I read the sticky, I'm just paranoid about everything. First clutch and all that.

Well, I didn't think my normal female was gravid, but apparently I was wrong. I really should have noticed the signs and set up an incubator, but I just didn't realize what I was seeing. I'll just know better next time, I suppose. Unfortunately, I'm completely unprepared in terms of equipment, and I'm going out of town for a week on Saturday. I have a parrot incubator, but I don't think I can get it set up in time (not to mention I wouldn't be home to monitor it), so I'm going to let her incubate them. I'm very excited about the eggs, and I'm hoping I don't mess them up. I have a few questions to try and survive the incubation process.

1. Should I remove her to count the eggs and remove any slugs, or will she toss them out herself? Do I need to candle the eggs and remove infertile ones to stop them from molding? Will that disturb her?

2. There's a weird transparent-ish spot on top of one of the eggs. Should I be concerned? Is it mold? You can kind of see it in this picture, by her neck.


3. Is her current setup suitable for this? She has a dish large enough for soaking, aspen bedding, a hot spot that is 88-92 degrees, depending exactly where I point the heat gun, and she can stretch out almost to her full length in the tub. She is coiled on/near the hot spot. This question is probably just me freaking out, seeing as she seems perfectly happy in there, but I still need to check.

4. Should I add damp moss to the tub, or mist? Just double checking, here.

5. What warning signs should I be looking for? I won't be there personally to check, but a friend is watching the snakes while I'm gone, so I can have her look for these.

6. Can I transfer the eggs to an incubator later? Is that a good idea?

7. She kind of partially uncoiled when I opened the tub. Is that a problem?

Ok, I think I'm done with the questions. Hopefully. Gah! I don't know what I'm doing, this was all pretty unexpected. Really, I should have thought "well gee whiz, I bred the snake and she's acting funny, might be gravid", but apparently I didn't interpret the signs correctly. Still... I am excited to meet the babies, if the eggs end up hatching. I hope they do.

Also, some background information on mom and her eggs. She weighed roughly two thousand grams last empty weight before being bred. She ate a rat pup tonight (I had an extra, and figured she might be interested). The eggs were laid either today or sometime yesterday.

(My apologies for the potential spelling and grammar errors, it's late at night, I'm a combination of flustered and happy, and I can't think properly right now.)