I have an Eastern King that I suspect is gravid. When will they typically stop eating before laying the eggs? I have read 3 weeks, is that about average? Thanks!
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Gravid Eastern King...question for Eastern breeders
MILTB
May 10, 2005 08:27 AM
Replies (3)
sweet_pickle
May 10, 2005 09:07 AM
Yes, they will stop eating in my experience.
You should be able to easily palpate the eggs about 10 days after the pre-lay shed, in my experience.
-----
Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com
peterjolles@eastcoastcolubrids.com
crimsonking
May 10, 2005 12:27 PM
I have an eastern and a few FL kings that will eat the day they lay and then again after they lay--if I'd let them. I mistakenly tossed a mouse in with a female due to lay and she grabbed it before I could think twice.
They're all individuals, I guess..
:Mark
rtdunham
May 13, 2005 04:28 PM
>>You should be able to easily palpate the eggs about 10 days after the pre-lay shed, in my experience.
Peter, did a typo creep in here (above)? Ten days "after" the prelay shed they're usually laying (although yeah, it IS easy to o[bleep] the eggs then! 
I can pretty much count the eggs a couple weeks or more before the prelay shed (though technically maybe they're "ova" at that point). I'm thinking you maybe meant 10 days _before_ the shed?
btw, is it correct that they're ova until the shell forms? and if so, anyone know how long prior to deposition that usually occurs? that knowledge would help me better use the right words.
peace
terry
