The information below is based on our own observations when breeding our Casqueheads.
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L. longipes are one of a very small group of animals that are capable of facultative parthenogenic reproduction i.e. without the need of a male. This is a complex subject but basically it is a selective reproductive process where females can provide all the chromosomes if a male is not available, meaning the offspring can be considered clones of the mother (although biologically they are not as some genetic mutation can still occur). All our breeding adults are female and all have produced viable clutches without a male and with a 100% hatch success rate. Females who have reproduced parthenogenically can still reproduce by mating with a male if one becomes available as it is a selective proccess.
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We found that when the females were housed individually they never became gravid, but when housed in a pair both females would become gravid and produce viable eggs. This would suggest that without an available male it needs the presence of at least two females together to trigger the hormonal changes that cause the parthenogenic reproductive response. It is very obvious when a female becomes gravid. Her markings become stronger and brown cross bands develop over her back. She will appear to gain weight and the eggs will soon be seen as bulges in her flanks. Once gravid they need the environmental conditions to be just right before they lay. Within a few weeks she will be seen spending more time on the ground and will start digging test holes looking for a nest site. We do not separate gravid females as tank mates will ignore her change in behaviour.
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She needs at least 6 - 8cm of loose moist substrate before she lays. Sometimes she will lay in the first hole she digs, other times she may dig many holes over several days before deciding where to lay, as the temp and moisture content of the ground are critical. When she does lay her eggs it is normally as deep as she can get them, and she will fill in the hole perfectly to hide their location. We keep a note of where she is digging as her sudden thinner appearance is the only sign that she has finally laid. Ours have typically 5 or 6 eggs in a clutch and can lay up to 3 clutches per season about 4 – 5 weeks apart, with the eggs measuring about 20mm by 8mm. We incubate the eggs in damp Hatchrite or Superhatch, with a little vermiculite mixed in, at about 82f and they usually hatch at around 50 – 54 days, although it has been as short as 40 days and all survived.
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Hatchlings are about 15cm in length including the long tail when they hatch, with very little size variation across the clutch, and look identical to adults. As each egg hatches we leave the babies in the incubation box for 12 – 24 hours before transferring them to a vivarium set up exactly the same as for the parents, and the entire clutch will go in together. They are fed daily on small locusts and buffalo worms dusted with the usual supplements, and sprayed down several times a day. Babies can be sexed after about 6 months, reaching sexual maturity and full size after about 18 months.
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