> From: "Barbie Heid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 03:34:34 -0500
>
> > > I think the problem may be when a lot
> of
> > > eggs are laid and/or repeatedly in a relatively short period of time.
> > > Perhaps in the wild such geckos are more able to replenish their stocks
> of
> > > vitamins, minerals, proteins, whatever.
> >
> > A lot of animals have an opportunistic breeding strategy, I.e rather than
> > being triggered by day length or other seasonal cue, they breed whenever
> > conditions are suitable.
> So, you think it's OK to keep them as a sexual pair, but just change the
> environmental end to discourage breeding? I love them dearly, but hate
> setting up new enclosures......
I was trying to explain the 'breed themselves to death effect'. I don't
have any experience with rhacs (or much with geckos in general), so please
don't take the above as husbandry advice. That said, I would think that
keeping animals together in compatible groups is less stressful for them
than swapping them around, but it might depend on their social structure
in nature (e.g. if males and females only hang around together during
mating season, it would be stressful to make them stay together at other
times, or if they normally live in groups, separating and reintroducing
them may be stressful because they would have to learn to recognise each
other and re-establish a hierarchy again, as well as being taken out of
their familiar surroundings and having to adapt to new ones).
One thing I found in working with some birds that are opportunistic breeders,
is that finding a combination of conditions that keeps them healthy and
happy but not breeding is not easy. Fish are easier - just drop the temp
a bit and stop feeding them rich goodies like earthworms - conversely, to
get them to breed, warm them up and feed them lots of good stuff!
What is known about the natural breeding patterns of these geckos? I think
annual temps are pretty constant in New Caledonia, but is there e.g. a rainy
season during which bugs and fruit are more plentiful? Do observers report
animals of all ages at any time of the year, or do most appear to be hatched
at a particular season? Do all females breed, or only the ones with good
territories, or boyfriends with good territories, or only the ones that are
top dogs in the social hierarchy?
Anyhow, if you want experienced practical advice, you won't get it from me!
Sorry! :-)
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