Question about incubation

Is it really required to incubate the eggs or can you leave them in with the mother and they will be fine? Please don't be rude with your answer, I am simply just curious as to how this works!!!


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Maternal incubation is used outside of Africa, but not very commonly. The reason is because in captivity, females don't really have the ability to regulate their clutches properly. A lot of them (if you're in the US) will be incubating over the winter, when the air is already really dry and the temps cooler than what the girls prefer. I've heard of larger females having more success because they can better regulate temperature and humidity with their coils.

The number one reason against maternal incubation is that the females will not eat if they are holding eggs. Breeders want to get weight back on their girls after laying to give them a go for the next season.

There are a few threads on this, some with pictures. Try a search for "maternal incubation" in the search bar it should bring them up.

Thanks for your answer!! I am def. going to search for that now and see what I can come up with :)


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Originally Posted by cinderbird

Maternal incubation is used outside of Africa, but not very commonly. The reason is because in captivity, females don't really have the ability to regulate their clutches properly. A lot of them (if you're in the US) will be incubating over the winter, when the air is already really dry and the temps cooler than what the girls prefer. I've heard of larger females having more success because they can better regulate temperature and humidity with their coils.

The number one reason against maternal incubation is that the females will not eat if they are holding eggs. Breeders want to get weight back on their girls after laying to give them a go for the next season.

There are a few threads on this, some with pictures. Try a search for "maternal incubation" in the search bar it should bring them up.

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i believe that is is better if you put the eggs in the incubator but i have seen females who will eat while on the eggs and drink too.

Using an incubator gives the breeder much more precise control over the environment the eggs are in. While the mother is trying to so the same with her body there are still variations in conditions the eggs are in. Eggs in the middle of the clutch may not get what is need and may take longer to incubate while the incubator is a much more even and controlled environment.

Hope you were able to follow what I am saying. I also prefer an incubator so you can easily check on the condition of the eggs. It also does give the mother a chance to get back on food and put some weight back on.

I agree with the above reply. I prefer using an incubator so that I can keep a very tight control over the temps, so that no spikes or drops occur. It does look pretty cool seeing a momma snake on her clutch, but I have had some BPs not take care of the entire clutch for one reason or another. Good luck!