Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone give pre-natal vitamins to their pregnant female milksnakes? My fiance's sister gave me the idea..(she's taking them). It seems to me that powdered calcium or something else that would help with egg laying. Since I've heard so much about eggbinding females. I think a vet would know best but just wondering with all the experianced herpers on here.
Thanks,
Dave

I've used vitamins on snakes for years, but somewhat sparingly. I started with avian vitamins before the reptile vits were common. As far as I can tell there has been no problems with my snakes as a result. Breeding females got calcium supplements here and there.

About eggbinding - probably not just about calcium. In fact, may have little to do with it as far as snakes are concerned. It is likely about failure of the keeper to provide an adequate environment for the female to want to lay her eggs. Some females may be more picky than others and retain eggs if a suitable nest site is not found. That is what many who have kept snakes for many years surmise.

Lack of muscle tone may or may not contribute. Small cages are so prevalent in the hobby.

Also nobody knows if eggbinding happens in the wild or how often if it does.

And lastly, there may be something else that eludes the experts.

I would like to see data with incidences of eggbinding and the types of caging used. I would bet small cages with little ventilation and a very tight temperature range factor highly in the incidence. Just a guess. The only times I've had eggbinding was in sweaterboxes, never in larger cages, but it is not nearly enough snakes to draw a certain conclusion (but I will anyway.)

Has anyone ever found a dead female colubrid full of eggs. (other then DOR's ect.) I recognise that females would be at there most secretive during this time so even if it was happening, it might go unnoticed.

Oh.. I use repcal and reptomin every third feeding with my gravid females and rapidly growing juvis.

I supplement my females every other feeding after burmation with Rep-Cal Calcium and Vit-D.Doesnt seem to hurt and havent had any egg binding.Markg makes a few good points but larger confinments are only needed with more active snakes such as your golphers, pines, ect.............just my opinion.A buddy of mine had a 2 year old gravid female alterna bind on him and he had to palpate out the eggs. The following year under same conditions but with supplement no problems accured. I figure it can only do good in moderation, so why not?!!!!!!!hope all goes good this breeding year for ya. Mike

2.2 VP Hypo Hondos
1.1 Hypo pueblans
1.1 orange pueblans
1.1 het hypo hondos
1.1 black milks
1.1 w-s brooksi
1.1 hypo brooksi
1.1 xtreme lav brooksi
1.1 snow brooksi
1.3 het alb w. hogs
1.1 n. pines
0.1 alb n. pine
1.1 alb nelsons

one of my 05 hatchling

It is very useful.