What to expect when you are expecting?

[JamieLynn]

There is so much great information on here, but there are always concerns.
So lets say this is the situation:
Your snakes have bred, and your female is gravid. Your incubator is all set up, and holding proper temps/humidity.
Your all set and awaiting your eggs.

I do know that after the pre-lay shed there is 25-30 days till eggs. I know incubation usually takes around 55 days.

Now A lot of people say to wash your female with mild soap...What kind?

And Any other information you can give is helpfull, I'm trying to learn before the time comes that I need to know.

[joepythons]

There is so much great information on here, but there are always concerns.
So lets say this is the situation:
Your snakes have bred, and your female is gravid. Your incubator is all set up, and holding proper temps/humidity.
Your all set and awaiting your eggs.

I do know that after the pre-lay shed there is 25-30 days till eggs. I know incubation usually takes around 55 days.

Now A lot of people say to wash your female with mild soap...What kind?

And Any other information you can give is helpfull, I'm trying to learn before the time comes that I need to know.

You can use any type you have at home(dish soap) as you only use a small drop in some water.Its just enough to remove the smell from the eggs so the female will eat sooner.If you do not clean her she will think she is laying on her eggs and not eat

[dmaricle]

thats the first i heard of that but good to know.

[frankykeno]

I just buy a bar of mild handsoap like you'd use for an infant. A bit of a wash up up and a good rinse and she's set to go. We usually dry off the female and tuck them into a temporary holding container while we empty her enclosure and give it a good clean up, fresh bedding, etc. Then in she goes all clean and into her clean enclosure with no smell of her eggs on her or her home.

Last year we did have one female that resisted going back to eating after laying her eggs. I mentioned it to Tim Bailey and he suggested re-washing her and her home. Worked like a charm. Obviously I rushed and perhaps missed something.

Things to buy now if you don't have them already - cuticle scissors for egg cutting, small but very strong flashlight for checking veins in the eggs, batteries for your camera because you know you want pictures of your first female on her eggs and so forth.

[nixer]

some females will also bite to protect their eggs. just put a small hand towel over her and gently remove her from her eggs. also do not change the eggs position or it might mess up the air space in the egg

[frankykeno]

Also don't attempt to seperate the eggs. If they are naturally seperate that's fine but if they are in a clump make sure you lift the entire egg mass and set it into your substrate in the same position is was laid in.

[nahual]

I do know that after the pre-lay shed there is 25-30 days till eggs.

This is not always true, last year I had a female laying eggs only 10 days after the pre-lay shed ...

[JamieLynn]

Wow, only 10 days.