Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone ever heard of a Burmese Python eating DURING maternal incubation?? This is my girl's first clutch and she's been doing great so far, guarding the eggs, hissing at anything that comes near, and the eggs look perfect (white and clean). But the last couple of days she's been acting strange. She's only wrapped around her clutch with the lower 2/3 of her body and the front part was acting HUNGRY. So I gave her a small rat and she took it, but so far the rest of her body is still on the clutch.

I know I probably shouldn't have offered her the food, but I figure Mother Nature is telling her what's best, and I'd rather trust the snake's instincts than have her starve.

Does this mean there's something wrong with the eggs, or that my girl won't incubate them anymore??

~kasey~

I just checked her again and she's back on her eggs again...weird huh?

She could've been stretching, relaxing or avoiding overheating the eggs. Keep an eye on the temperature in the nesting spot. And most definitely keep the humidity level high.

I say that if she'll eat, feed her. You've got the right idea, nature knows best and nobody knows what she needs better than her. The secret to great husbandry is to offer them choices and let them decide.

I wouldn't feed her till she's stuffed but keep her satisfied. She's burning up quite a bit of energy incubating the eggs. You're on the right track.

My female Burmese ate till she laid eggs but wouldn't eat once on the eggs, last year & this year. Feeding while incubating isn't common but not unheard of. It's few & far between.

Keep us posted!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

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