helx aspersa breeding problems

[sharon]

hi,
Was wondering if anyone could help me...
I have helix aspersa that i breed as a hobby in captivity but so far this year it isnt going according to plan, some are breeding and not laying their eggs and many arent breeding at all last year I didnt have any problems, what can i do to help them along?
many thanks,
Sharon

[coyote]

I'm not sure there is anything that can be done. If the conditions (substrate, humidity, food, etc) are the same this year as last year, then it's probably something out of your control.

I'm not sure where you are, but in my part of the world winter hung on longer than usual and summer has been late to arrive, throwing off the timing of the arrival of ladybugs, the flowering of certain plants, etc. Maybe that has something to do with it where you are.

Also, I don't know how often you introduce fresh breeding stock, but at a certain level of inbreeding fertility will drop off.