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Diones eating Eggs *pix*

souix May 21, 2009 08:18 PM

Does anyone else feed there Ratsnake species eggs, if so which species, kind of egg and how do they deal with them. Would love to hear your experiences

The Dione have a modified vertebrae that they use to pierce the shell by laterally compression once down in the neck. They don't regurg the shells.

The smaller specimens will coil round the egg to eat it, forcing it into the ground to secure it. Larger ones will coil loosely and occasionally use there body or the floor.
These were quail eggs which I brought from ebay which were hatching ready so presumed to be fertile. All my Diones loved them - but interestingly enough the climacs (a renowned egg eater in the wild) showed little interest in them.


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The Ratsnake Foundation Online Society

Replies (6)

antelope May 21, 2009 11:06 PM

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing those!
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Todd Hughes

souix May 22, 2009 01:59 PM
FRoberts May 22, 2009 04:11 PM

That first pic is absolutely awesome!!!!
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

souix May 22, 2009 09:42 PM
tbrock May 23, 2009 09:09 AM

Awesome photos as always, Sue! - And very interesting info, as well.

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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

billysbrown Jun 04, 2009 10:18 AM

I had a climacophora for a while that ate eggs off and on like it ate everything else.

I've thrown eggs at my two large obsoleta ratsnakes (a yellow and a Texas) but they generally don't take them.

The most consistent egg eaters have been a Florida kingsnake and a Pueblan I used to have. Both take/took quail eggs, but don't seem to have the gape or the technique down for chicken eggs. It takes a lot of quail eggs to fill an adult Florida kingsnake, so I don't think they'll ever be a staple, but it's fun to watch sometimes. See below for an old shot of the Pueblan milk gulping down an egg.

Cheers,
Billy

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Phillyherping

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