Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was given several gopher snakes for release on my parents farm and I ended up keeping one, a female, who has never refused a meal and had a favorite spot in her log to lay and a steady routine of when she is active.

Recently I noticed she is laying in the middle of her enclosure by the water instead of under her log, I didn't think much of it until in my research on breeding ball pythons I read that gravid snakes will sometimes lay around the water dish.

The last meal she ate ended up being some FT rat pups because her feeder rat died before she got it, and I thought she was more active during the day because she was hungry due to her small meal but when I tried to give her a thumped rat she would smell it and move on.

I fed that rat to one of the balls and gave her a minute alone in her feeding box and then tried to tempt her with an un-thumped rat. She hissed at it and struck but didnt grab the rat so I thumped it and again she was not interested. She was just agitated at the rat and once it wasn't an annoyance any longer she moved on.

Now that I have the thought that she might be gravid she does look a little bigger in the middle but I am not sure. I have had her since the summer but I never took any measurements.

I can't find much information about captive gopher snakes through google but I read that they lay in the fall, which would be now.. Does anyone have any pictures of advice on how to tell if she is gravid? I would appreciate any info on incubation temps if you have it too.

Thanks, Michelle

Typically gopher snakes as well as other colurbrid snakes would mate not long after coming out of brumation (hibernation of sorts). Several weeks later the female will have a pre-lay shed and will deposit her eggs. In captivity most of us use a rubbermaid/sterilite shoe box filled with moist sphagnum moss of a laying box. This most often takes place in May/June. Most breeders will place the eggs in another plastic shoe box. Several different media are used to keep the eggs moist but not wet, perlite, vermiculite and some use a combination of these or even the sphagnum moss. If maintained around 85-86*F the eggs will hatch in /- 70 days. This would be around early fall with a June laying.

It's possible she may have stopped feeding in preparation for brumation. Many of us are experiencing this with our colubrids right now.

If you really believe she is gravid you can check by running your fingertips down the length of her belly. As you get near the rear portion of her belly you should feel the lumps of eggs. Being as she has been alone most of the summer and it nearing brumation time I feel most likely she is not gravid.

For more information on gopher snakes and related species pines snakes and bull snakes check out.

http://www.kingsnake.com/pituophis/species.html
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
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2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
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1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings

I agree with the other response, none of my WC CA herps will eat in October. It is very late for her to lay eggs if she is from the wild this year and did not mate in captivity. You can keep her warm for 2 weeks past her next shed to be sure, by which point she should have laid her eggs if gravid.
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Nick Puder
www.rnpreptiles.com

She was with both males and females in captivity at the reptile rescue while they had her before they were to be released, and I got her July 30th. I dont know how long the rescue had them. He said they have more people that want them removed than they have people that want them released.

Apparently these snakes have a reputation for having a bad attitude in this area so I wonder how hard finding homes for up to 18 babies would be. My boyfriend is not thrilled about the ball breeding that I am hoping for, he will be happy to hear you dont think she will lay.

I read about feeling for eggs but i was unsure how easily the eggs are damaged if they are in there, I will try it.

And thanks for the link Bigtattoo I appreciate the info.