Fern had her pre-lay shed overnight.

Current Status 2/21/12: Fern laid eggs overnight last night.  14 fertilized eggs were laid and are set up in the incubator.  Expected hatch date around April 9th.

Fleck x Isis - Aru x blue Highland pairing

GM-06-28	JH-99

Fleck is an offspring from an Aru pairing at the Denver Zoo.  Isis is from a pair rescued by me many years ago without any background information.  Her sire was Highland-type and her dam was a Sorong x Aru-type mix.  Isis turned a gorgeous blue prior to being breeding weight/age or having gone through any cycling.  This is a first time pairing for both of these beauties so I really don't know what to expect.  I hope Isis will pass on her blue genes and adding Aru blood to the mix might just encourage that.  Isis and her sire have quite a few large white scale clusters down their body so high white is not out of the question either.

Estimated price: $500-$640

Update 10/11:  I introduced these two without any prior cycling.  Fleck rarely goes off food so I wasn't sure if he was in the mood but one look at Isis and they were copulating soon thereafter.  Cooling began that same evening.

Update Thanksgiving weekend 2011:  Isis ovulated but did not witness.

Update 12/22/11:  Isis had her suspected prelay shed.

Update 1/9/12:  Woke up this morning to Isis just finishing laying her eggs on the ground from her perch.  This is a good reason to remove your perches from a suspected gravid female's cage!  9 great looking eggs, 2 iffy eggs, 1 unfertile, and 5 slugs were laid.  11 eggs in the incubator and I hope to know if there was any damage to the embryos within a week or so.

Update 1/19/12: Isis is looking great and back on food.  Of the 9 great looking eggs 7 made it through the first week of incubation.  After a rough start I'm happy to have 7 eggs remaining.

Current Status 2/14/12: There are six eggs remaining with about two and a half weeks left in their incubation. Expected hatch date is around February 29th.

I intend to introduce more pairs in 2012 when the time is right.  I will update this page as needed.  Thank you!

Successful Pairing for 2010-2011

Squeeze x Tater - High yellow pairing

KB-06-12	GM-05-03

I'm excited to be able to cross Hickner high yellow lineage with Ophiological Services high yellow lineage with this pairing.  Squeeze is from my 2006 pairing of Rodney x Sissy and Tater is from a 2005 Barnose x Buttermilk pairing.

Update 10/10:  Pair has been together and cycled through the early fall in hopes of initiating breeding between these two.  I wasn't successful last year so I wanted to give them an early start.

Update 11/10:  Finally observed a successful copulation between these two!

Update 11/29/10:  Tater is refusing food, looking swollen, and often basking.  Things are looking promising at this point.

Update 12/13/10: Tater is ovulating today, exhibiting a full, textbook ovulation.

Update 1/9/11:  Tater just completed her pre-lay shed.  Next box is in and the incubator is up and running.  Just waiting for some good eggs.

Update 2/1/11:  Tater laid 19 eggs, 14 with with strong vein development, two slugs, and 3 unfertile, perfect looking eggs on day 21 post-shed.   Expected hatch date is mid-March.

Update 2/24/11:  One good egg expired and the three weakly veined ones didn't make it.  The others look great and are expected to start hatching around March 21st.

Current Status 3/24/11: One good egg died in the last week of incubation, and two pipped on their own but died (normal looking) in the egg without emerging.  In the end, 10 beautiful and healthy looking baby chondros pipped and hatched all on their own.

See them on the Available Neonates page!