Naughty Dumerils

[rolandslf]

Well, my Dumerils have spent the weekend engaged in some naughty behaviour.
While I did not witness an actual hookup, the male is trying his luck.

Problem, this is surely not the right time of year.
Before I get shot down in flames, I do not have an enclosure at the moment big enough to sepaerate them.

Some Pics

[Bushbaby]

great on the mating. I think possibly the changes in weather may have played a role in their cycle. In other parts of the world they will be mating now, so it's not uncommon. Mating also does not mean that she will be gravid. She may store the sperm & use it at some other time.

How old are they now and how big are they? They don't look very big (but looks can be deceiving).

[Rishaad]

Congrats on the mating buddy. I really and truly hope that you have better luck this year. I will be holding thumbs for you.

[rolandslf]

They will be 7 years old this year and this is their third season of breeding.
In 2009 the female dropped 11 slugs.
This year the female dropped 7 slugs and 7 babies, sadly all the babies died within a week.

This behaviour may have been caused as a result of the fact that we have had a lot of rain here in Durban this year, with temperatures between 23 and 26 degrees, and all of a sudden our temperatures in the last 2 weeks have been between 30 and 34 degrees.
Humidity from the beginning of the year has been at an average of about 65% and all of a sudden over the last 2 weeks it has been at an average of 85%.

As to size, they are both about 1,5m long and the female weighs in at 4,6kg with the male at 4,2kg. They were from birth up till November 2009 with a friend of mine who I am afraid seems to have fed them a maintenance diet. I currently feed them every Saturday for 3 Saturdays in a row with the 4th Saturday being a break from feeding.

[Bushbaby]

Oh, okay. Good luck. Maybe they're just doing it for the fun of it, maybe not. Will however hold thumbs for you (and them).