Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I came home today to find my ~14 yr old Ball Python wrapped around a bunch of what appear to be eggs! I am not a snake breeder or anything and this is the ONLY snake I have! I am a little freaked out as I have NEVER seen this before. Is it normal for a ball python to randomly lay eggs? What do I do? I have a call in to "The Odd Pet Vet" (a guy out here in MA) but havent heard back yet.

Jay

Seems to be a rash of spontaneous reproduction this year (third one I've seen so far). How long have you had her? Is it possible that she was bred before you got her and just retained sperm? Are they big and white or little yellow slugs? If they are big and white, you may want to candle them and look for veins. If they are little yellow things then they aren't fertile. Post a picture too!!! Once you determine if they are viable or not, you can decide if you want to let mom incubate them herself or pick up an incubator.

Congrats!!
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Tosha

"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." Don Wood

"Of course, that's only my opinion...and I believe I am God." =) Chris Bianco

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

And yet another case of "Imaculate conception"

What in the world is goin' on this year? Tosha's got it right though. Check to see if they are good eggs or slugs, and we'll walk ya through it from there.

Quig

>Seems to be a rash of spontaneous reproduction this year
>(third one I've seen so far).

I had no idea it could be possible. Except at Jurrasic Park of course

>How long have you had her?

About 14 years, almost her whole life. I mean that she was small when I got her, I didnt hatch her myself.

>Is it possible that she was bred before you got her and
>just retained sperm?

I REALLY doubt it. No sperm I ever heard of lives that long! Plus she was a baby. And she has never had any contact with other snakes. She spent a few days at the animal hospital about 3 years ago for dehydration but I belive that she was in her own cage.

>Are they big and white or little yellow slugs?

Big and white. At first I thought that they were too big to be eggs.

>If they are big and white, you may want to candle them and
>look for veins.

???

>Post a picture too!!!

This is the best I could do right now. She seems kinda pissed when I take the hidey hole off her. I guess she is being a good mom??

>Congrats!!

Thanks?!?

jay

This is what a fertile egg will look like with a small flashlight held up to it.

It will be pink even if there arent any viens yet.(Yellow with no veins means infertile)

The same egg 59 days later...

-----
Charles Glaspie

Yeh - she'll be a little pissy protecting those eggs - you can lift off the hide and cover her with a towel and slowly, carefully unwind her from the eggs, count them, inspect them and put her back. Bump the humidity up in her cage keep the temps steady and if you want order an incubator.

Keep us posted!
-----
Tosha

"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." Don Wood

"Of course, that's only my opinion...and I believe I am God." =) Chris Bianco

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

someone posted this about a month ago tonight take a flashlight and candle the eggs if they have veins running through them go out and buy an incubator keep the temps between 88-91 and your good from there in 56 days

Okay, the other night we got the eggs out and had a look at them. When we got
the hide off of her she started making 'snorting' or 'huffing' noises that I am
assuming are designed to scare me away. They actually kinda did. I know that
there is a very very slim chance that she would actually bite me but I couldn't
bring myself to reach in there. So we covered her with a towel and used a pair
of BBQ tongs to get her off the eggs and to snatch them. There is a picture of
her with the eggs before we got them out here:
http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/9150120050705_002.JPG

pics of the bunch (there are six and they are stuck together) are here: http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/9150120050705_010-med.JPG

and here: http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/9150120050705_011-med.JPG
There is one that is significantly smaller than the rest. You can see it in the
2nd pic of the bunch of eggs. probably no good?

Then we held a flashlight up to a couple of them. This one here seems to be
viable right? http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/9150120050705_005-med.JPG

and this one at least looks questionable? http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/9150120050705_007-med.JPG

Now here comes the barrage of questions. If I am asking too many that have been
written about extensively (and for beginners) already, please point me to the
info.
Many of you are suggesting getting an incubator for the eggs. Are there pro's
and cons to this? Why not just let her sit on them? Is she a danger to the
babies when they hatch?
Will this affect her feeding? She hasn't been eating lately (maybe because of
this?), will she feed while she is clutching the eggs? Is that one more reason
to remove them?
When I do remove them, how long will it take for her to forget about it? When we
had them out for a few minutes the other night she seemed to notice they were
gone and when we put them back she jumped right back on them.

I gather the eggs will hatch about 55 - 60 days from when they were laid.
Problem with that is that I also have a human baby on the way around the same
time. I don't think I will have the time to be waiting for eggs to hatch and
taking care of little ball pythons when the time comes. I hardly have time for
the one adult snake I have. With that being said, although it would be a really
cool experience to see these through to hatching and have a few more snakes. I
don't think I can, maybe a year or two ago, but not now. Plus, for some reason
the thought of baby snakes is freaking out the wife. I think this is all quite a
shock to her. Anyway, I wondered if anyone knew of someone that I could give
these eggs to so that they can be properly taken care of. Maybe a local breeder?
I live in Milford, MA. I think I am gonna give a place in Walpole called Walpole
Bird & Reptile a call, they may be able to take them. Any ideas?

Okay:
toshamc wrote
>Seems to be a rash of spontaneous reproduction this year (third one I've
seen so far).

sneakypete wrote
>And yet another case of "Imaculate conception"

Is this really possible? Or is this just a way to say that "It happened,
but I don't know when". In all of the 14 or so years that I have had her I
have NEVER had her with another snake. The only time that there was even a
remote chance was more than 2 years ago when she was in the animal hospital
overnight. It is possible, but unlikely that she came in contact with another
snake then. They never mentioned to me that she was in a cage with others.
I think I've heard of reptiles doing things like this. If she did spontaneously
reproduce, will the babies be genetically, 'different'? or possibly deformed?
anywhere you can point me for more info on the topic will be greatly
appreciated.

anyway, thanks for all the help so far.
jay

Jay, considering your situation, and the wifes attitude about the critters It is probably best to find someone to take the eggs. Unfortunately I'm in Michigan or I'd be on em like ..........well, you know. As to her laying eggs never having been in contact with another snake, I'm intrigued as hell as to what will hatch out. I have no clue what might come of this.

Quig