Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How long should it take a female childrens python from the time of her ovulation shed until she lays?

All the different sources I find say drastically different things.

I have a female anthill who has been breeding a male all winter. On 2/25 she was ovulating and shed. After that she began refusing food and all mating activity stopped, so I removed the male. She has been getting swollen for weeks now, and I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am just wondering when to expect eggs!? I figure its a long shot if anyone knows specifically about anthills, but I would love to hear from anyone with experience with the childreni group.

My female Spotted Python just laid 11 eggs. It was her first clutch. And my 2nd female should lay within 2 weeks. Here are the particulars according to my charts.

In late Nov 06 I put the trio together. I also began cooling them for winter. Temps averaged in the low 60s but they always had a warm hide (80s) available to them. Sometimes they used it, often they self-brumated on the cool side of the tank. They are housed in a 40 breeder.

My male stopped eating last fall, was actively breeding through the winter, and just started eating again March 13. My females ate through the winter and stopped feeding in mid Jan 07.

My first female shed on March 9th and laid her clutch on April 2nd, approx 3 weeks after her shed. My second female shed March 21st so I expect her clutch around April 14th.

I also heard various information when to expect eggs, from 1-3 weeks after their pre-lay shed. Mine came in at 3 weeks.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

So do they shed again before they lay? or is the ovulation shed the last shed before eggs.

Its been just over a month since she shed, and she looks huge. now I am starting to be nervous.

Most snakes will have a pre-lay shed. This can be anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on the species but I don't know the hard and fast rule for it. My corns generally go 7-10 days after shedding to lay eggs and my spotted was 3 weeks . Since she's refusing to eat and she looks "huge" I imagine it will be soon. Make certain she has a place to lay her eggs and that temps are correct.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

Your snake still needs to shed one more time. Offer a nesting area and good luck! Mine have been breeding but nothing has happened for me so that shows you how much I know!

thanks colby

I figured that, but someone had given me some confusing advice and I just wanted to make sure.

Good luck with your group, cant wait to see all those babies your gonna have.

My female (childreni) always inverts prior to her lay - the shed times before have fluxuated. The inversion is usually the clue that she's about to pop We use long fiber moss in a separate nest box (translucent rubbermaid so we can see what's going on) for her to decide when to lay. Usually she will stay in it for a good while before the lay, all wound up in different positions right before dropping her eggs.