This clutch has got to be some kind of record because I've never heard of anything similar, at least from a milk snake.
My 2000 black milk had what I thought was her pre-egg lay shed on July 8. After 10 days and no going into her egg box I offered her food and she ate -- usually a sure sign that she was not going to lay during this cycle. I could feel the eggs inside her but they were not real close to the vent so I let her be. She wasn't cruising her cage or acting abnormally. She refused her next meal a week later, again nothing I was too concerned about because I could see she was pretty swollen with eggs. The following week she ate no problems. My black milks have been notoriously late the past two years so this would appear to be normal behaviour.
Then on the morning of Aug. 11 I noticed her curled up in a circle on the far side of her cage next to a piece of cork bark. And there was one normal appearing egg in the center of her coil. I freaked out and it took every bit of willpower to not shove her into her nesting box (rubbermaid box filled with moist sphagnum moss). But I left her alone and by the next morning she finished passing the last of 10 perfect appearing eggs - a full 32 days after her pre-egg lay shed (see photo - she's getting ready to pass the last one). It's been a couple days since she laid and the eggs appear fine. I candled a couple and they appear to have healthy veins. The female has also eaten with no problems.
My other female, the very next day laid 13 perfect eggs in her nesting box 16 days after her pre-egg lay shed.
Aside from my black milks being late again this year, I don't know what to make of this. For a female to hold eggs for 32 days post shed and have them all appear fine seems crazy. Anyone have any possible explanations or similar tales?
The weather here in New England has been on the warm and wet side this year, but I would think tat would cause them to go early, not late.
I'm curious to see if the eggs from one female will hatch much earlier but both appear to be about the same developmentally wise judging from the veins I could see while candling.
Rob Haneisen
