Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well about 2 months ago my cali kingsnake laid 8 good eggs. Then she starting eatting just fine, and I never put another male with her again. But then all of a sudden I walk in and she had laid another 5 eggs (over 2 months later); 3 of which are good! I dont get it?

I don't know how common it is, but it isn't that uncommon.
How long they can retain is not known.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

From your comments, theres a lot you don't get. But don't feel bad, theres a lot not known(none of us get)

Yes, kingsnakes can do that. Thats the simple answer. It could be parthenogenetic reproduction(now known to occur in snakes) or simple sperm storage.

At this time, there is very few methods to tell which occurred. You could send the parents and offspring(or tissue samples) to lab that Dr. Shuette used. Not sure many labs are set up for this. Or you have a change to make a guess. If your female bred a male of a different type then her, then if those eggs hatch and express traits of both parents(common) then its sperm retention. If the babies hatch and show only traits from the female, then its possible parthenogenetic reproduction(no male).

A much better question and one with no answer, what so ever, is, WHY do they sometimes do that. In most cases if they are not bred, they throw infertile eggs, even on a second or third clutch(yes they do that too). They can even lay fertile eggs without ever being with a male their whole life. Cheers