Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, it's me again. Still no eggs at my house. I did take her out and hold her this afternoon. I am confident that for the first time I FELT eggs and her bottom scales are not laying flat any more but lifted some. Just think, next year I won't have to ask all these dumb questions. But I'm wondering how long a female can hold on to her clutch of eggs before laying? It's been two weeks since her prelay shed. So she must be going to do it any minute now. lol! Is it possible to go another two weeks? Anyone ever have a female wait for weeks before laying? Were the eggs any good?

I have had my Alterna lay her eggs as long as 16 days after her pre egg laying shed. Actually she was starting to turn "blue" when she layed her eggs last year. And yes they were all fertile.
I believe your female will lay any day now. Just give her a nice, moist lay box and keep the temps nice and warm.
All will be fine,
John Lassiter

I would disturb her as little as possible and she should lay her eggs soon. You have a nest box in her cage right? If so, what kind of substrate are you using? I fill a shoebox sized rubbermaid container with moistened Peat Moss and I fill it to the rim. Sometimes if you only fill it a portion of the way, they don't feel comfortable enough in it and will wait for a suitable spot to lay eggs. If they don't find that right spot, they usually lay their eggs but sometimes just in the cage or even in the waterbowl. Which you want to get the eggs out of as quickly as possible. Anyway, she should lay soon. Just be patient.

Just think, next year I won't have to ask all these dumb questions.

Not dumb at all. We all started somewhere and I'm sure we learned from the experiences of others. What better place to ask for advice than here on a Kingsnake forum right.