Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I noticed copulation with my two females on april 17 & 21 respectively. They have just recently shed (55-60 days post-copulation) and are still feeding and don't appear gravid. I would have mated them again but the male died about a month ago. Is there any way to tell if eggs are on the way? Is 60 days after copulation too long to still be expecting eggs?

Thanks everyone

Nick
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It's just like the story of the grasshopper and the octopus. All year long the grasshopper stored up acorns for winter, while the octopus mooched off his girlfriend and watched tv. And then the winter came, and the grasshopper died, and the octopus stole all his acorns, and he got a race car. Is any of this sinking in?

My Blue Beauty female NEVER stopped eating the whole time that she was gravid, and eagerly devoured a rat the day after laying 12 large eggs. I bought the pair back in February, and they were breeding then, but she did not lay eggs until June 1. Now, they were kept together, and I did observe mating going on for weeks after I got them, so it's possible that she "took" from a much-later breeding. However, by the time she had her pre-egglaying shed, it was obvious that she was gravid, as I could easily see the lumps of eggs inside her. In contrast, my female Taiwan, who is now in her pre-laying shed, stopped eating over a month ago, and while I still can make out the egg lumps in her, it's not as obvious with her since she is a heavier-bodied snake to begin with than the Blue. I would not, therefore, rule out that at least one of your girls is gravid, especially if you have gotten fertile eggs from that male in the past.

McKenzieS

Nick,
I have had beauty snakes of several species go for as long as 80 days before laying. Also, I've had several that never interrupted their feeding during the egg-laying process. I'd plan on eggs soon.

Bryan
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Last night I was laying in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, "Where the hell is my ceiling?"

Thanks. Didn't realize they wouldn't stop eating. I hope this was the pre-lay shed.
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."