Last year I successfully hatched 20 of 20 eggs between my male and female corn. I only have this pair, as this is a hobby, and not a profession or profit driven deal. My question is, what is the latest point during egg formation inside the female that a successful breeding will actually fertilize the eggs? I put the snakes together about a month ago, and wasn't able to actually see them breed, so I figured I'd give it a month and try again... well, I start to notice that my female won't take the second mouse she normally does, and today, wouldn't eat at all. I can feel the eggs inside of her, so I put the male in and they did successfully breed. Can these eggs that are already forming be fertilized?
Thanks
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Questing about the timing of egg formation and fertilization...
kingofrain21
Apr 03, 2004 07:52 PM
Replies (2)
woody4238
Apr 05, 2004 12:10 AM
Sounds like you hit the timing right on. The refusal of food and large appearance is the female starting her ovulatory cycle. That is what you would normally be looking for at or around her first shed after brumation and that is when to introduce the male. At that point they are egg follicles and once fertilized will form into the eggs that will later be deposited. Hope this helps.
Matt
kingofrain21
Apr 05, 2004 12:56 AM
woohoo! thanks.. i've read that females can retain sperm for quite some time, so last season i introduced them early with success, and then again every other week just to be safe but this time since they didn't get it accomplished early, i was worried when she began refusing food and then i could feel the eggs as she moved over my hand... thank you very much!!
