Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've mentioned on here before the sad story of my snake Licorice... her clutch of 15 died within about 10 days of incubation. She also never had a post egg-laying shed, has been eating voraciously, and then about 32 days after laying her eggs (a week ago) she went off her food. Two weeks ago I bred her to my high white cal king, for a second try, and she was VERY receptive. But she has me confused because now she's off food, and blue. I was looking at my numbers and see that she laid the eggs 39 days ago. COULD she be getting ready to double clutch? If so why would she have accepted the breeding? She seems quite full in her lower 1/3rd but not with eggs I can definitively feel. Could she be developing follicles/ovulating? Should I see if she will eat after shedding and place the male with her if she does eat like she is NOT gravid?

Love figuring out these mysteries.
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~Sasheena

Put the male in with her! She may be ovulating and since you can always make up the feeding after she lays I would go ahead witrh it. Once gravid you should be able to feel the eggs by pressing on her underside.. Don't do this to early or you may ruin some of the eggs before they developed the harder shell. Good luck!

Should I put him with her while she's in shed, or just wait until she has shed? Also, I worry about putting him with her after she's not eaten for 2 weeks... she is a MONSTER kingsnake and he's quite a bit smaller... he could end up lunch if I'm not careful! Perhaps a small meal after she clears up but before she actually sheds (most my kings don't mind eating before the actual shed once they are no longer opaque)... and then put him with her when she's done? I'm sure he won't mind "doing the job" .... if her "sudden fatness" is all about developing follicles, then I am anxious to see what she WILL produce because she's suddenly quite enormous!
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~Sasheena