Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm making arrangments to buy a gravid female and the seller has expressed concern about shipping her in that state...He estimates that she only has 2 to 3 weeks to go before laying. I think she'll be fine, as long as she's not jossled around too much during shipping. What are your opinions on this??

A big 'NO'. Corns are very robust snakes untill they are gravid. Then they are very delicate snakes. Your plan seems like the fastest way to eggretention. Shipped snakes are most of the time very stressed. Stress in gravid snakes will cause egg retention. I would wait untill she lays the eggs and then ship her. Just my 2 cents ofcourse and you can do what you think is best.

Marcel

>>I'm making arrangments to buy a gravid female and the seller has expressed concern about shipping her in that state...He estimates that she only has 2 to 3 weeks to go before laying. I think she'll be fine, as long as she's not jossled around too much during shipping. What are your opinions on this??
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Marcel Poots (Holland)

'Where is your crown King Nothing?' James Hettfield

Marcels snakepage

Oh no...I really wanted to incubate those eggs myself and he had no plans to do it. So, it was complimentary arrangement.

It was actually an accidental mating. He put them together for a couple minutes while he cleaned some cages and found them hooked up. LOL!

Does everyone agree that's it's a bad idea?? (Not that I don't think Marcel is with it. I do, of course.) I'm just curious to see if if anyone has done this and had successful laying and healthy snake afterwards.

I have transported a gravid female myself. She was two weeks close to laying. But that is different than shiping via transporter. Is there any chance you can pick it up yourself?

Marcel

>>Oh no...I really wanted to incubate those eggs myself and he had no plans to do it. So, it was complimentary arrangement.
>>
>>It was actually an accidental mating. He put them together for a couple minutes while he cleaned some cages and found them hooked up. LOL!
>>
>>Does everyone agree that's it's a bad idea?? (Not that I don't think Marcel is with it. I do, of course.) I'm just curious to see if if anyone has done this and had successful laying and healthy snake afterwards.
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Marcel Poots (Holland)

'Where is your crown King Nothing?' James Hettfield

Marcels snakepage

No, I can't. She's several states away. I would if I could...I drove 3 hours and 3 hours back just for 3 cornsnake eggs. LOL!

I've seen several people claim that their for sale animal is possibly gravid but no one has ever said anything about it being bad to ship her in that state. Do you feel so strongly about it, Marcel, that you wouldn't take the risk?

I have lost a gravid female Russian rat few years back. She was stressed for some reason and retained the eggs. This year a friend of my lost her favorite female after laying 27 eggs and retaining two. What can I say... you should do what you feels is right. I just would be very stressed about the female.

About the three states.. LOL I have picked up snakes dribing through three countries. I live in Holland and I have picked up snakes in UK (though Belgium, France and then the Euro tunnel to England). I have picked up snakes in Poland. And I have picked up snakes in Germany. As a matter of fact I picked up a pair of hatchling Bloodreds in Berlin this year. 1600 KM..

>>No, I can't. She's several states away. I would if I could...I drove 3 hours and 3 hours back just for 3 cornsnake eggs. LOL!
>>
>>I've seen several people claim that their for sale animal is possibly gravid but no one has ever said anything about it being bad to ship her in that state. Do you feel so strongly about it, Marcel, that you wouldn't take the risk?

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Marcel Poots (Holland)

'Where is your crown King Nothing?' James Hettfield

Marcels snakepage

If she was early into her gestation, then I'd say she could be safely shipped. Late - I think may be risky.

The best thing to do, would be to wait until the eggs are laid, then ship them together with her within about 48 hours of laying.

I've read about studies on rotation of eggs early in incubation, and that it didn't cause any harm to them at that stage. The most important thing, would be that they be packaged securely (probably best if in sphagnum), and at sufficient humidity to prevent them from succumbing to dessication.

If they're shipped in a properly marked "THIS SIDE UP, DO NOT CHILL" container, then they should be fine.

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tricia