Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
https://www.crepnw.com/
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

female veiled not laying.......HELP!!!!!

DJXMASTERCHIEF May 29, 2003 07:08 PM

hi, i have a gravid female veiled in a screen enclosure. We know shes gravid with fertilized eggs because of the fact that she had this weird black against neon green and tan spots. So we got her a big bowl for er to lay. We have noticed that she goes down her branches and stays low, or even completey ignores the bowl, and paces around the places where the bowl doesnt reach. What should i do? I am so afraid of her dying egg-bound!!!pleez help

Replies (1)

reptayls May 29, 2003 09:13 PM

A bowl just may not be her "cup of tea"

Usually, the veiled female will want a semi-dark place with moist sandy soil approximately 12" deep or more. With some of ours, we offer them a small waste basket with the moist soil - and this fits in their cage. Be sure that a branch reaches down into the container - she can walk down in and up and out when done.

With others, they want room - so we give them a 33gal trash can with a plant, stick and soil. They roam around until they find just the "right" spot.

Soil.... this is important. It needs to be moist enough to hold the tunnel (and not cave in on them). Sandy soil (1/2 clean sand and 1/2 SuperSoil is a good mix). You can get clean sand at Home Depot... or the beach! Use tepid water to wet down the mixture, then pack it down a bit.

If it is her first clutch, you might want to start the hole for her... we do that with our first-timers. I use a spoon and dig down a few inches - on an slope. Sometimes they use it.. sometimes they make their own.

Oh... and don't bother her. We all get so excited during this time, that we want to sit and watch. Not a good idea - the ladies like their privacy. If you put her in a tub - you will hear her scratching the side as she gets to it. When she is turned around in the hole (nose out), she is laying. And let her completely finish burying the eggs and climb up on the branch. If you don't, often times they will be restless for days after.

Afterwards, give her a warm shower (on a plant) and be sure to give her calcium for a few days.

Hope this helps,
Morgana - Reptayls, Ltd.

Site Tools