Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is my first year breeding -- I have three gravid females. Two are due in 3-4 weeks, one is due literally any day now. I know I need to be patient, but I'm somewhat worried about the girl who's due...she ovulated January 28th, turned blue on February 18th and shed on the 24th. It's now been 41 days and she still hasn't layed her eggs. I've given her a hide, I've given her damp aspen as a nesting material, still nothing. Is she on schedule or is she overdue? At what point would I need to worry if she's eggbound or stuck?

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~* Jen *~

Just be patient and they will pop up when you least expect them.

She looks like she is gonna pop any minute. I don't know if it helps, but I mist my girls once a day just before and after their due date. And give them low light and very quiet. Try to make her feel as secure as possible so she will relax and lay.
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2.1 Albino BP
0.4 100% Het Albino
2.1 100% het Caramel Albino BP
1.0 100% Het Clown
1.0 50% het clown
2.12 Normal BP
0.0.2 Western Hognose
alot of cornsnakes
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa
3.6 Bearded Dragons
1.0.2 Sulcatta tortoise
3.3 Russian Tortoise
1.0 Cockatiel
0.1 Rottweiler
0.2 Boston Terriers
0.1 White Boxer
0.1 Paint Mare
bunch of geckos
0.1 Cat
0.1 Teenage daughter
1.0 Husband who puts up with all my critters.

Low light is good advice.You are still ok at 41 days and she doesnt look egg bound.Most of my eggs are laid at night and keep in mind in the wild they lay their eggs in rodent burrows in total darkness.Good luck

The snakes are in a room that only gets light during the regular daylight hours (via the window). At night, there is no light in there at all. I also put a something in front of the rack to block out much of the daylight in her tub as well. I took Melinda's advice and started misting her nesting material and the female a bit as well, both last night and this morning. We'll see what happens! Thanks guys!
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~* Jen *~

Hi Jen,

I hope all is well with you. A couple of questions, how is she acting? Does she appear axious? Is she pacing (lack of a better term, sorry)? The reason I ask is, she should be settling into her nest by now.

After the pre-lay shed, I replace the entire cage bedding with slightly damp (nearly dry) sphagnum moss. she female will mold and shape her nest over the next few weeks and settle into it well before she lays. As the other posters stated, I would want the conditions to be dark and comfortable for her. I wouldn't be pulling my hair out yet, but I would be making every effort to assure that she is comfortable and away from prying eyes. By replacing the typical bedding with long grain spagnum, I feel that you cover several important bases at once. You will allow her to nest in a proven nesting substrate. The moss adds humidity to the air and it provides visual barriers. I know many folks don't find it necessary, but I still use the sphagnum technique. Females tend to recognize it and if given in a large enough quantity will typically nest and lay without much stress. Good luck.

Will

Hi Will -- I'll have to give that a try. My snakes are housed on unprinted newspaper and I only provided damn aspen after thinking she might prefer a more moldable substrate to create her nest. She has a hide (kitty litter pan), but all she does is push it over to the cool side and ignore it. I blocked off the front of the rack so she doesn't see any movement in the room (which would only be me once a day or the cats coming in the room to use their litter boxes. I'll give it a few more days and if still nothing, then I'll see about changing over to sphagnum. Where's the best place to buy it?
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~* Jen *~

Still nothing. 45 days past shed.

Do they glow before they lay, kind of like how they glow before they ovulate? I noticed her color has lightened up and she looks really pretty. I took this pic yesterday after I misted her and I think it came out nice:

*pulling her hair out*
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~* Jen *~

I noticed last night she was restless and seemed to be moving things down her body, and this morning she had layed her first egg! It was still very soft so it must have been recent. I carefully moved it into the incubator and have been numbering them to keep the top side up. I have three now, I've been removing them as they come. All weigh 100g each, is that a pretty decent weight? She's got at least two more in her, maybe more. Hopefully not slugs! Thankfully she's laying them on my day off, I can keep on top of it!
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~* Jen *~

Yay!!! I have been checking every day to see about this girl. Congrats. Hope you hatch out some healthy little ones. Keep track of the dates on the momma, she may gestate the same length next season.
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2.1 Albino BP
0.4 100% Het Albino
2.1 100% het Caramel Albino BP
1.0 100% Het Clown
1.0 50% het clown
2.12 Normal BP
0.0.2 Western Hognose
alot of cornsnakes
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa
3.6 Bearded Dragons
1.0.2 Sulcatta tortoise
3.3 Russian Tortoise
1.0 Cockatiel
0.1 Rottweiler
0.2 Boston Terriers
0.1 White Boxer
0.1 Paint Mare
bunch of geckos
0.1 Cat
0.1 Teenage daughter
1.0 Husband who puts up with all my critters.

Yep, it's all in her records. She layed 6 perfect white eggs, all have good veins and all weigh 100-102g each. No slugs, no boob eggs, no nothing. Woo-hoo!
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~* Jen *~