Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First off....I have more field experience than breeding experience. This is actually my first venture in breeding from conception to laying. I've caught gravid females before in the wild and not worried about their laying and had eggs before, but this is my first time from the very beginning. So....
My '06 Okeetee did what seemed to me to be her pre-lay shed about 7 or 8 days ago. I've got her whole sweater box full of a mix of Bed-A-Beast and vermiculite and it's quite damp. I wouldnt say moist, just damp.
She seems to be in a sort of "searching mode" any time I pop the lid, checking out every corner and just generally more active than she normally would be. This is of course her first year breeding being an '06. Do I just write-off the behavior as "first time mom" issues or is she probably not comfortable with her location at this time?
So, how long do I wait until I get nervous that she's holding the eggs in and dissatisfied with her location options?
I'm a bit nervous about the ordeal, but I'm not exactly flipping out yet. I'm going out of town this weekend and of course, she'll probably drop them during this time, but I'm not too concerned about that. They'll be fine right where they are until I return Sunday.
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

generally 7 to 10 days but up to 14 is not uncommon.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

A few of mine became really active 2 days before they laid, then settled down until it was time.

It typically takes ten days for my snakes to go from pre-egglaying shed to egg deposition.
Many, many, of my snakes do exactly what your snake is doing - become very active and restless a day or two before laying eggs.
Chances are your snake will settle into it's eggbox in the next day or two and lay it's eggs.

Tim

Third Eye

This "searching" and increased activity prior to laying her eggs is normal for corns and you shouldn't be concerned at this point. As others have stated, she'll likely calm down and lay within a few days.

Rather than filling their enclosures with damp moss, I do offer my snakes a "lay box" as shown in the attached pic. This is simply a medium to large size plastic food storage container and I cut a large round hole in the top. My females always lay inside these lay boxes that are filled with damp spaghnum moss. And I position the lay box half on/off the under tank heat so she can choose the right place according to her temperature preference. Filling your enclosure with moss shouldn't be a problem though.

Make sure your incubator is up and running and you have a container "up to temp" for the eggs and good luck! There's not many things cooler and more satisfying than seeing the process through from breeding to hatching

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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

It's early Monday morning, I'm about to leave for work and she has 2 eggs out and she's laying more as I type this.
Excellent!

I'm quite thankful she waited for me to get home. Unfortunately, I wont be back from work until 8pm tonite to handle the rest of the eggs.
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

n/p
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I decided my old sig was too big.

I'll be wondering the same things and for the same reasons in a few weeks myself.
Dave