The first time was in 1997 on an older Mex-Mex, she laid 13 eggs and was egg bound with one egg for about 4 months before she finally dropped it. She fed aggressively the whole time. She was a big Mex-Mex (length wise) and had a big head (age). I talked to the guy who I sold her too and he said she has double-clutched for him every year since 1998 and has never had a problem. I only had the female for the one year.



The only other time I had an egg bound is this year with one of my Cal Kings. She is an older female ('96) and laid 14 good eggs. She retained her last egg. She still feeds like a pig.



I do breed a lot of my female cal kings at 18 months of age (not all but most-depends on size) and all of my males. And none of them have become egg bound. The only 2 times that I have had egg bound females is from larger, older snakes (mex-mex & cal king).



Also, although I have double-clutched some of my older, bigger corns, I have never double-clutched any of my cal kings.



I do not think that we can prove what causes egg-binding. Giving birth/egg-laying affects females in a lot of species; too many factors IMO



But I agree that exercise is important and that my snakes don't get what they would in the wild, BUT in the wild in most species of snakes, (ie. crotes & rosy boas) once the females become gravid they do not travel very far and end up basking most of the time unlike the males who spend time looking for females and feeding (stalking or ambush). But then again, exercise/or lack of may not be the problem.....



Over-feeding may be the problem, as I think that we (herp industry) have a tendacy to over-feed IMO. I was guilty of power-feeding in the 90's and every year I end up feeding less and less, so who knows.........???



Just rambling...



Kerby...

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