It’s been a while since I’ve posted or made a video, mostly because kids, work, and daily life keep me busy, but also because it’s been a tough year with the Gilas. It’s been hard to get excited with season that showed so much potential. Four females were being bred, including the axanthic Gila and one of my babies from 2019, new nest boxes were designed and created, and there was a record amount of coplulation observed. As of mid-May everything was going according to plan. There was a lot of observed copulation, the female Gila’s were utilizing their new nest boxes, and ultrasound showed growing follicles. So, where did it all go wrong?
Red-light district, Gila style.
The first fly in the ointment was the axanthic female’s follicles were not maturing. Not at all. The axanthic Gila was not brumated in 2021 but was cooled in 2022 so her timing may be off, but only time will tell. Fingers crossed for next year.
Next up was my nesting situation. I still think this is my biggest issue. I have no problem getting fertile eggs, and good eggs make it to term so my incubation technique must be working, but its the in-between nesting period that is getting me. So, this year I designed new nest boxes based on many hours of research and then custom-made for me by James at All American Cages. The boxes were chambered to allow the female to dig a suitable nest in privacy and fill it back in, but still allow me to check with a removable top. I put the boxes in the cages after the pairs were split in May and the females didn’t;t waste much time exploring the boxes and ultimately retiring to them for oviposition. Unfortunately the the females still laid late which, to me, caused some of the eggs to be infertile. I think I have a good idea what is going on and next year will prove my theory out, but it is likely the females must have complete quiet and secrecy to feel comfortable enough to deposit the eggs. How many wild nests have Gila researchers ever been able to find, in recorded history? One. Only one. And that was only found because a construction crew accidentally dug one up! For next year I am going to reimagine my set up. Not sure how yet but have a few ideas, stay tuned folks:)
And last, but certainly not least, of this year’s woes was when my 2019 female Gila being bred for the first time got egg bound (or dystocia). My other females Gila lay early to mid-June like clockwork. Even when things aren’t going right the majority of the eggs are laid at this time (though a slug or two may come earlier or later), so when late June hit and Misty wasn’t laying I started getting worried. She started to lose even more weight than a normal female Gila does during the time of oviposition and still refused to eat, so early July I brought her to my vet to see what they thought. An X-ray showed five big beautiful eggs stuck in my little Gila and recommended removal by surgery at the University of Florida. While I had given the idea of waiting longer to see if she would lay some thought, anecdotal accounts universally gave bad prognosis for waiting too long – all cases I read either ended up with the female oviduct being removed altogether, or sadly in death of the Gila. Neither outcome seemed good tome so I did not want to wait any longer and scheduled the surgery the next day. I am very lucky to live in a college town with one of the country’s top veterinary schools (University of Florida, Go Gators!), but I also had the luck of getting one of the best reptile vets to perform the surgery (a big THANK YOU to Dr. Jim Wellehan and his team for the professional care and expertise on my dear Misty). Dr. Wellehan did his best to ensure Misty would be able to breed again, but only time will tell. At a minimum she will take next year off to recuperate but I will monitor follicle progress via ultrasound and see how things go. So far Misty is doing great, her incision wounds are healing well and she is eating like a champ!
To say that this year, which held so much promise, was a tough year is an understatement. As I always do after breeding season, my notes will be read and re-read, I will review ultrasound images and video, and think of how to improve next year. I have a few thoughts, mostly with nesting, but there may be some major changes coming up. Regardless, I still have good eggs in the incubator and any year that ends up with baby Gila monsters is a good one in my book!
Goatsby's Place 