Two fat ladies

[Zach]

That's so interesting about them defending the young -- I experienced that for the first time with the Northerns last summer -- one there were 3 or 4 babies running around the enclosure, I'd reach in to replace them in the baby setup -- each time I put my hand in, Pearl (or Peach, both did it) would sprint at me with a gaping mouth! Neither IJ's have shown even a smidgen of interest in their babies....

[Geoff Gates]

That's so interesting about them defending the young -- I experienced that for the first time with the Northerns last summer -- one there were 3 or 4 babies running around the enclosure, I'd reach in to replace them in the baby setup -- each time I put my hand in, Pearl (or Peach, both did it) would sprint at me with a gaping mouth! Neither IJ's have shown even a smidgen of interest in their babies....

Yep. some defend their young, others show no interest.

I can remember one time when I watched a mother nudge a baby struggling to get out of it's birth sac. She kept nudging until it broke free. Definitely looked like she was trying to help it.

[Blotch]

If I thought she was gravid I'd be hunting around for other blueys where she lived.

Do they keep a pretty defined territory and defend it? And then do they share space with the babies? Would this imply that they recognize kin and interact with them differently?

From research I've read they tend to have a home range of approx' 1 acre... with a core territory within that. Males tend to roam further than females.

I doubt they would defend territories but obviously fights would occur during breeding season. I've seen some mothers show a maternal instinct just after the younger are born but after that the babies are on their own.

I have no idea whether they recognise kin.

I'll second that one geoff - from what i'be read the male region seems to be from 4 - 6 house blocks - which depending on the size of the block would be about an acre. The range for a female is slightly less.

In regards to recognising their kin - it's an interesting Question - cuz if they did - you'd think they wouldn't breed with them (human train of thought) - but they do so who knows hey?

[Blotch]

That's so interesting about them defending the young -- I experienced that for the first time with the Northerns last summer -- one there were 3 or 4 babies running around the enclosure, I'd reach in to replace them in the baby setup -- each time I put my hand in, Pearl (or Peach, both did it) would sprint at me with a gaping mouth! Neither IJ's have shown even a smidgen of interest in their babies....

Yep. some defend their young, others show no interest.

I can remember one time when I watched a mother nudge a baby struggling to get out of it's birth sac. She kept nudging until it broke free. Definitely looked like she was trying to help it.

I guess every mother no matter what the species has varying degrees of maternal instincts.

[Scotts1au]

There are heaps of obvious examples about maternal instincts in Reptiles, ie. Pythons, Alligators, why not blueys to some degree?

Can't say that I've seen it in an obvious way. Although they haven't eaten the babies in the past if that is something.

Scott

[Blotch]

haven't blueys been known to eat a baby here and there in the past?

[Zach]

Ray had a patternless baby born and the mother turned and immediately killed it!!

[Scotts1au]

Ok mine haven't .

Scott

[Colin Hamilton]

Good to see your blotchys breeding well geoff,my blotchy mothers chase and bight me on the boots when they are having young and for a day or so after,makes me feel guilty for removing the babys

[Scotts1au]

Hey Colin

Gotta love their attitude

Scott

[Richard.C]

a couple of my girls chase and bite my boots to,especially one female lowlands blotch,she gets down rite nasty when shes close to birth,even after the birth,im expecting a couple of my girls to give birth anytime now, they are so late compared to yours colin,darn melb weather,lol,my big alpine looks huge this year,must take some snaps tommorrow and her 5 last year bubs to,which im hanging onto so far,lol,hope she can top 5 this year,10 bubs was her record,but they were premature,with most born dead 2 seasons back,2 were alive but transparent looking,only lived for 2 weeks and a month unfortunatly,and the big lowlands female who confuses me with her gravid behaviour each year but has none was mated heavily this season,shes showing all the signs again so hopefully she will stop tricking me and spit a few out as well,lol

[Greytmari]

I LOVE hearing all the news from the wild "Down Under" Keep all the news coming!!!!