Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My '01 corn layed two viable eggs, and one slug. This was 48 hours ago, and has stopped laying. She is seeming rather agitated, but I am trying not to disturb her more than nescissary. I can't say if she looks to have more eggs in her or not. To tell the truth, I couldn't tell if she was gravid or not in the first place. This is my first clutch of corn eggs. I have raised python eggs, but they blow up like a balloon before they lay. Corns are altogether different from boids in so many ways!
I have no reliable herp vet in this town. I did find a vet who, while admitting that they do not know reptiles, are willing to learn all they can to help me out. (Bless their hearts!) I am assuming this would be treated with Pitosin(sp?) injections? Dosage? Any ideas?
I am terribly concerned about her, and feel that I have done something terribly wrong. I hate to let any of my critters down. I want to do right by her.
Any ideas folks?
Thanks in advance for your time.
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GratefulFred

Fred,
If she only laid 3 eggs it's likely she still has a few more. I would wait about 4 or 5 days before I really got concerned. I've had snakes many times lay over a 3 or 4 day period.

If she is, in fact, eggbound you have 3 options:

1. You can drain the eggs with a hypodermic needle and manually express them (maybe the best method)

2. You can use injected drugs, this may or may not work. If the eggs are tightly adhered to the uterine wall it may not work. Sometimes if the binding is a result of a bacterial infection this will be the case.

3. You can surgically remove them.

In any case, you are going to need an experienced vet to assist you.

You can bet that the stuck egg is infertile. I've never seen a snake bind on a fertile egg.

Thank you for your reply.
I have been worried sick about her, because I have never encountered anything like it.
This vet that I talked to stayed up late last night, reading up on snakes. Today she got on the phone and called all over the state, looking for information. What she came up with was pretty much exactly what you said. She said she was willing to give it a try.
I took her in, and we X-rayed her. It was kinda funny, cause the folks at the vet's office, especially the Dr. were afraid of her. They would do what they could if I would handle her. lol. None of us has much experience reading snake X-rays, but they looked all clear to us. We saw no evidence of any retained eggs.
I do think she is feeling better, because when I went to remove her from the cage she tried to eat me. It took several minutes to remove her from my hand. I think she is hungry. I see this as a good sign. I will feed her tomorrow, giving all anisthesia a chance to wear off.
I am very impressed with this vets efforts, and with her honesty. The only other herp vet in this town is an incompetant jerk, and I refuse to caall him if it was MY life that depended on it!
So, at the very least, I am feeling much more at ease. I guess there are dogs that only have one puppy. Maybe she just had a very tiny first clutch.

Thanks again for your time for this very worried grandparent to be!
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GratefulFred