Corn snake laying one egg every couple of days.

First time breeding. Pairing was albino X albino. Mom is 9 years old. Her temps are spot on as well as her humidity. This is her first clutch. She is laying them in random spots and I think she is trying to hold on to the eggs. She dropped the first one on Wednesday. Then a second one Friday. She looks like she has a few more in her but is roaming her enclosure. It is like she wants to be somewhere else to lay them? Is she just doing something new to her and has no clue what to do? She is very defensive right now but to be expected. I took her out and searched all her substrate and no new ones as of yet. I am going to leave her alone for a week or so to see if she lays more. If not might make a vet visit. Poor girl looks miserable.

Have you given her an egg-laying box? (think of it like a humid hide...nice damp moss will make an egg-laying corn snake very happy...that, & privacy!) I've never had
a rat snake laying one egg per day...that's not right at all, & might enhance her chance of being egg-bound, so get to it! (some snakes not given proper nest box will lay
in the water bowl!)

BTW, when you know a snake is due to lay eggs, you want to furnish the egg-box well in advance, so the snake is familiar with it, for best results. Another thing that would probably work if you have it on hand (instead of a humid hide box) would be a cork bark tunnel filled w/ damp sphagnum moss...many snakes lay their eggs in & under rotting tree logs.

Thanks for the advice. I will do this today when I get home.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Have you given her an egg-laying box? (think of it like a humid hide...nice damp moss will make an egg-laying corn snake very happy...that, & privacy!) I've never had
a rat snake laying one egg per day...that's not right at all, & might enhance her chance of being egg-bound, so get to it! (some snakes not given proper nest box will lay
in the water bowl!)

BTW, when you know a snake is due to lay eggs, you want to furnish the egg-box well in advance, so the snake is familiar with it, for best results. Another thing that would probably work if you have it on hand (instead of a humid hide box) would be a cork bark tunnel filled w/ damp sphagnum moss...many snakes lay their eggs in & under rotting tree logs.

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Your corn snake will thank you, I promise. :snake:

I agree with bogertophis, the lay box is good to have. When mine are about to lay they all go through the same motions following the prelay shed.....shed, rest a week (usually in the lay box), two days of being really active, another day back in the lay box, do a couple hours of active again, then laying. After the prelay shed they get a very small water bowl.

What are the condition of the eggs that have been laid? ie slugs, windows, little star shapes on them, bright white marshmallow looking ones. What has already come out is a good indication of what is left inside and what issues she may be having.

Also when she is done laying get her a small meal like a fuzzy before she goes blue again which is typically 24-48 hrs.

I would keep a close eye on her. You don't want to lose her due to egg binding.

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Originally Posted by 67temp

I agree with bogertophis, the lay box is good to have. When mine are about to lay they all go through the same motions following the prelay shed.....shed, rest a week (usually in the lay box), two days of being really active, another day back in the lay box, do a couple hours of active again, then laying. After the prelay shed they get a very small water bowl.

What are the condition of the eggs that have been laid? ie slugs, windows, little star shapes on them, bright white marshmallow looking ones. What has already come out is a good indication of what is left inside and what issues she may be having.

Also when she is done laying get her a small meal like a fuzzy before she goes blue again which is typically 24-48 hrs.

I would keep a close eye on her. You don't want to lose her due to egg binding.

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They look good but some dimples. Hope the dimples are ok. This is my first time attempting to breed anything.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bf9104fcc4.jpg

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The bottom one is hard to tell but looks like it was a good egg. The top one looks like it was good but is now severely dehydrated.

I had one girl this year lay 15 good ones then the last one was a slug and she had trouble getting it out. I gave her 36hrs to do it on her own before I intervened.

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Originally Posted by 67temp

The bottom one is hard to tell but looks like it was a good egg. The top one looks like it was good but is now severely dehydrated.

I had one girl this year lay 15 good ones then the last one was a slug and she had trouble getting it out. I gave her 36hrs to do it on her own before I intervened.

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At what point should I start looking at intervening?

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

They look good but some dimples. Hope the dimples are ok. This is my first time attempting to breed anything.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bf9104fcc4.jpg

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They'll probably re-hydrate ok IF planted soon; you don't want them to dry out like that. BTW, when I incubate eggs, I use damp vermiculite, with the eggs planted about 2/3 of the way into the vermiculite, & the container covered with a few pin-holes for air.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

They'll probably re-hydrate ok IF planted soon; you don't want them to dry out like that. BTW, when I incubate eggs, I use damp vermiculite, with the eggs planted about 2/3 of the way into the vermiculite, & the container covered with a few pin-holes for air.

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They both are in the incubator with vermiculite now. I am hoping they do rehydrate. I am just worried about mama more than anything but having some hatchlings would be wonderful also. Will take any and all advice on both.

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At what point should I start looking at intervening?

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I'm not super experienced at breeding and all the issues that can arise. I can say the longest I have had a female in labor was about 24 hrs. One of my girls this year dropped 23 one morning took a 12 hr break then laid 2 more the next morning. Last year I had a co-worker that lost her only snake. They had taken it to the vet and the vet told them she was constipated. Come home and a week later the snake lays a clutch. Two weeks after laying the snake passed because it still had 3 slugs inside her.

In the end it is your call as the breeder and what you are comfortable with. I know a lot of vets have very limited hours with the current world situation.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

At what point should I start looking at intervening?

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If a snake is having actual difficulty (not egg-bound, just TIRED) laying eggs, sooner (like within 2 days) is better than later for vet to give oxytocin (aka Pitocin) to help the snake push out the eggs. Actual egg-binding is another matter. But first, your snake needs a suitable NEST box A.S.A.P. -and hopefully nothing more. :please:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

If a snake is having actual difficulty (not egg-bound, just TIRED) laying eggs, sooner (like within 2 days) is better than later for vet to give oxytocin (aka Pitocin) to help the snake push out the eggs. Actual egg-binding is another matter. But first, your snake needs a suitable NEST box A.S.A.P. -and hopefully nothing more. :please:

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Will be home in 4 hours. At work till then.

I'd probably mist her too...she really needs to stay hydrated.

Came home she is in process of laying more. Up to 10 more so far and all look good. Better than first 2

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Good...just check her over once she appears to be done to gently make sure no eggs are left un-laid. Sounds like you dodged this one...next time, provide nest box.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Good...just check her over once she appears to be done to gently make sure no eggs are left un-laid. Sounds like you dodged this one...next time, provide nest box.

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Trust me I will.


Thanks again everyone.

22 laid so far and looks like a few more in her.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e587173d09.jpg

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Congrats!:dance:She reminds me of my Florida rat snakes...trying to over-populate the country "single-handedly" (so to speak). :D The most my FL rat snakes have done
in a 1st clutch is 27...gotta love these fertile rat snakes! You'd better be watching for an automatic second clutch too, btw...very likely with a snake like this. Smaller & less fertility in second clutches, but do give her a nest box.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Congrats!:dance:She reminds me of my Florida rat snakes...trying to over-populate the country "single-handedly" (so to speak). :D The most my FL rat snakes have done
in a 1st clutch is 27...gotta love these fertile rat snakes! You'd better be watching for an automatic second clutch too, btw...very likely with a snake like this. Smaller & less fertility in second clutches, but do give her a nest box.

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Oh..... Hehehehehe..... Will be prepared.

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I'm guessing she feels a lot better from getting those out. :O

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Originally Posted by dr del

I'm guessing she feels a lot better from getting those out. :O

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Going to offer food Saturday and see if she will eat. Something small at first. I am sure she is exhausted. She looks a lot skinnier now. LOL. Her scales were separated before.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Going to offer food Saturday and see if she will eat. Something small at first. I am sure she is exhausted. She looks a lot skinnier now. LOL. Her scales were separated before.

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After my Florida rat snakes lay their clutches, they usually soak in their water bowls, sometimes for a couple days like a dead log floating in a pond, with only their noses above water. But then they let me know they're READY (!) for food. :D Does your corn snake have a bowl of water that's big enough to soak in? She needs re-hydration before food & soaking definitely helps them.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

After my Florida rat snakes lay their clutches, they usually soak in the water bowls...sometimes for a couple days like a dead log floating in a pond... But then they let me know they're READY (!) for food. :D (does your corn snake have a bowl of water that's big enough to soak in?)

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Yes but she is not soaking. She is laying on cool side and just chilling in her hide. I checked to see if she was ok last night and she seamed ok. She looks empty so not to worried about her being egg bound. Will wait a couple of days I guess.

As long as she has the option. You might also mist her & see if she drinks water off her coils...she might just feel too tired to go out for a drink.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

As long as she has the option. You might also mist her & see if she drinks water off her coils...she might just feel too tired to go out for a drink.

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Will check and see.

Update on how the eggs are doing.

So lost 4 of them to small flys getting inside the container somehow. Found maggots. So pissed. I changed the container and cleaned the eggs some but was careful not to turn them. 3 more are still soft and will try to post photos of them. Might be unfertile. This is my first clutch of eggs ever. 1 is almost fully collapsed. I think is not viable. So started with 24 eggs. 2 were clearly duds from the start. 8 more not going to hatch out. So 14 left. Most of them looking great nice and white.

What an education I am getting by doing this. I did have it a little to moist inside the container also. Now is 97% humidity inside the container. Sitting steady at 80-82F. Over a month of waiting to go. My GF is on pins and needles about them. She takes every egg as serous as she would a baby. I think she looks at their temps several times a day to keep watch over them like a mother hen. I think breeding boas are easier than egg layers????? Cant wait to see if we get all albinos or some normal. Both parents are albino.

Wish us luck.

Sky, I might be wrong about this but I think the flies are only (or mostly?) attracted to bad eggs to begin with...even if we can't smell them, flies can...it's their "job". :D

But yes, their maggots will mess up the rest, so this is why I take great pains with clutches of eggs laid to separate them as soon as I get my hands on them...so I can easily toss out the ones that go bad- that way the good eggs are safer.

It takes patience to separate eggs (that's an understatement!): the sooner you do this after they're laid, the easier it is because the eggs are softer & still moist...but it CAN be done even when dry. Always maintain them in the vertical orientation as laid...no turning. (I know you know that) If in a big clump, easier to subdivide them first if you can. Then I take just a drip of water from fingertip (or use an eyedropper) & place it where 2 eggs are stuck together to re-moisten them. You must not get the whole eggs wet or they can drown. Once that contact spot is moist, I gently roll the eggs (one in each hand) slightly towards, then slightly away, back & forth, & you'll see then eggs slowly loosen up, until they come apart. Plant them in the damp vermiculite & keep working on the others. Slow & easy...yes, I've done this with big & well-adhered clutches.

You may see a slightly thinner spot on the eggs where you've separated them, but as long as you don't pull them apart to where they open, they are still fine & can go the distance, & hatch just fine. Too much humidity can drown the eggs...it can condense & drip on them. Anyway, good luck! :D I hope at least some hatch for you, it's so much FUN to watch snakes hatch out!

BTW, did you candle them? Do you know about that? How to tell the good eggs?

Some other useful info is they take longer than a month to hatch. I use a day counter app and start checking daily for pips and babies around day 55.

Also genetically if both parents are amels there is no chance of getting normals from the clutch.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Sky, I might be wrong about this but I think the flies are only (or mostly?) attracted to bad eggs to begin with...even if we can't smell them, flies can...it's their "job". :D

But yes, their maggots will mess up the rest, so this is why I take great pains with clutches of eggs laid to separate them as soon as I get my hands on them...so I can easily toss out the ones that go bad- that way the good eggs are safer.

It takes patience to separate eggs (that's an understatement!): the sooner you do this after they're laid, the easier it is because the eggs are softer & still moist...but it CAN be done even when dry. Always maintain them in the vertical orientation as laid...no turning. (I know you know that) If in a big clump, easier to subdivide them first if you can. Then I take just a drip of water from fingertip (or use an eyedropper) & place it where 2 eggs are stuck together to re-moisten them. You must not get the whole eggs wet or they can drown. Once that contact spot is moist, I gently roll the eggs (one in each hand) slightly towards, then slightly away, back & forth, & you'll see then eggs slowly loosen up, until they come apart. Plant them in the damp vermiculite & keep working on the others. Slow & easy...yes, I've done this with big & well-adhered clutches.

You may see a slightly thinner spot on the eggs where you've separated them, but as long as you don't pull them apart to where they open, they are still fine & can go the distance, & hatch just fine. Too much humidity can drown the eggs...it can condense & drip on them. Anyway, good luck! :D I hope at least some hatch for you, it's so much FUN to watch snakes hatch out!

BTW, did you candle them? Do you know about that? How to tell the good eggs?

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Thank you for the advice. Only 2 were hard stuck together. The rest are separate. The 2 that are stuck look good. Time will tell.

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Originally Posted by 67temp

Some other useful info is they take longer than a month to hatch. I use a day counter app and start checking daily for pips and babies around day 55.

Also genetically if both parents are amels there is no chance of getting normals from the clutch.

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I know takes longer than a month. I check on them daily. I don't bother them unless I see an issue like I did last night. I think was keeping them to moist and so some did not get hard quick enough. So much learning to do...… Looking forward to some babies. Hoping that 10 or more will make it. Just doing everything I can to keep them alive. Wild ones drop and are left to whatever might come along in south Texas so hoping that I can do a little better than nature.

Any and all advice will be welcomed.

I cleaned out her cage today to spot clean it and found 2 more eggs. One dud and one fertile. That is 27 laid. 14 still doing good. I think more were duds than I thought and the flys hit hard. They are bug free now and in a better location that is more protected from flys reaching them. She shed 3 days ago and she eat 2 days ago. She eat a small rat that was little bigger than a fuzzy. She is curled up in her warm hide and has a vet appointment to make sure she is empty and ok after laying such a large clutch. Such a good girl.

Just to update everyone. Mama is doing really well and eating as well as drinking again. She is back to being calm when handled also. The eggs are still cooking and waiting to hatch out. This is day 44 or 45 I think for the first 2. We are still a week or more away from some babies. Nice clear veins in the eggs when candled. Have the heat rack warmed up and ready to go. Cant wait to see some hatchlings.

50 days in. 8 to 12 days to go. We are so excited. Can't wait to see some babies. Nice clear veins still and great looking eggs.

Sounds pretty promising... :snake::snake::snake:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Sounds pretty promising... :snake::snake::snake:

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We are excited for sure. Everything is set up. As soon as they have 5 meals in them will be selling them to the local stores except for 4 of them. The other 4 are going to friends and family.

No pips yet but candled them and they are looking well. Soon we will have some babies. Cant wait.

Best wishes Sky!

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Best wishes Sky!

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Thanks.

Will post photos when they hatch.

I think she is trying to double clutch on us. We have seen her lay 5 more duds this past weekend. We are keeping a breeding box in there for a few more weeks to make sure she feels safe to do what she needs. She is eating weekly. I am taking her to the vet for a checkup tomorrow to be safe.