Non-breeding females laying eggs common?

[MissterDog]

Something I've been wondering. I've heard about this happening with female ball pythons laying eggs despite never mating or even being near a male but was under the impression is was very rare. However recently I bumped into a few mentions that egg laying is more common in colubrids? Can anyone verify how true this is and how much of a concern it should be? Is there a certain age this tends to happen? I've read some people stating it's seasonal while others say it's completely random.

I'll be getting my female russian rat snake 2-3 months from now (waiting on a clutch) and admit I'm worried if I may ever have to worry about her being eggbound. I've read how it can be as simple as soaking and massaging the snake to help pass the eggs, or as complicated as needing to have the eggs aspired or surgically removed which is what I'm most afraid of. To the point I'm starting to wonder if I should get a male instead.

Are the chances of this happening rare or actually pretty common to expected? How often? Is it as scary as it sounds? Or am I overthinking this? Is it easy to spot if my female ever gets eggbound? will she get more aggressive?

If anyone knows or has experience with colubrids laying eggs can you share your feedback and experience? Or recommended resources I could look into?

Sorry for the loads of questions everyone! I'm just trying to make sure I understand what I may get myself into beforehand. Thanks!

[AbsoluteApril]

In general I'd say it's fairly rare but it does happen.

My female corn that I've raised from a baby, 2001, never laid infertiles. In 2016 I adopted an adult male corn from a coworker's friend, once he was out of QT and in the snake room, opposite end of the room and never in contact with my female, she laid a clutch of infertiles that year and again in 2017. I fully expect her to do it again this summer. Apparently just knowing a male is nearby (scent or pheromones I would guess) triggered her to start doing this.

Our female leachie (only gecko we have) has laid infertiles every single year since she became mature. wheeeee

Edit to add - my cave dwelling rat snakes, which were a proven breeding pair, never laid infertiles (I never paired them up), over about 2 years that I had them.

Also not sure why you'd worry about her being eggbound. It may happen from time to time but that in itself usually isn't super common. The times my corn laid, she passed them without issue.

EDIT TO ALSO ADD (I keep thinking of stuff) that same female I mentioned above has been in a room with male and female corns before, I bred two other corns in 2010; but that didn't trigger her to lay.

[MissterDog]

In general I'd say it's fairly rare but it does happen.

My female corn that I've raised from a baby, 2001, never laid infertiles. In 2016 I adopted an adult male corn from a coworker's friend, once he was out of QT and in the snake room, opposite end of the room and never in contact with my female, she laid a clutch of infertiles that year and again in 2017. I fully expect her to do it again this summer. Apparently just knowing a male is nearby (scent or pheromones I would guess) triggered her to start doing this.

Our female leachie (only gecko we have) has laid infertiles every single year since she became mature. wheeeee

Edit to add - my cave dwelling rat snakes, which were a proven breeding pair, never laid infertiles (I never paired them up), over about 2 years that I had them.

Also not sure why you'd worry about her being eggbound. It may happen from time to time but that in itself usually isn't super common. The times my corn laid, she passed them without issue.

EDIT TO ALSO ADD (I keep thinking of stuff) that same female I mentioned above has been in a room with male and female corns before, I bred two other corns in 2010; but that didn't trigger her to lay.

That's very interesting that even scent kickstarted triggered egg laying! I wonder if it's limited to same snake species or if any male snake scent would cause a reaction? Seems like every snake and reptile is different depending on the individual either way.

Aha yeah I tend to be rather paranoid and worry about scenario's I've learned about potentially happening. Different threads and videos got me stuck in the worst-case scenario thinking. So it's relieving to hear it's not common and usually it's a non-issue! Have you found when your snakes and gecko laid was there an increased aggression? Or they were pretty indifferent after the eggs were taken away?

[AbsoluteApril]

Have you found when your snakes and gecko laid was there an increased aggression? Or they were pretty indifferent after the eggs were taken away?

Totally indifferent, in my cases.
The 2010 clutch when I did bred (a diff female) - I let her maternally incubate the eggs in her enclosure and she never acted any different during the entire time even once the babies hatched.

[MissterDog]

Totally indifferent, in my cases.
The 2010 clutch when I did bred (a diff female) - I let her maternally incubate the eggs in her enclosure and she never acted any different during the entire time even once the babies hatched.

Good to know! I've been reading different threads where some females get defensive whenever people try to take their infertile eggs away (understandable) so I wasn't sure how long potential aggression would last after the fact. Whenever your females laid infertile eggs did you experience any food refusals?

[AbsoluteApril]

Whenever your females laid infertile eggs did you experience any food refusals?

Nope but Garnet has never refused anytime. My experiences are limited, so not saying it doesn't or can't happen, but for me, never was an issue.