Another Question - Water Bowl

OK, all three of my females that I'm breeding this year have large crocks for water dishes. All three have soaked as part of their building behaviors.

After the pre-lay shed, should I down size their water dishes? In other words, if I kept the large bowls in, would they possibly attempt to lay their eggs IN the water dish, thus soaking and killing them?

I use Lg water dishes for all my Balls and have never had one lay in the dish...

A few of mine have those large Van Ness crock dishes from WalMart and didn't lay in their bowls last year. They all built nests(or tried to) on or near the hot spot.

Good to know! Thank you both!

This subject was addressed in the VPI book... I am not sure if they ever had a snake lay eggs in the water bowl, but they (the Barkers) do recommend providing a moist nesting area to lay in. In the absence of a nest, the female apparently may lay in the water bowl instead of on dry substrate.

I'd take the water bowl out.

If for some reason it were to be knocked over (mine do this often for no apparent reason), the water in the cage could kill the eggs once they are laid.

She'll be fine for a week or so without it. If you catch the ovulation and count 30 days, you would probably be safe taking it out around day 28 or so....

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Originally Posted by Rapture

This subject was addressed in the VPI book... I am not sure if they ever had a snake lay eggs in the water bowl, but they (the Barkers) do recommend providing a moist nesting area to lay in. In the absence of a nest, the female apparently may lay in the water bowl instead of on dry substrate.

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That's a good idea as well!

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

I'd take the water bowl out.

If for some reason it were to be knocked over (mine do this often for no apparent reason), the water in the cage could kill the eggs once they are laid.

She'll be fine for a week or so without it. If you catch the ovulation and count 30 days, you would probably be safe taking it out around day 28 or so....

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Brad with the smarts! I think I may do a combo of your idea and having damp sphanum moss as well as Rapture suggested. I just want to do everything right - no pre-lay sheds so far, so I've got time to get everything perfect with my obsessive nature! LOL

Last thing for the incubator is buying a brand spanking new digital thermometer, which I'm doing this afternoon.

I just leave a real small bowl with small amount of water in case of tip over there isnt much.

I have made moss nests before but they were never used:weirdface so I dont anymore.
Usually just right on newspaper under warm hide.

I pull it 7-10 days before they lay. I keep my balls on aspen and almost all mine make a nest from the middle of the tub forward. They end up laying on the plastic. I collect my eggs with 6-10 hours after laying. Good luck!

Mine that are gravid are given a small water dish, they normally have a good size one, but I'm not prepared to risk the "First time for everything" result or from a spill or any other rule that has yet to be broken.

It works for me and mine.... :gj:

Robin I leave the water dish in there before the eggs are laid. I know it probably doesn't help but in my mind I think it might raise the humidity in the cage just a little which will further help the eggs. Also I have had a lot of clutches and I have never seen one lay a egg in a water bowl if that helps. Most of the time they move the aspen out of the way and lay on the plastic. Let us know if they actually lay in the moss that you are putting in there for them.

Brock

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Originally Posted by Brock Wagner

Let us know if they actually lay in the moss that you are putting in there for them.

Brock

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Brock, I did that last year with container that was pretty dry with a pastel clutch.... and the female did lay on the moss. I had the moss inside a small kitty litter pan (No the cat didn't lose its pan!) and she used it. :)

Cool that rocks that she used it. I just hate seeing people setting up a nice little egg laying spot and then the snake lays on the other side of the cage. They do what they want and as long as you get to them within 24hours there should be no worries.

Brock