T. cristatus laying, question(s)

[duncan]

A few quick questions. After about one and a half years in my possession, one of my T. cristatus (2.2) laid a single infertile egg a few days ago. This is the first time I have had any signs of breeding in this group. Here's the twist, none of my males has crested nor have I seen any signs of them displaying etc. Is it normal for a female to lay in this circumstance? Do males occasionally breed without having crested? I keep hoping to see the males cresting up, because the one large female I have seems to be quite full of eggs, but other than a very small ridge along the dorsal region that seems to be around most of the time, nothing so far.
Thanks for any response,
Duncan

 

[paris]

yes-females will lay even with out males, i finally had to remove my lone helveticus female from aquatic life cause i got so depressed over her laying infertile eggs all the time (any one got a spare male?) if the males arent in season she will still lay-im not sure if they can 'hold out' on purpose-to wait for males. in these situations for me (when both are out of sync-or living together permanently aquatic) i usually get no results -no eggs, nada. you could slow her down perhaps by putting her on land till the males catch up-but thats only a suggestion, dont know if it will work.

 

[jennifer]

Duncan, have you done anything to try to bring the males into season? I'm thinking that keeping them cooler and reducing their light cycle for the next couple of months might do the trick.

 

[duncan]

Thanks for the answers to the questions and the input, Paris and Jennifer. I have to admit I was hoping I might get lucky and not have to cool them down Jennifer. But, if nothing comes of the recent activities and the males don't get started, then I definitely will be cooling them down in the upcoming months.
Thanks Again,
Duncan