OMG... I think Mona's about to lay!!

I just checked on Mona a few hours ago, and found her laying inverted with her tail sticking straight up... you can see one egg right near her vent, and the others are poised above that. She's on day 35 post-shed, so I guess that's right on time? I'm so excited!! :carouse:

Only problem is that my incubator needs more work, since I can't get it above 87.5 with the one flexwatt strip... I have another strip to add, but need to re-wire it and add a hole (to bring it through) in the mini-fridge. I also haven't added the A/C fan yet, although I do have one ready to go. If she lays tonight, should I just let her incubate them for a while? Or would it be better to transfer them into the incubator, with temps a few degrees low & no fan? Any advice would be appreciated, as this is my very first clutch of snakes!! Oh, and Nerissa had (what I assume was her) pre-lay shed a few days ago, so she should be laying in about a month. :)

Here's a photo of Mona from tonight... wanna take bets on when she'll lay, and how many eggs? I see at least 4 in there, maybe more.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCN2463.jpg

Congrats, My Gyasi is laying as I type this, I say your girl will lay 7 eggs

And here's a picture of Mona from 2 weeks ago (June 1st) for comparison... look how fat she got! :O

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCN2431.jpg

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Congrats, My Gyasi is laying as I type this, I say your girl will lay 7 eggs

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Wow, congratulations... I look forward to seeing an update!! :gj:

That would be awesome if Mona laid 7 eggs, and even more awesome if she has a double-daddy clutch... she was observed copulating with Toby (pastel) and Julius (mojave), and also spent a few nights with Vinnie the spider. Should be interesting to see what pips out!

87.5 is not bad. You can incubate justfine at that temp and you will end up with nice fat babies in the end. They just won't hatch as quickly as some one who incubates at 89.

Doesn't look quite there to me. I think you still have a few days but now that I said that she will probably lay tonight.

She's pretty :D

Congrats and good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!! Keep us updated! When she is ready to lay you will see the eggs move ALL the way to the base of her tail, like when they are ready to make a HUGE deification (:rofl:).

If you're only doing one clutch in a min fridge it doesn't "need" a fan, just get your temp right in the egg box and your set.
I didn't use a fan last year with one clutch and it worked perfect.
I used two feet of flexwatt for my 4 cubic foot mini fridge and it heated it perfectly.

If you are using multiple shelves then a fan helps keep temps even top to bottom, but with one clutch it isn't an issue.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks everyone!! I guess pfan was right, because she hasn't laid yet & seems to be more settled now... it should be happening soon, though, so I'll definitely keep you all updated. :gj:

Congrats! Mona looks huge in the pics!

Btw, is the temperature (of 87-89) supposed to be ambient temps? Or am I supposed to be measuring from inside a tub? Right now the fridge is empty with the thermostat cranked up, and ambient temps are around 87. Also, can a different thermostat achieve higher temperatures? Right now it's hooked up to the cheap Repti-Temp 500R, but I have a Herpstat on one of my racks... I don't have much trouble getting the rack temps up, so I was thinking about switching them. Whaddya think?

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Originally Posted by Jason Bowden

Congrats! Mona looks huge in the pics!

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I know, huh? :O She was a BIG girl to begin with, at nearly 5ft and 2700-2800g before breeding... she hasn't eaten since March, but I think she's probably close to 3000g with the eggs!

Hi,

Is the repti-temp turning on and off?

If it is constantly on then you need more heat tape to get higher temps - if it clicks on and off then it might be worth trying a different thermostat.

I have heard others say the fan also generates a little heat but have zero personal experience. :(

But either way get crackin on the incubator and good luck. :hug:


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Is the repti-temp turning on and off?

If it is constantly on then you need more heat tape to get higher temps - if it clicks on and off then it might be worth trying a different thermostat.

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It doesn't seem to be clicking much, and I only notice the green (on) light every so often... can't say for sure how often, though, as it's located in my bedroom (I'm usually downstairs in the living room).

Quote:

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But either way get crackin on the incubator and good luck. :hug:

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Thanks! I'm still anxiously waiting, but nothing has happened yet... :please:

Fyi, I just weighed her and my estimate was way off... I guess she lost a lot during her fast (since March), because she's only around 2400g now. Still a big girl, though! ;)

At that size, my bet goes with 8 to 10 eggs.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

At that size, my bet goes with 8 to 10 eggs.

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Well, that would be fantabulous! C'mon Mona, lay those darned eggs already... :weirdface

From what I have seen they will lay in the perfect a couple days before they lay. When she starts doing that look for eggs in a couple days.

You can also expect eggs within the week when you catch them contorting themselves into really bizarre positions while moving around at night.

Then, you just wait for a good, big storm...check the next morning, and there they will be. :)