Hello! and albino BTS

[Saz]

Forgot to ask, where is this elusive albino page? I can't find it!!

[MrBredli]

Hey Saz,

Are you saying you saw pics of 16 individual albinos? I have an email here from John Weigel stating they only bred 8 of each. They were expecting more but they got lower than the expected 25% from het x het matings. I'll chase John up on exact numbers if you saw more than 8 pics.

I don't have any recent pics, my albino was looking gorgeous today as she is about to shed, she's a really nice misty white and lavender colour at the moment. I will get more pics ASAP.

Cheers

Brendon

[MrBredli]

Albino page - http://bluetongueskinks.net/albino.htm

[Saz]

Just looked back in my email and found there were 10 photos, but two look to be the same animal, so that would be 9.

I think the numbering must have thrown me off!! They were numbered up to 25, with some numbers missing (obviously). Apparently I got first pick of them (well, myself and JungleRob as we bought four together hoping to get at least a pair out of it)

Please note these pics were provided to me by Snakeranch at point of sale and Snakeranch owns the rights to them.

Mine were 21 (Custard) and 9 (Rhubarb), and Robs were 24 and 10.
Which one was your MrB?

I guess it was only 9 after all! Not exactly flooding the market yet LOL! Maybe the missing numbers were the melanistics?

[Saz]

Forgot to mention, I think I've got a pair. The head shape would suggest it, however more convincing than that is that when I put them together the 'male' starts to nudge and nuzzle the 'females' neck.

'She' just sits there and pretends not to notice. I actually separated them ages ago because I found the 'male' chasing 'her' round the enclosure.

Weird stuff considering they are so young.

Anyhoo, that's enough inverted comma use for one day.

Any idea what yours is yet?

[MrBredli]

I'm pretty sure mine was number 25, but i'm not 100% sure, i can check when i get home from work.

I haven't been paying much attention to mine at all, i need to clean the cages tomorrow so i'll have a look then and see if there are any indications of sexes. I'll try and grab some pics while i'm at it.

I think you're right about the missing numbers being melanistics, hets also. I received 4 blueys and they all had the same codes on the tubs (just different numbers).

[Saz]

Would be great to see a recent pic of your albino, and also of your melanistic if possible?

They were weighed yesterday, Rhubarb was 111grams, and Custard was 157 grams from memory. He's a heffer.

[Saz]

Double post...

[Saz]

Here a couple of very quick pics to show head size, although I know its not really an accurate way to tell gender. Having said that these animals are obvously related and have been reared in exactly the same conditions so differences between them are likely to be a little more reliable than if you were working with unrelated animals raised in differering conditions.

During this short shoot the smaller one turned her head away and the suspect male turned his head to her and was checking her out again!

Fingers crossed I guess. At least we have four between us so that ups the odds.

[Blotch]

how old are they?

[Saz]

They'd be rising 5 months by now I think

[Blotch]

fair enough.

A tad too early for breeding and sexing accurately though. However - in saying that - it's not impossible to be able to sex them. Many people would still say that head size is accurate, however I've been told some of my crew may be females due to head size - but I know for a fact that they are males - so as I said - It is possible - but I personally wouldn't hold my breath on it.

Best bet is to wait til they get older and just keep observing their behaviour as the years pass. Also - in about a year or so - start paying attention to poopy time. In spring you could be lucky enough to see the hemipenes while they take a dump.

I hope you have a pair though. are they siblings?

[Saz]

Me too!! Yes, they are siblings, either full or half.

I was under the impression that males can reproduce at around 12 months, females between 2 and 3 yrs?

Has anyone tried ultrasound or x-ray for sexing skinks?

[Saz]

One of Rob's is definitely male, as he has seen sperm plugs on a couple of occasions, so hopefully that means some hets next season when paired with normal females.

[Fatal_S]

BTS breeding depends on size, not age. A huge 1 year old female could technically breed. However, I know it's tempting to just feed them and fatten them up, but then babies are often not as healthy or litter sizes never match up. It's also likely worse for the skink. But I agree with trying to breed the males to normal, larger female. 1, you may get hets and 2 it's a test run for the boys so they'll be ready next time for the albino gals.

[Saz]

Indeed, I don't breed my female beardies until 2 yrs of age for the same reason.

The females are all adults so they are pretty hefty but I'm sure they'll work it out when the time comes!