So this happened yesterday....

[Bogertophis]

Very cute! I think it's safe to say that he's literally "in good hands".

[Gocntry]

Very cute! I think it's safe to say that he's literally "in good hands".

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Yep he's in good hands in the pictures, just not mine there... , those are my daughters

[Caitlin]

What a little beauty! Almost certainly wild-caught. Juveniles do well on button quail eggs, adults on coturnix, though the people I know with egg-eaters say the males do fine on button quail eggs and never need to be bumped up to coturnix. It's hard to say why your snake hasn't eaten yet - maybe adjustment stress, maybe a timing thing, maybe the eggs aren't fresh enough.

In the wild they tend to chow down on a nest full of eggs and then fast for long periods of time - one keeper I know feeds hers 4-5 eggs once a month. Also, if they feel the eggs aren't fresh enough they won't eat them. Quail eggs are traditionally not washed or refrigerated. If washed, they'll go bad in 5-7 days, and the snake would certainly detect this. If unwashed they last much longer. So optimally you'll be offering fresh, unwashed eggs. Sometimes you can find folks via local Craigslist to supply them.

Good luck! I'm glad you took this cutie in and I hope it decides to eat for you.

[Bogertophis]

...Quail eggs are traditionally not washed or refrigerated. If washed, they'll go bad in 5-7 days, and the snake would certainly detect this. If unwashed they last much longer. So optimally you'll be offering fresh, unwashed eggs...

Interesting that washing makes them go bad sooner, & rather counter-intuitive.

[jmcrook]

Interesting that washing makes them go bad sooner, & rather counter-intuitive.

Washing eggs removes the bloom/cuticle which is a natural antibacterial barrier. Unwashed eggs can be left at room temp for two weeks or so and remain edible. Most other countries besides the US don't wash and refrigerate their eggs at the grocery store.

[Luvyna]

Wow, very uncommon to see an egg eater! Looks like you have a great set up for him and I'm glad he has a good home I've heard it can be hard to get egg eaters to eat in captivity so I hope he'll accept an egg from you soon

[Gocntry]

I ordered some button quail eggs, 10 of them, 4 were broken on delivery, infertile eggs for reptiles.

Had Mr eggeater out and wanted to see if he would eat. Smelled them and looked as if what do I do with that?

so just scattered them in his enclosure and will let them a week to see what happens. hopefully he eats.

going on 10 days with me without eating.

No clue when he ate last, could be full from one of those big eggs if he ate one before I got him.

Still seems active, curious ect. Don't notice any issues with him, hasn't shed or used bathroom yet.

[Bogertophis]

Handling a snake (even just briefly) or taking them out of their "home" when you expect or want them to eat may totally turn off their appetite- it's stressful, even if they don't appear to be bothered by it. I'd suggest not doing that from now on- simply put the eggs in his home where he can find them & wait patiently, & btw, I have no specific experience with this species, just giving you a general suggestion based on decades of getting all sorts of snakes to feed, including wild-caughts. Feeling safe is a snake's absolute first concern...not being out in the open like in your photo & expected to pounce on the eggs. In the wild, these snakes would be stealthily searching for eggs in nests- not interacting with "giants" & getting "selfies".

[jmcrook]

Exactly. And you shouldn’t be handling at all until it’s had 3 consecutive meals without issue either.


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[Bogertophis]

...you shouldn’t be handling at all until it’s had 3 consecutive meals without issue either...

Just when I think we've said this so many times that we'd never need to repeat it again, lol.