Help! I've been keeping snakes for about 5 years, but have never done any breeding. Well, tonight my next door neighbor asks for help because his son's snakes have laid eggs. His son is in jail, so he has been trying to care for the reptiles as best he can. Apparently, a mexican black kingsnake had laid a clutch 2-3 days ago and some corns had produced a clutch about the same time. Well, when I got too them they were looking pretty wrinkled, so immediately I had him put them in a container with fairly moist potting soil ( it is all he had at 8 pm). I think the temps have been okay, the room they are in stays between 80-85.
Have I done the correct thing? Is there anything else I can do to save these eggs? What is the best temp for the eggs? Can the kings and corns eggs be treated the same?
Any help would be appreciated.
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Help with Mexican Black Kingsnake eggs!
Replies (2)
well as soon as you can you want to switch out the potting soil for some vermiculite or sphagnum moss (not peat moss). Problem with potting soil is that if it was straight out of the bag from a store it might contain any number of chemicals that the eggs won't like.
You want to be sure not to rotate the eggs. If the room they are in stays in the 80 - 85 range, it should be okay. Look at them and make sure they've plumped up properly.
I have never had corn eggs and am only on my first clutch of kingsnake eggs, but as far as I know their requirements are almost identical. I'm sure some of the experts on here who frequent both forums and have both kinds will be able to tell you better.
Just remember, since you didn't breed the snakes, and didn't prepare for their incubation and hatching, you are NOt to blame if they fail to hatch. Just do all you can, and celebrate those that hatch. THOSE you saved from a whole bunch of dying snakes, and you saved them. That is the GREAT thing. 
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~Sasheena
Ground Snakes
Kit, Kaboodle, Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple
JCP
Dreamer
Rosy
Castle
Kings
Licorice, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Tigris, Euphrates
Pandora, Phantom
Lady
Corns
Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes
Tiger
Amulet
Nice of you to help. You may have saved the eggs.
I have seen eggs incubated in potting soil many years ago, but vermiculite and/or perlite seem to be the media used with favorable results. Both can be purchased at garden stores for very cheap. If using vermiculite, moisten it, then squeeze out the water with your fist as hard as you can. The result is a great dampness for eggs. You can put the eggs in a small depression in the vermiculite in a plastic shoebox. Temp range can be 78-82 deg, although cooler temps will not hurt at night and warmer temps during the day will not hurt if a cooling off at night is included. You should cover the box with a lid. I like air holes for air exchange; some people do not use air holes but rather open the box once/twice a week to allow for air exchange.
I've moved eggs before, even probably rotating some by accident. Nothing ever went wrong as a result. I think snake eggs are tougher than we think. If your dimple alot while incubating, moisten the vermiculite a little. A little on the dry side is better than too wet however.
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Mark 
