Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My creamsicle corn is laying her first clutch. It is also my first clutch of corn snake eggs. This morning there were two eggs in the nest. This afternoon there were two eggs in the nest. This evening there are two eggs in the nest. Is this normal? Could she be done? How long should it take for her to finnish laying her clutch? Should I be this worried yet? Is there anything I can do for her?
There is no herp vet in this town that is worth a darn. The only one who will even see reptiles, I would rather gouge my eyes out than call him for any more "help."
I am so nervous. Like I'm waiting for my grandbaby to be born! I want to know that everything is OK.

Thanks,
GratefulFred
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GratefulFred

I don't know how old your corn is or how big so I can't say how many eggs she is going to produce, but only two eggs would be very abnormal. Does she still appear as if she has eggs in her? Can you feel along her belly and feel the lumps, she may be a bit egg bound, or she just may be taken her sweet time in laying, I had one sanke take 5 days for her entire clutch to be laid, so I would not worry yet. I also would not be checking on her every few hours, let her be and do her thing. Take a look at her later tonight or first thing Thursday morning and if she has not laid anymore eggs by then and you have left her in peace, then I would start to ask questions about an egg bound snake, we can cross that bridge then.
Let us know.
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Thanks for your reply.

The female is an '01, and aproxamately 4 1/2 feet long. As far as I know this is her first clutch.

This morning I found that she had left the nest. I found two viable eggs and one slug. However, when I went to remove them, one of the good eggs, along with the slug, was stuck firmly to the bottom of the nest box! I do not want to damage it by trying too hard to pry it up. I can not fit the whole nest box in the incubator. Urgles! I guess I will have to try to cut away that part of it, or something.

Anyway, mamma seems rather agitated. I am trying not to mess with her too much. I really can't say if she still looks like she has eggs in her or not. I didn't think she looked gravid in the first place! (I am used to pythons, who tend to really swell up when gravid.)

After so much anticipation and excitement I am feeling kind of let down and worried. I feel as though I have done something wrong here. I am worried about the mamma.
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GratefulFred

The size of the snake would indicate a clutch size closer to 15-20 eggs not just two and a dud. I would think that she has more eggs in there, but is either bound or not happy with the egg box. The fact that she went all the way to the bottom of the box and that the eggs were able to stick to the bottom might be a sign that you dont have enough moist substrate in the box. As far as getting the eggs into the incubator, it is not really needed for corns, I use to use incubators for my Carpet Pythons, but have never had the need for corns snakes, a warm spot in the house or a back porch (if you weather is warm) should be fine for them. I use the same box the eggs were laid in to incubate them, I just change out the moss to fresh moss once the are laid and put a new box in for the next clutch.
Good luck
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Could you please send me a pic of a normal amnel? As my "amnel" has just laid a clutch of eggs and I wanted to make sure that she really was an amnel.
Also wat temperature would you keep your corn snake eggs in, because at the moment my eggs are kept at the upper end of 80 degrees. Is this too high?? Also the eggs on the top of the pile are drying out a bit. Could this be a result of the temperature being too high???
Please inform me.
Katie
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Thanks in advance

Katie, Send me an e-mail and I will send you some photos of different morphs, or you can just visit my website, I have different pictures of different morphs there too as well as some care info and and temps.
I would keep the eggs at the low to mid 80's 82 degrees is about perfect.
I keep the eggs on spagnum moss and cover the entire clutch loosley with it. If you are using another medium, such as vermiculite, then a moist paper towel covering the eggs will keep the top layer moist.
Good Luck
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Thanks Hoppy
I have looked at your site and am thinking that she is probably a Milkshake Corn(Normal Phase). If i bred her with an anery corn snake (a) then wat would the babies look like do you think.
I will try the wet towel method thanks for that. It should help.
I will inform you on any developments.
Katie
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thanks in advance

Golly.
Like I said before, the only herp vet in this town is an incompetent a$$. I will not call him!
I did, however, find a vet who said that, although they don't know about reptiles, would be willing to try and learn all they can.
I would prefer this than someone who insists that they know it all and don't. They called all the folks they could find who knew about reptiles, and found out all they could to help in this situation. I think this is the best I can hope for. They told me to call in the morning if she has not passed any more eggs. I think this is a much more caring and helpful attitude than the other vet had! I at least appreciate thier honesty.
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GratefulFred