Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Hondo just had her second clutch (6 eggs vs. 7 the first time)and was fed 3 adult mice df. the day after the pre-lay shed.
Just wondering if anyone else feeds their gravid milks, etc. right after their pre-laying shed.
I do it to help push the eggs further down. Been doing this for years with all my colubrids. Was checking my feed charts yesterday and I do it every time without even thinking twice about it. Never attempted this with my BP's though.
Is this normal procedure? They refuse food halfway, but the shed thing seems to make them hungry.

Mike

I have always offered less sensitive species like hondos a meal after their pre egg laying shed and even offer them another meal a few days later if they have not laid yet but I offer them smaller meals than I regularly do. I even offer more sensitive species a meal after their pre egg laying shed but I make it much smaller meal than usual. Randy W.

Mike,

I too will try to feed a female after a pre-egg lay shed if she'll take it, but generally I give her smaller meals than normal. I had a snake reabsorb eggs last year and I think its because she didn't get enough food throughout the process, although I thought I was feeding her plenty! I try to avoid that now by always offering some food.

Dave
DNS Reptiles