Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok - first off, I thought I had two male ball pythons. So really I had no idea there would be eggs in my enclosure tonight. (my "original" snake was sexed by my vet...so I took her word for it and my "adopted" snake I was told was a male...which has obviously been confirmed)

I'm not set up for breeding, incubating, etc. - and my female (whom I always thought was a male) is giving me the stink eye. I really don't want to disturb her...so is it possible to allow the snake to incubate the eggs herself?

I know that the eggs will dry out but if I mist the cage a few time s a day will that help or is this a lost cause? I'd hate to have a whole clutch of eggs go to waste but I honestly don't have the proper set up to hatch them out myself...any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I would remove the male right away and keep the temps and humidity way up.

Do not mist directly onto the eggs.

I dont remember if you said, but if you have them in a fish tank, try and cover up most of the open areas on the top to keep the humidity in.

You can get a Havobator for under $80 also, but I think natural incubation is really pretty cool!

Check out Jay Martin's website it has articles on both the Pros and Cons of maternal incubation, as well as a low cost Havobator setup article.

Alan
Link

I agree, keep her by herself and cut down air flow if possible.

Also consider adding something like long stem sphagnum moss in the other parts of the cage to hold up humidity.

Privacy is important so if this is an aquarium in addition to covering as much of the top as you can without being a fire hazard for any heat lamps you may have, consider also papering over the outside of the sides. Get/place a remote probe thermometer near her but outside her coils to see if the background temp is in the upper 80's consistently.

Here is a link with my very limited experience on maternal incubation.
A Maternal Incubation

First you do need to get the male out of the cage.
Second mom will need privacy so cover up her cage.
Third make sure that there is no direct heat or water on mom and eggs.

From there just maintain a high humidity and about 89* temperature measured in or near the clutch and you should be fine.

Not sure what type of substrate you are using - but you may need to add some cypress and/or some moss to her cage to help keep the humidity up. If you do - cover mom with a towel before you set to work - this way you don't freak her out too much.

Or you can buy or make yourself an incubator.

Good luck!
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Tosha
JET Pythons

Thanks everyone for the tips - I've put our humidifier in the room and added an extra heat lamp. The door is closed to keep the heat and moist air in - the enclosure is actually built into the wall so it's hard to close it off any more than that. I put the male in a rubbermaid box with air holes and am keeping it in the cage as well. It's a huge enclosure and I don't have anywhere else to keep him. Hopefully this will work.

ok post pics of that enclosure i wanna see!!! good luck with ya eggs!