Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is a wild caught King I found earlier this year, and she is pretty big, I taped her at 4 feet 4 inches. She shed her pre-egg shed ten days ago today, and still has not laid. Is this normal? She has an laying box with vermiculate, drinking water available, and the air temp on the warm end was at 85, which I reduced to the mid to upper 70's out of fear she might lay there and the eggs might overheat before I found them.
She is very definitely gravid, but could she be egg-bound?

I've got a female banded that does not do a "pre-shed" before she lays; others go from around a week to 2 weeks. So it sounds like you are still in the ballpark.

How about a picture??

Kerby...

She doesn't appear distressed. She is normal banded, except for the speckling between the bands. I found her trying to cross I-5 near Mendota in mid June. Since she was docile, the largest cal king I've ever personally found, and female (nearly all adults I find crossing roads at night are male), I kept her. She turned out to be gravid, and I'm just waiting for eggs now!
Pictures aren't real clear, I had to make do with an old digital camera, and its raining.

NT

NT

NT

Thats an awesome looking snake you have there. Which roads do look for snakes on, and how do I get there from the 14?

into the foothills, or through open natural grassland are best for kings. I found this one on I-5 near the Mendota turnoff at about 3 in the morning, I was heading down to school in San Luis Obispo. I can't help you much with the area, most of my road cruising is farther north near my home in Modesto.
Basically you want warm nights, (I prefer 80 degrees plus) and the closer to Spring the better, or around a rainy period. Now might be good with the rain the valley's been getting. Good luck!

Actually, my area is windy, so the roads cool quickly and few snakes are found. I was looking to travel to places where I can find several snakes a night, but I dont know where to go.

Keep us informed.

Kerby...