Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of mine just had a problem with his honduran milk snake. It became egg bound after laying two eggs. He waited for two weeks to see if the eggs would pass and they did not. He saw on line somewhere that you can massage the eggs out. so he tried that and one of the eggs came out. He showed it to me and it was a little wrinkly, like your hands look after being in the water too long. When he tried to pass the next egg he said there was a little bit of tissue, like a sack around the egg. He removed it and started on the last egg. When it came out it was wrapped in a flesh like sleeve that pulled out of the snake. I told him that I think he might have pulled out the snakes uterous. He said no, its just a protective yoke. Which one of us is right? please help.(I think I'm right) also will this harm the snake? Thanks

Unfortunately for the snake,...I think YOU are the one that's right!,....and he wanted to just "look" like he knew what he was talking about when he just went to palpating(mashing) them out. Snakes CAN sometimes successfully have their remaining eggs palpated out on ocasion, but big problems can also occur as well, as I think your friend demonstrated.

This can many times be deadly to the snake,....but at the very least it should NEVER be attempted to breed the snake again,........of course, that's if it survives this at all.

It should have been brought to the vet a long time ago, then the vet could have tried gently palpating them out, and if unsuccsessful, could then insert a syringe to drain the egg contents so they might be successfully passed. But this can only be done in the earlier stages, as the yolk tends to harden up rather quickly just after the time they would have normally been deposited.

Infection is another strong possibility here too, and I would STRONGLY suggest that the snake be seen by a good reputable herp vet ASAP!. Maybe you can talk some good sense into your friend, and make a vet visit this time....hope the snake survives, and does okay after all this.

~Doug


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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

thanks for the response. I wish I had been wrong, Its a shame the snake suffered.

Your welcome!,....How is the snake doing?,...or shouldn't I have asked?

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Well, I saw him yesterday. and beleave it or not, the snake seemed fine.

Thanks for telling us that, I sure hope the snake continues to be okay.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

n/m
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Mark