Posted by:
zach_whitman
at Fri Apr 14 01:41:49 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by zach_whitman ]
Snapping a couple of pics is more then OK for a firstimer who's curious. A site well worth seeing. Congrats on such a big clutch! your doing something right.
However now that you have seen, next time I would recomend leaving her as quietly as possible. Think about it. In the wild she would be looking for the most secretive place she could find. Not only is she vulnerable while she lays, but her eggs are going to be unprotected sitting ducks for the next 2 months! She is looking for some security, and too much opening of her hide box and stealling her eggs could cause her to stop oviposition. Inapropriate / stressfull laying conditions are the number one cause of eggbinding.
Another note along these lines, that I notice people do all too frequently...
A clear plastic box with an inch of spagnum in the bottom does NOT provide a female with the security she is looking for. A nest box should be solid colored (you can just duct tape over your shoeboxes. And FILLED NEARLY TO THE TOP with your bedding of choice. Your female will burrough in and hollow out an area just big enough for her and her eggs. Many people find that females take 2 weeks to lay after she sheds. In my experience, when provided with a good nest site, it is more like 9 days. These females are just stalling from laying in less then ideal conditions.
oh and taking your snake out while she is laying is a dumb idea.
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RE: The better news mentioned in other p - zach_whitman, Fri Apr 14 01:41:49 2006