Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Its been 6 weeks now since my eggs have been incubating. The ones that were nice an white aren't nice an white anymore. They are tanish an have a little denting to them. Then there are the others that I'm sure are bad an really smelly now. Should I take them out if not attached to the good ones? I've left them in with the good eggs just in case maybe they would hatch. Also notice some type of bug in there. How bugs can get in there is beyond me. Is there anything I should do about them?

Also my female seems like she might have more eggs. She shed couple few days ago. Fed her thinking she wanted to eat but ignored the f/t mouse. She is active an restless. Put her nest box back in with her. She went right in it an has been going in an out of it for couple days now. From what I've read in corn snake books she could have more eggs in her now? Thanks for any comments.

Your eggs have only been incubating for about 6 weeks/42 days, so probably not ready to hatch. Corn eggs usually take 60-70 days at temps of 80-85 degrees, so you may have two to three weeks left. Its OK if the eggs are getting a bit discolored. They may be getting stained a bit from the incubation medium. This happens especially with sphagnum moss. The denting may be caused by lack of moisture. The incubation medium should still be moist to the touch. The goal is moist, not wet. It should feel damp but you should not be able to squeeze water out of it. If your medium is too dry, you can spray the medium around the eggs, but not directly on the eggs. I also lay damp paper towels LOOSELY over my clutches as well. Denting is also an indication the eggs could be ready to hatch. As the babies absorb the egg yolk, the eggs can start denting. If not a moisture issue, could be close to hatching as well. I have noticed sphagnum moss hatches out little gnat flies for some reason. So, if using spagnum moss, that could be the bugs you are seeing. Harmless, but irritating. If you know the bad eggs are rotten and not attached to good eggs, you can throw them out. However, rule of thumb is if not sure, leave them alone!!!

Good Luck
KevinM

It sounds like your female is going to double clutch. My females fed after their post lay shed once or twice then went off feed and back into shed. I thought that was odd, but when I tried to resume feeding after that second post lay shed, none would feed. I realized what the situation was when they laid their second clutches, then resumed feeding after that second clutch post lay shed. So, keep her with a lay box and keep those fingers crossed!!

Females often lay a second clutch of eggs at around the time the first clutch is hatching (assuming the first clutch hatches in 60 days). I would expect a second clutch around 10 days after the shed date.

I'd throw out eggs that are obviously bad. Bad eggs can attract carrion flies which can kill good eggs. If you have flies, I'd make a whole new incubation box with new incubation medium and move the good eggs into it.

Tim

Third Eye

Thanks for the help...

Had to move my eggs to new material couple days ago. There were maggots in with them! I had them in perlite. Now they are in spagmum moss. Seem to be the same. Also threw out a very bad smelling egg. There is still a smell but I dont' want to force bad eggs off the hopefully good eggs.

Also my female is very active / restless, going in an out of her nest box ALOT. I've tried to feed her a smaller mouse again but she won't eat. She doesnt' look all that big to have eggs but she sure is acting like it. I don't remember when she shed. About a week ago I would guess. If I had thought she was going to have more eggs I'd of kept better track. Is this normal behavior for her?

Thanks again.

Just checked on my female an found more eggs! I pulled out 14 but dont' know if she was done. She may have 1 or 2 more in her. She did NOT want me taking her eggs! Kept pushing my hands away with her body.

Has anyone kept the eggs in with the mama to incubate? I've read most snake abandon their eggs after laying?

Heres to another loooonnnggg 8 weeks of waiting again.