Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok My husband brought home a king snake about a month ago. All the sudden tonight we noticed 9 eggs that we could see. We have no clue what to do. We don't know the first thing about eggs or babies. I'm kinda freaking out. So if someone could please tell us what we need to do, I would really appreciate it! This will such a miracle to witness!!!!

OK, now the fast version is to get the eggs into an airtight container with one or two tiny holes...like eighth of an inch on 2 of the sides near the top. Ideally you want the eggs to be in a slightly damp bedding like vermiculite or perlite which you can find at a plant nursery. DO NOT USE PRODUCTS WITH MIRACLE GROW IN THEM.

If you can not get vermiculite or perlite immediately, or better yet a product for reptile eggs called hatch rite put some newspaper, paper towel or something on the bottom of the container so the eggs do no stick to it and place a cup or two of water inside the box. DO NOT LET THE WATER SPILL, this is temporary...until you get something better.

You want the airtight container with air holes....and the perlite or whatever to be 2 inches or so deep. The perlite should be wet, and rung out by hand one clump at a time. You want it a little damp but not at all dripping wet. Your eggs will rest on top not even halfway buried, and then placed somewhere stable..like on the top shelf of a closet.

The idea is to keep them humid enough to not dry out, but not wet...which will also ruin them.
Before you run out and attempt to get this going...please post a picture of the eggs so people can attempt to tell you if they appear fertile or not, they should be quite firm and feel solid and be nice n white.
Yellow soft oddly shaped eggs are often infertile.
Email me if you have more questions and please post the pics of the clutch
Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

Pic 1

I use photobucket dot com for loading pix on here
Tom
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TomsSnakes.com

pic 1 again

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If thats a Hot Rock move it farther away from the eggs ,snake eggs hatch fine at a warm room temp and will cook at high temps.BTW the eggs look GOOD...Chris

THEY'RRRRRRRRE GOOD!!! Look good anyways! Where do you live? She looks like a splendida or possibly a floridana, can't see enough of her. Tom's advice is solid. I use Gladware 104 oz. or 13 cup servers with lid, one hole punched on each side high up, vermiculite just as he described, mix 1:1 ratio, squeeze as much water out as you can, put eggs on top, make sure clutch doesn't touch lid, put them in the same way they are laid, tops up, don't rotate. Close lid, write date laid on top, put in dark closet. I pop the lid once a week and gently fan about a minute for air exchange. 45-65 days at 79-82 degrees and you should see some cool little heads sticking out blowing bubbles!

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Todd Hughes

pic 2

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Those DO look GOOD!
Is that moss they're in?
Do you have any green, peat or sphagnum moss at home?
Tom
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TomsSnakes.com

Also want to mention, it is perfectly fine to leave them in a clump. You do not have to separate them
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TomsSnakes.com

they are in the dirt you buy from petsmart and put in water

OK well Id get some of that dirt wet.
Then ring out the water one handful at a time until most of the water has been squeezed out, leaving it moist.
Put that dirt stuff in a container where you can have at least 2 inches of the moist dirt and NOT have those eggs come in contact with the lid.
Do not bury the eggs, just put the bottom of the clutch down into the dirt a bit so they are stationary
I use 6 quart shoe boxes a lot for eggs...
Again just one or two tiny airholes, stable temps in the high 70s to low 80s and some patience and you will have some babies.
I would consider making a proper box set up with vermiculite or perlite but then again they may do fine with what you have, good luck and congratulations.
Tom
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TomsSnakes.com

We have a few more questions.... First in this pic do you see how one of the eggs appears to be a little damaged? is that something we need to worry about or watch? And second When will they hatch and will it be all at once will they need helping getting out of their shells, and once they hatch do they need to all be placed in separate containers? Do we keep all the babies, release them, take them some where? Can the eggs get wet? Or should they remain dry but placed on moist soil. Sorry for all the ? I just want to ensure proper care!

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We have a few more questions.... First in this pic do you see how one of the eggs appears to be a little damaged? is that something we need to worry about or watch?

Even if the eggs is no good (which is common)it will not effect the other eggs. Just don't try and remove it unless it is not attached to good eggs.

And second When will they hatch and will it be all at once will they need helping getting out of their shells,

No they will not come out all at once. usually a couple will pip (tiny slits in the egg) then in a day (24 hrs) all the eggs may pip and a couple snakes might emerge. Usually takes 2-4 days for the whole process from first pip to having all the babies out of the egg. Then you remove them to place in their new containers.

and once they hatch do they need to all be placed in separate containers?

Yes. You can get deli cups and little water bowls for temporary housing. You have 60 days to figure all this out so no reason to rush out an make a decision on housing quite yet.

Do we keep all the babies, release them,

NO! Do not releas the babies. Take some time to read here. This topic comes up fairly frequently and there is lots of reading/info on it.

take them some where?
You can sell them to a pet shop or get an account here at Kingsnake.com and advertise. Also there are plenty of wholesalers advertising here that will buy your whole clutch. Just check the ads. You will have no problem selling them to a wholesaler.

Can the eggs get wet? Or should they remain dry but placed on moist soil.

They cannot get "wet" , moist is good. You do not want the eggs on a wet surface ir touching wet. That is why perlite was reccomended. Perlite can take a much higher water percentage but has lots of airflow. That is why it is forgiving. I would reccomend the perlite over the vermiculite for you. I WOULD NOT USE THE DIRT YOU ARE USING! If you want to do something quickly, this is what i would reccomend you do. Run out and get the Perlite (or vermiculite if perlite is not avliable) and worry about the housing of the snakes in two months.
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www.Bluerosy.com

np

that coco fiber has great hydration properties and stays moist longer than spagnum and will make fine incubation medium aslong as its not too wet,and i would either put the eggs in a plastic bowl w/ a lid or place a dome over the pile because the humidity is escaping unless you sealed the Aq.

Four inches of garden variety peatmoss in a shoebox with holes.Damp not wet
Wait 8 - 10 weeks at about 70 - 80 degrees.I have mine in the basement 70 - 75degrees.If they hit much over 90 degrees or the moss drys out they will be dead.If you do this right they will likely all hatch

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Doug L

Congratulations!!!

//Todd