Our First Eggs!

I don't even have to tell you folks how exciting this first time experience is! Ardra gave us 4 perfect eggs, 1 with a slight clear area and 1 that has a bit of a boob, 0 slugs. All the eggs candled with good veins! :banana:

Here's momma on her eggs. At first she sort of ignored us....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s03-13-081.jpg

Then we got the "evil eyeball" look......:)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s03-13-082.jpg

She actually came off the eggs pretty easily with only a couple of good hisses. Her tail was hard to unwrap though, boy she was trying to hold tight to her offspring!

Here's the eggs on the scale for a quick weight before they went into the egg box. Hopefully 563 grams for 6 eggs isn't a bad weight for her first clutch.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...le03-15-08.jpg

The eggs tucked in their hatching box. The four to the left were stuck together so I left them that way and just placed the other two to the side since they weren't stuck to the others.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ox03-15-08.jpg

Now I have to go back and find all those "boob egg" threads LOL.

Here's Ardra, after a nice warm water wash off and her tub all changed and fresh for her.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...81239grams.jpg

My only big question right now is when I should offer Ardra a rat. She's been off feed so is down to 1,239 grams post-lay (she's normally 1,800 to 1,850 grams or thereabouts). I've seen some of you offer right away and others wait a few days so I'd appreciate some advice that way. Our next feeding day isn't until Thursday morning but I'll happily feed her before that if that's the usual course of events.

Whooooooo boy is this exciting stuff or what!!! I'm still shaking from the blind fear that I'd drop an egg or trip moving the clutch or something. Mike's a rock, didn't blink an eye and just did what needed done....I'm a mess of nerves!

congrats good luck with those :gj:

Yea Jo!!!!! I'm soooo EGGcited for you! :banana:

Oh man.... get ready for the cutest thing EVER when they pip! :D

YEAH! Congrats Jo! :clap: :w00t: :banana:

I'm so excited for you and Mike. I think last year I waited for about 48 hours, before feeding last year. (if that's any help) If memory serves, they're pretty exhausted right after and I remember cleaning everything cage and snake very well to remove any possible trace of smell from those eggs.

I can't tell you how excited I am for the both of you. Now the best countdown begins!

thats great!!! expecting some crazy new morph??

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Originally Posted by FL0OD

congrats good luck with those :gj:

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Thanks Steve!

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Originally Posted by Laooda

Yea Jo!!!!! I'm soooo EGGcited for you! :banana:

Oh man.... get ready for the cutest thing EVER when they pip! :D

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I'm so excited it's ridiculous, Laura. I keep looking at the pictures of the eggs and I just can't believe we actually have our first clutch! Lordy BP eggs are bigger in real life than they look in pictures!

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

YEAH! Congrats Jo! :clap: :w00t: :banana:

I'm so excited for you and Mike. I think last year I waited for about 48 hours, before feeding last year. (if that's any help) If memory serves, they're pretty exhausted right after and I remember cleaning everything cage and snake very well to remove any possible trace of smell from those eggs.

I can't tell you how excited I am for the both of you. Now the best countdown begins!

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Yep we did that Christie, had Ardra locked down securely in another container while we dealt with the eggs, then stripped and cleaned her home up, then she got a quick weight and a trip to the bathroom for a good wash up. I felt sort of sorry for her going back into her enclosure with no eggs (silly of me I know but I'm a bit of a sap sometimes LOL).

She's normally a good eater so I think, whenever we offer a feeding, she'll likely go for it. :)

Gawd this is exciting stuff! How long each day will be while we wait for more eggs and the time they will hatch. *starts planning to move a comfie chair, a tv, a snack fridge and the computer into the snake room :D*

Oh Jo, that is so awesome :banana: I can't wait to see those adorable little faces. Congrats girl :D

Congrats on your first ever clutch!
The countdown now begins!
Good luck!!!:gj:

congrats Jo

i always wait 2-3 days before feeding just to give her a rest after laying those eggs. you know how easy it is to stress them out

I usually wait 5-7 days or so to feed.

Give her time to settle...

You will notice that she will be curled around where she laid her eggs for a while, even after washing her.

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

thats great!!! expecting some crazy new morph??

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Nope just hopefully some nice YB's and maybe a surprise or two. :)

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Originally Posted by catawhat75

Oh Jo, that is so awesome :banana: I can't wait to see those adorable little faces. Congrats girl :D

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Thanks hon, Mike and I are just thrilled. It's been fun getting here but it is awfully nice to finally have eggs.

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Originally Posted by Bright202

Congrats on your first ever clutch!
The countdown now begins!
Good luck!!!:gj:

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How many hours are there in a day????? :oops:

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Originally Posted by gncz73

congrats Jo

i always wait 2-3 days before feeding just to give her a rest after laying those eggs. you know how easy it is to stress them out

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Thanks Gene!

Congrats Jo I am so happy for you :banana:, could not happen to a better person :hug:

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

I usually wait 5-7 days or so to feed.

Give her time to settle...

You will notice that she will be curled around where she laid her eggs for a while, even after washing her.

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I'll peek in tomorrow and watch for that, Heather, and I won't rush her feeding. She's normally a great, calm female with a super feeding response so hopefully once she's settled she'll go back to her usual ways.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Congrats Jo I am so happy for you :banana:, could not happen to a better person :hug:

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Awww thanks hon. I can't wait to see what everyone hatches out the year! It's going to be fun to see some of us "small timers" getting our first clutches cooking. :)

Congrats!:gj:

Congrats Joanna!!:gj:

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Originally Posted by reptile3

Congrats!:gj:

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Congrats Joanna!!:gj:

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Thanks Jas-man! Is it as exciting when you've done it over and over again or does it stay this much fun every time you get eggs? :banana:

Congrats! The eggs look wonderful! It is funny how much bigger they are than you expect when you haven't actually seen them in person. I was SO surprised on their size when I got my first clutch! :banana:

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Originally Posted by mlededee

Congrats! The eggs look wonderful! It is funny how much bigger they are than you expect when you haven't actually seen them in person. I was SO surprised on their size when I got my first clutch! :banana:

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Thanks Emily! I know I was rather shocked, even after all the eggs I've looked at online. Poor Ardra, that must have hurt pushing those great huge things out her back end.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Thanks!



Thanks Jas-man! Is it as exciting when you've done it over and over again or does it stay this much fun every time you get eggs? :banana:

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I'm like a kid with every clutch! I love this stuff!!

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

I'm like a kid with every clutch! I love this stuff!!

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Glad to hear that! I thought I was already a total ball python addict but somehow, seeing our first eggs.....it's just gone into a whole new level of craziness LOL.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Glad to hear that! I thought I was already a total ball python addict but somehow, seeing our first eggs.....it's just gone into a whole new level of craziness LOL.

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It begins.... :crazy:

Don't worry. We're all here with you!!!

I don't think I mentioned this before on my other post, but CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana::carrot::banana::pinkele::banana:

Congratulations on the eggs!! :)

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

It begins.... :crazy:

Don't worry. We're all here with you!!!

I don't think I mentioned this before on my other post, but CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana::carrot::banana::pinkele::banana:

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Thanks again Heather! I'll hold you to that when I'm driving the entire forum nuts counting down the days and worrying over whether I should cut or not and will the darn things EVER hatch! LOL

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Originally Posted by Sunny1

Congratulations on the eggs!! :)

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Thanks Pam! :)

Congrats!! I usually wait 48 hours and then offer food. Some girls are starving and chomp it right down, some prefer to wait a few days and thats okay too. I figure I can always offer and if she doesn't want it, I can take it out and try again later.

Can't wait to see the results!

Cheers,
Kat

Congrats on the eggs!!!:banana::banana:

Congrat's Jo I'm super happy for you I hope you get the ratios you want.

Holy crap! Congrats Jo! That's really awesome to hear. I wish you guys healthy, bouncing ball babies! :banana: :fest2::fest::carrot::party:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I don't even have to tell you folks how exciting this first time experience is! Ardra gave us 4 perfect eggs, 1 with a slight clear area and 1 that has a bit of a boob, 0 slugs. All the eggs candled with good veins! :banana:

Here's momma on her eggs. At first she sort of ignored us....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s03-13-081.jpg

Then we got the "evil eyeball" look......:)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s03-13-082.jpg

She actually came off the eggs pretty easily with only a couple of good hisses. Her tail was hard to unwrap though, boy she was trying to hold tight to her offspring!

Here's the eggs on the scale for a quick weight before they went into the egg box. Hopefully 563 grams for 6 eggs isn't a bad weight for her first clutch.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...le03-15-08.jpg

The eggs tucked in their hatching box. The four to the left were stuck together so I left them that way and just placed the other two to the side since they weren't stuck to the others.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ox03-15-08.jpg

Now I have to go back and find all those "boob egg" threads LOL.

Here's Ardra, after a nice warm water wash off and her tub all changed and fresh for her.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...81239grams.jpg

My only big question right now is when I should offer Ardra a rat. She's been off feed so is down to 1,239 grams post-lay (she's normally 1,800 to 1,850 grams or thereabouts). I've seen some of you offer right away and others wait a few days so I'd appreciate some advice that way. Our next feeding day isn't until Thursday morning but I'll happily feed her before that if that's the usual course of events.

Whooooooo boy is this exciting stuff or what!!! I'm still shaking from the blind fear that I'd drop an egg or trip moving the clutch or something. Mike's a rock, didn't blink an eye and just did what needed done....I'm a mess of nerves!

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Well congrats :gj:.Now just make sure you do not attempt any singing for the next 60 days.You dont want to crack the egg shells :rofl:.This one is for your kids by the way also :8::8:

Wow Jo, so exciting! Congrats and I'm pulling for some female yellow bellies for you over here!

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

Congrats!! I usually wait 48 hours and then offer food. Some girls are starving and chomp it right down, some prefer to wait a few days and thats okay too. I figure I can always offer and if she doesn't want it, I can take it out and try again later.

Can't wait to see the results!

Cheers,
Kat

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Thanks Kat! I saw her doing a bit of searching around her tub last night. Not sure if she's looking for something to eat or her eggs so we'll give it a couple of days and then see if she'd like a rat or not at that point.

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Originally Posted by Blu Mongoose

Congrats on the eggs!!!:banana::banana:

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Thanks Nancy, we're so thrilled it's almost silly! :banana:

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Originally Posted by Emilio

Congrat's Jo I'm super happy for you I hope you get the ratios you want.

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Thanks Emilio. I haven't even gotten to the point of thinking about ratio's or anything. I'm still somewhat in happy shock that we actually have eggs and they are fertile!

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Originally Posted by iceman25

Holy crap! Congrats Jo! That's really awesome to hear. I wish you guys healthy, bouncing ball babies! :banana: :fest2::fest::carrot::party:

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Thanks Raj, from your mouth to the BP Gods ears. :)

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Well congrats :gj:.Now just make sure you do not attempt any singing for the next 60 days.You dont want to crack the egg shells :rofl:.This one is for your kids by the way also :8::8:

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*note to myself* no singing snakey lullabies to the incubating baby snakes...thanks Joe! :P

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Originally Posted by Rapture

Wow Jo, so exciting! Congrats and I'm pulling for some female yellow bellies for you over here!

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Thanks Diana. We put our male YB, Riordan, with Ardra, Brannagh, Orlah and Dorieann. As long as the BP Gods don't hate our guts, Mike and I figure we should hit the odds and get at least one female YB. :please:

Rock on Joanna :gj:

I having your first eggs is like your first kid you never forget the emotions of bringing something new into the world. Take lots of pics.

Congrats Jo. Watch the egg with the little wet spot on it, to make sure it doesn't get any bigger. If you notice it getting bigger, then apply some Liquid Band-Aid to the clear area, and it shoulb be fine. As for the boob egg, if it candles good, you should have nothing to worry about. I hope you get a yellow belly or 2 and a few surprises.

I forgot to write some advice about feeding. We normally drop a rat in the tub while she is on the eggs. Most of the time the will leave the eggs to eat, and we avoid getting bit.

Ok, that was a bunch of bologne, but it would be nice if it was that easy. We typically offer food the next day, and if they don't eat, then back to offering once a week.

That is soooooooooo exciting Jo :clap:

WOOT!!! what in them there eggs?:weirdface

Big congrats Jo!

She beat the easter bunny to the punch!

Congratulations on your eggs! I'm so happy for you! :happycry:

Congrats Joanna!!!! That is so cool :D, I am so happy for you. I can't wait to see head poking out of those eggs.

Last year all of our females tokk rats when we offered them after a couple of days, except for one. We waited a week and she took a rat with gusto then. We started with weanlings for the first feeding just to make sure they did not have any trouble with thier first meal, I was so afraid they would be too weak. It worked well then switching a couple of the girls that had been picky mouose eaters over to rats, and they have stayed rat eaters since.

Neil

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Rock on Joanna :gj:

I having your first eggs is like your first kid you never forget the emotions of bringing something new into the world. Take lots of pics.

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I have the spare batteries all ready! :D

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Originally Posted by muddoc

Congrats Jo. Watch the egg with the little wet spot on it, to make sure it doesn't get any bigger. If you notice it getting bigger, then apply some Liquid Band-Aid to the clear area, and it shoulb be fine. As for the boob egg, if it candles good, you should have nothing to worry about. I hope you get a yellow belly or 2 and a few surprises.

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Is that the same as "liquid skin", I have some of that always in my medicine cabinet. The boob egg candled as nicely as the others and isn't any smaller so I'm hoping it's a go. It was kind of handy that both the window egg and the boob egg just naturally seperated from the 4 egg mass when we lifted them out, so we could place them seperately in the hatching medium.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

I forgot to write some advice about feeding. We normally drop a rat in the tub while she is on the eggs. Most of the time the will leave the eggs to eat, and we avoid getting bit.

Ok, that was a bunch of bologne, but it would be nice if it was that easy. We typically offer food the next day, and if they don't eat, then back to offering once a week.

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I'll just tell huge Brannagh that Unkie Tim is coming with a nice rattie for her when she lays her clutch...k???? :P

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Originally Posted by cueball

That is soooooooooo exciting Jo :clap:

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Thanks Chris, I've been watching the VPI DVD and re-reading all the sections in the VPI book that have to do with hatching. They've been invaluable! :)

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

WOOT!!! what in them there eggs?:weirdface

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Baby snakes :P

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Originally Posted by Ironhead

Big congrats Jo!

She beat the easter bunny to the punch!

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I'm hoping the boa doesn't see that bunny! :O

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Originally Posted by amberlynn

Congratulations on your eggs! I'm so happy for you! :happycry:

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Thanks Amber!

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Originally Posted by aaajohnson

Congrats Joanna!!!! That is so cool :D, I am so happy for you. I can't wait to see head poking out of those eggs.

Last year all of our females tokk rats when we offered them after a couple of days, except for one. We waited a week and she took a rat with gusto then. We started with weanlings for the first feeding just to make sure they did not have any trouble with thier first meal, I was so afraid they would be too weak. It worked well then switching a couple of the girls that had been picky mouose eaters over to rats, and they have stayed rat eaters since.

Neil

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Sounds like a good plan Neil. I've got loads of nice big fat almost ready to wean pups so maybe one of those would be just right for her first post-lay feed. Thanks for the advice! :)

what did you breed?

like what morph to what I cant edit sorry for dbl post

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Originally Posted by Hotshot

like what morph to what I cant edit sorry for dbl post

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The female is a normal. The sire of the clutch may be either our YellowBelly male and/or Becky's gorgeous Lemon male depending on whether the female did any sperm retention. It will be fun to see what comes out. :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

It will be fun to see what comes out. :)

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Well i can bet they will be snakes :8: :8: :8:.I could not resist :rolleyes:

Well if they are kittens, I'm so phoning the National Enquirer. :D

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Well if they are kittens, I'm so phoning the National Enquirer. :D

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maybe you would get lucky with those too and they would be hairless:D

hey girl... congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by FL0OD

maybe you would get lucky with those too and they would be hairless:D

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Yewww no! I know people like them but I'm just a bit wierded out by hairless rats, cats, dogs, etc.

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

hey girl... congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Thanks! :)

Maybe you'll get REALLY lucky and a pastel yellow-belly will pop out!?

Lol... congrats Jo and Mike!!!! So excited for you guys! :hug:

That's so cool!:gj:
:pinkele:
I'm hoping on my first clutch next year. I'll be following your clutches progress...keep us updated!

Whoa Jo! Congrats!!!!!! :clap: