Question about infertile eggs

[das_nooblet]

Well, the retained sperm phenomenon has been well documented. Also parthenogenesis as well. Personally I incubate everything until proven otherwise. I believe if she’s feeding on adult mice her calcium levels will return to normal levels over time. Corn snakes being diurnal should have photo periods of artificial lighting or natural daylight. Were the eggs really discolored and or misshapen? Did you “candle “ them? Sorry for the loss.

Didn't think to candle them. Just now checked the 5 I kept for educational purposes (the others were very misshapen), and 3 had some dis-coloration inside, but no indication whatsoever of veins or anything else in there.

All my snakes have their lights set on timers

Don't try to supplement her food, as it most likely won't have the correct balance for her body to use anyway- just feed her well, & make SURE there are no retained eggs.

And just so you know- you might read up on "parthenogenesis" in snakes. I have some 14.5 -year-old c/b Florida rat snakes that have never bred- at least, not as long as I've had them (they were about 1.5 years old when I got them), yet every year the 2 females lay double-clutches of what I assumed were infertile eggs, until 2 years ago when I got curious & incubated the ones that looked good. I've bred some rat snakes in the past & know good eggs when I candle them. While most of

She's rather feisty at the moment, so I'll try checking her in the morning when she's (hopefully) calmer and less stressed. At a glance, she doesn't seem to have any obvious bulges, and is now looking somewhat underweight (no surprise, she was on the smaller side for a corn even without making eggs)

Have heard of parthenogenesis before, but I've never had any intention of breeding so I guess it just never occurred to me that it could happen to one of my snakes. Will have to keep a closer eye on her from now on