Help! I need advice! My "male" ball python that I rescued just laid eggs!

I know I'm going to get a backlash of criticism, but please save it for later. Right now, I need to act:

I rescued "ACE" seven years ago. he's been an easy keeper, never missed a feeding, kids handle him all the time, all has been fine. One year ago, I rescued another male Ball Python "Deuce". Just recently I learned that they could probably cohabitate fine, so I combined cages. A month ago or so, while disentangling them to feed, I got my first glimpse that Ace was actually a GRACE! I quickly read up on what the probability of there being eggs, and it didn't seem probable. Well, guess what? Yesterday, Grace laid 3 eggs ( I witnessed 2). Besides feeling excited, I'm fairly anxious now and I had separated them (during the labor while she was distracted). Long story short, the day before, students had placed her in the wrong cage and added I think its pine bedding (which I just read was really bad!) I'm sick thinking that I messed all this up.

sorry for the babbling....basically:

1) Now that I HAVE to move her (wasn't going to because she looks much more aggressive though she has never bit anyone) so I might as well get caught up on being legit...I need advice of how to move her and her eggs safely to my other cage.

2)I know I need a better thermometer/humidity reader (just read that the ones I have aren't good enough) and am looking for a proportional thermostat but I think she's ok for right now in that situation so I'm working on these issues, just need to get her squared away quickly for her best chances to get the eggs hatched ok

If you want the eggs to hatch best bet is to set up an incubator. There is a lot wrong here. I think you know that so I am not going to go into detail. Please read this. Cohabitation is not a good idea with ball pythons. Whoever is advising you is not helping.

Make sure she's done laying and is "empty" of eggs before you try to move her. Maternal incubation is hard to pull off because you need the temps and humidity in the right range, and if you don't even have a good regular set up for her, It's not likely you'll be able to let her set them on her own. You can make an emergency DIY incubator out of a styrofoam box. Lots of good builds in the DIY forum, and most of them are pretty cheap.

Truthfully, I would dispose of the eggs. At this point you can freeze them and then toss them before the embryos inside start developing.

Then focus on correctly setting up the two ball pythons you do have.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Truthfully, I would dispose of the eggs. At this point you can freeze them and then toss them before the embryos inside start developing.

Then focus on correctly setting up the two ball pythons you do have.

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This right here.
You have too any husbandry issues with the two you already have.
The only chance you might have is to build an incubator......

Look up DIY incubators or just toss them in the garbage. Cohabitation creates many problems so make sure you consider them before continuing this practice.