Freezing/refrigerating an ooth

[Malnra]

I did a search and only came across one post that said you could only freeze them for a couple months (If my memory serves me).

Has anyone ever tested to see how long you can freeze an ooth and still have it hatch ? Would the freezer or refrigerating them be better ?

In the winter it could be 3 months of snow and such, so it would seem (to this noob) that 3 months in the freezer might be OK as long as it was not touching the freezer shelf (you know in a cup with cotton lightly wrapped around it.

 

[Orin]

The freezer would kill most or all oothecae. The problem with refrigerating subtropical oothecae more than a few months is desiccation leading to sickly or no hatchlings.

 

[Malnra]

The freezer would kill most or all oothecae. The problem with refrigerating subtropical oothecae more than a few months is desiccation leading to sickly or no hatchlings.

I appreciate the reply, however it leads me to another question. Mind you I am NOT arguing with you, just curious.

Winter time is as cold as my freezer, how is it different ?

 

[joossa]

Storage in the freezer is not recommended. Keep in mind that although temperatures in the wild my be very cold during the winter, especially in the northern US and other temperate regions, they do have daily fluctuations. Ooths will experience daytime high temps and then night time lows. The stable more higher temp in the fridge probably is better than the constant below freezing temp in the freezer.

Keeping ooths of temperate species in the fridge is probably sufficient enough, without inducing damage to the eggs.