What went wrong?

[daaangconcepts]

I thought i'd share my experience and maybe someone could tell me what went wrong.

In Oct/Nov 2005 I had purchased a ball python for my hubby as a birthday present. And to make a long story short I had actually purchased a GRAVID female.

It wasn't long after we found out that she actually laid her eggs. She laid 8 perfect white eggs. I actually found them one morning. I must admit I was not ready. I had read that normally the gravid female would have a "pre lay" shed, then I should be expecting eggs with in a month's time. (She actually went through her shed cycle after her eggs were laid) So I went all across town that day, I ended up borrowing my hubbys uncle's chicken egg incubator, and used perlite and vermiculite/water as my medium.

I kept the temps at 89-90degress F and the humidity was at 95-100. We tried to candle the eggs as best we could (due to them actually being stuck togethor, and they were fertile, vein were present)

The top 4 eggs in her clutch had started to mold up and die (I had learned after the fact that this was probably due to our incubator, the top eggs were too close to the heating element), so we removed them, using dental floss to not damage the 4 good eggs.

Then day 55 came and went, with only the 4 remaining eggs starting to mold. Then day 60 came and went, my husband had been bugging me from day 55 to cut the eggs, but I insisted he wait. Finally he cut the eggs, 3 of the eggs were just green,yellow mush. The last middle egg was a complete and fully developed snake, just DEAD.

The yoke inside of the egg was hard, and to this day I am not sure what went wrong. My hubby would tell you he should have cut the eggs on day 55.

Any suggestions on what could have went wrong????

[Adam_Wysocki]

Many times gravid females won't lay viable clutches if they're stressed ... shipping, change in home, incorrect temps, can all cause high amounts of stress on gravid girls.

You started off not having very good odds of getting good eggs by purchasing a gravid female ... then as you said, you "weren't ready" when the eggs did come.

-adam

[daaangconcepts]

Opps, Sorry. I think I must have falled to mention that this was my first snake EVER! I found out she was "gravid" when I took her back to the pet store b.c I could not get her eye caps off. (Which I might add came off in her shed after she laid her eggs.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Opps, Sorry. I think I must have falled to mention that this was my first snake EVER! I found out she was "gravid" when I took her back to the pet store b.c I could not get her eye caps off. (Which I might add came off in her shed after she laid her eggs.

That's fine.

You asked what went wrong and my best guess is that you purchased a gravid snake ... chances of things actually working out from the get go were slim.

-adam

[daaangconcepts]

That's fine.

You asked what went wrong and my best guess is that you purchased a gravid snake ... chances of things actually working out from the get go were slim.

-adam

Ok, thanks. I didn't mean to sound mean or rude. I guess I sounded a little harsh. I tried my best with the eggs, and was heartbroken when none made it.

I didnt want anyone to think I purposely breed her and wasn't ready. But I am glad to get the chance to go through this. It made me do lots of research and now have a better understanding of snakes in general. It actually got me "hooked".

[elevatethis]

Opps, Sorry. I think I must have falled to mention that this was my first snake EVER! I found out she was "gravid" when I took her back to the pet store b.c I could not get her eye caps off. (Which I might add came off in her shed after she laid her eggs.

Just sounds like an overall stressful situation. Get her happy and all settled in, get a boy for her, and try again next year!