Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have a female western hog-nosed snake who began to grow quite large over the past few months. Back when she was very young and small, I kept her in the same enclosure as a male who was about the same size. I later separated them, and this snake has not had any contact with others of her own species for about four years now. I now live overseas, but while I'm away, my family looks after the reptiles for me. Today, they discovered a clutch of nine eggs in the female's tank, and sent me a photo. I know that some egg-laying species lay clutches of infertile eggs on occasion, and most of these eggs do indeed appear to be infertile. One or two of the eggs, however, appear to be in surprisingly good shape. I find it unlikely that she would have been able to breed when she was so young, and store sperm until now. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you!
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DAVE

I think 4 years is pushing it. She probably just laid a couple fully calcified infertile eggs. I have had a few snakes do it over the years. They look perfect in every way, but there are no blood vessels if you candle them. If the eggs are still around, you should have someone candle them for you.

I too think that that would be unlikely but not impossible at all... I have a Florida King that has laid now five clutches of eggs over a span of four years. She is a WC female and I have NEVER had her in with a male so I assume she was bred in the wild by an unknown male. In the past 4 seasons/years she has laid PERFECT clutches of eggs. This year she double clutched and laid only one bad egg. EVERY OTHER OF THE 53 EGGS SHE HAS LAID OVER THE FOUR YEAR SPAN HAS HATCHED PERFECT BABIES AND I HAVE NEVER BRED HER!!!! It's hard to believe but she has successfully stored sperm for four years and laid PRESTINE clutches totaling 53 good eggs that all hatched and only ONE bad egg. Also, she has NEVER been cooled since she was caught four years ago as my intentions have not been to breed her, yet she insists on laying every year and as I said she even doubled this year... I wonder what next year has to bring The last of this years eggs hatched last Thursday. I understand that my experience of a female storing sperm for years was with a king but who says it is not possible for you and your hog??? It is definately unlikely but not at all impossible. GOOD LUCK!!!