id call it agression! klemmeri problems already

[Palex134]

male is a crazy physco. he will go out of his way to chase female all across the cage. I cannot see eggs in her anymore. everytime she moves, hell chase her and bit her. I witnessed him bitting her neck, not copulation, just biting. she has wounds on her leg and bit marks on her neck from him. I am not happy with him. what should I do after seperating the pair?

 

[Joe Farah]

it's probably just courtship behavior. Soon after the female drops her eggs (fertile or not) she will become receptive and the male will spend the next couple of days chasing her, biting her, and hopefully mating with her too. If this persists for more than a week you could try seperating them. Did this aggression take place before she dropped her eggs? If not, its probably that he is just trying to mate with her.

Sometimes the males get violent and aggressive with the females. Its pretty common with most Phelsuma. If they were ok before, they'll probably be ok together again soon.
Also, the bite marks heal quickly and are nothing to worry about.

 

[Palex134]

ok good! I was extremely worried when I posted this. She is just all chewed up. h


I didnt see her drop eggs, I havent found any yet, but they are not in her belly. Could she have absorbed the eggs, and not laid?

Thanks

 

[Joe Farah]

hey peter,

just be glad she isn't egg bound. More than likely she laid infertiles which were then eaten by her or the male. Often when they drop duds there is no trace at all left behind. Its also a possibility that she laid them in the substrate, although this isn't very common for klemmeri, but it does happen.

I would keep the pair together, but make sure the female gets plenty of food to eat (with calcium) and is fully hydrated. Also provide her with plenty of places to hide. She'll be fine. This is standard Phelsuma behavior. The females get beat up pretty bad... You should see what happens to grandis females! They get really torn up!

- I've never heard of a Phelsuma female absorbing her eggs...

 

[Palex134]

my acanthrurus did it when I had to remove all her substrate. But then again, varanids arent geckos.

thanks very much for the advice. I hope to hell that it is just breeding.

 

[HUNDO188]

im thinking a different view, i would seperate them,i just had a male tear one of my females to death with no prior signs.there is a fine line between breeding behavior and just male aggression, why take the chance. you could also give her some time to heal up in a stress free environment.but if you do decide to leave them together i would watch them very close, it only takes one fight.
but this is just my opinion, this is what i would do from the situation i have had.
brad

 

[Joe Farah]

yeah, i agree with HUNDO. It sure wouldn't hurt to be on the safe side. It would also give her a chance to recover from the stress of egg laying and from being harrassed by the male.

 

[Joe Farah]

especially since this is your first and only pair... it would be terrible to lose that female.

 

[Palex134]

well I just reintroduced them, no fighting yet. I am planning on getting another female sometime. Thanks for your advice Joe and Hundo.

 

[Palex134]

missing toe pads

bites on neck and near calcium sacks

bites on tail, leg wound (looks worse in the picture)

 

[JBReptiles]

Mine always fight(grandis)and i just take it as normal behavior.So i let them be and theyll be fine.Ill be getting some klemmeri soon.So well see how they are. :wink:

 

[Palex134]

well I know most Phelsuma are territorial, but I thought klemmeri were supposed to be one of the least. Maybe I just have a bully male?

 

[JBReptiles]

Ide definetly seperate them..Shes pretty beat up..And maybe its beacuse their an older pair...old people are mean...

 

[Joe Farah]

Hey Jeff,

I hope you got my reply to your Phelsumaweb.com PM. Im sorry it took so long to get back to you, but I was back home in NY for a week visiting my parents.

 

[JBReptiles]

Yeah I did..I found some other Klemmeri.From europe ..I just got to get enough money to get em..and hopefully get enought to get some Brevicipes.

 

[Joe Farah]

sweet! I'll be routin for you!

 

[Palex134]

I want some Brevicipes also. I think ill be getting some after another female klemmeri, after I get these two situated.

 

[JBReptiles]

Im gona Pm you...its off topic.

 

[JBReptiles]

Yeah..Brevicipes are awsome.Im also getten a loan female ornata..And hopefulyl next year can get a male or pair from hamm.

 

[Palex134]

how are you going to bring back herps from Hamm? carry on?