non "specialized" snakes eating eggs?

[retic720]

I recall creating a very old thread about a "feeding-an-egg" question but I believe it's been taken down since the maintenance (not so sure?).

In any event, I intend to supplement "between meals" a retic juvie (5 months old; currently on a 1 small rat/2 rat pups/3 adult mice per week; depending on availability) with a raw chicken egg (the ones I'd cook for breakfast). I was considering soaking the prekilled rat in the yolk when I saw this video in YT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNU9M_Al-fs

I know the video reads "ratsnake" but given the opportunistic nature of pythons (especially retics), has anybody attempted feeding them at least a quail's egg (the ones from the grocery, not from the wilds. hehe)?

Thanks,

[KMG]

Why do you want to do this?

[Pampho85]

I highly doubt a python of any sort, especially the retic, would go after a quails egg. Imo, it's not equipped to do so. The only snake that would be interested in eating is the African Egg Eating snake.

Although, that video is pretty cool, seeing as I've never heard of rat snakes eating eggs. But what I said earlier, it's probably very improbable that they would go after eggs. The only one with actual access to them would be the GTP, and I've never heard of them eating eggs.

[RobNJ]

The only snake that would be interested in eating is the African Egg Eating snake.

Most North American colubrids will gladly eat eggs if that is what's available to them...corns, rats, milks, kings, bulls, etc...

[KMG]

When I was younger I had a bunch of laying hens for our eggs. Many times our egg count would start coming up short and we would find a big rat snake egg thief.

I don't see a python or the like eating an egg. I just don't understand why you would want to feed one a egg.

[Pampho85]

Most North American colubrids will gladly eat eggs if that is what's available to them...corns, rats, milks, kings, bulls, etc...

Did not know that! Not really an expert on colubrids. Thanks for the info!

[MarkS]

Most North American colubrids will gladly eat eggs if that is what's available to them...corns, rats, milks, kings, bulls, etc...

Exactly right. I know it often comes as a surprise to keepers who often have a heck of a time getting their pets to eat, but most snakes are opportunistic feeders.

[Mike41793]

I dont see anything boidae eating an egg. Then again i could be wrong. Why dont you just try converting the retic to f/t that way you wont have to supplement its meals if you cant find food for it.

To be perfectly blunt you really shouldnt have gotten a snake if you didnt have a plan for how to properly feed it. To my knowledge retics grow FAST like a red tail. WHat are you gunna do when you cant find the rabbits to feed it? "Supplement" with an ostrich egg?

[dr del]

Hi,

Your original thread hasn't gone anywhere.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...gs-for-pythons


dr del

[retic720]

thanks for the replies guys; I guess even in the wild, there just isn't a single documented case of a boidae eating an egg. Used up all my Google Fu and found nothing.

Take note that I did not intend to feed them PURELY eggs; I originally thought of using them more as an "inbetween" supplement before the next rodent. I even mentioned that I considered of soaking the main food items in egg yolk (more protein without having to powerfeed) before feeding and I have no intention of keeping them on an all egg diet. Not so sure how this translated to "I'll feed them JUST eggs from now on". @_@