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I have a 24 inch wildcaught southern hognose snake that resorbed her eggs. Is this a bad sign that she might not make it or do snakes absorb their eggs sometimes when their stressed? Thanks for any input. Kevin

>>I have a 24 inch wildcaught southern hognose snake that resorbed her eggs. Is this a bad sign that she might not make it or do snakes absorb their eggs sometimes when their stressed? Thanks for any input. Kevin

I guess I gotta ask....How do you know she reabsorbed? As for why....stress, poor health, unavailable lay spot, infertility....name something.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I guess I gotta ask....How do you know she reabsorbed? As for why....stress, poor health, unavailable lay spot, infertility....name something.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Well...I figured she resorbed the eggs because I can't feel them in her belly anymore,there was four lumps in her belly that I could feel and there not there anymore and the eggs aren't in the nest box or the cage and shes hasn't eaten for two months or more so the lumps weren't food. My guess would be she decided not to lay because its stress related. She looks very good and is not acting strange so she should be fine. She has great weight on her,but not gravid.

Kevin

4 eggs is kind of small for a hognose isn't it? In any case, I might question if they really were eggs at all, but stool or perhaps follicular activity. If they were eggs, I'd imagine they weren't yet shelled, and then perhaps they were resorbed from the mother being stressed by her capture.

I think the more important question is if your mother will be alright. You'll want to review your husbandry practice with her, and especially double check her stressors. Does she have to move into the open to warm up? To drink or eat? Is there only one hide space and is it suitable? ect. Also make sure she has a wider than normal temperature range as in the wild they have these options.

If signs of stress are minimal, she's bright alert and responsive, eating well, and otherwise looking healthy and happy, then this event won't affect her into the future.

Ian

Thanks for the info guys! Obviously the small bumps I felt were probably follicles because she came out the wild fat as a pig and being this late in the year for a small southern hognose I figured about 4 eggs might be average for a second clutch. Kevin

Unfertilized mature ova and/or shelled eggs cannot be absorbed by the female. They either will be expelled or remain within the female intact. Only ovarian follicles can atrophy or be absorbed if they are not released into the oviducts. I would agree with Ian and suspect that they were probably immature follicles or something else, but not actually mature ova or eggs.

Kelly

my female southern hog just laid 13 eggs. Kevin