Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just curious as to what snakes don't lay eggs and instead give birth to live babies. Thanks.

Boids, viperids, crotalids (except Lachesis muta), some colubrids including Nerodia, Regina, Seminatrix, and Thamnophis are viviparous (or ovoviviparous if you prefer) meaning they bear live young, although that idea is somewhat misleading. What really occurs is that the female snake retains the developing egg inside her until it is ready to hatch. In those snakes the egg never calcifies because the protective shell is not needed since the egg develops inside the female. Most Elapids and Pythons are oviparous meaning they lay calcified eggs that go through an incubation period outside the female after laying.

Of course you have the odd egg laying boas and vipers ( e.g. Eryx jayakari, Cerastes cerastes). Snakes always have to have some sort of exception to any rule!
But if you're breeding snakes, I think live bearers are easier. Let the snake do all the work, I say!
(note: as of this date I haven't successfully bred anything ).