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I have this one hypo hondo female that last year was bred by a proven viable male began to look gravid then around the time you'd expect prelay shed she began to thin out and lost that gravid look. She did not produce any viable eggs or slugs.

This year she was bred again, began to swell up in the rear third of the body, all was looking good. I was able to palpate her and felt like nine "knots" or eggs inside of her. Now, she's lost some of that girth again almost looks not gravid at all and I'm not able to feel the eggs I distinctly felt a couple of weeks ago.

Can colubrids "re-absorb" eggs? I've palpated dozens of snakes over the last few year and I'm confident she was developing eggs. I've produced consistently with other hondos in my collection. She did produce a clutch for me back in 2003 that had both viable eggs and slugs.

Mark

Hi Mark,

Bummer. I experienced the same thing with one of my (unfrotunately) critically important females last year and again this year (same female, did the same thing both years). After this year's "re-absorption," though, i could still feel one small egg-like lump about a foot above her vent. So I took her to the vet. He operated today and found very small eggs in both oviducts, and both oviducts were badly infected. He said the only way to save her would be to remove both oviducts entirely, and that would be a big medical risk/hardship for her, so I had her put to sleep. The retained eggs--i think he said it was hard to tell if most of them had ever "shelled"--are focal points for infections to occur, and that's what happened with this female.

WHY it happens is another question. I've had several expert vets tell me they don't believe EGGS can be resorbed. Once shelled, there's no going back. I am not fully aware of the distinction between an ovum the day before it becomes an egg, and an egg the first day of its existence...i'll have to ask my vet a few more questions. Biut it seems to be the reptile equivalent of a failed pregnancy. I'll pass on what my vet has to say.

I'd look forward to other opinions that might be better informed than mine.

Terry

>>I have this one hypo hondo female that last year was bred by a proven viable male began to look gravid then around the time you'd expect prelay shed she began to thin out and lost that gravid look. She did not produce any viable eggs or slugs.
>>
>>This year she was bred again, began to swell up in the rear third of the body, all was looking good. I was able to palpate her and felt like nine "knots" or eggs inside of her. Now, she's lost some of that girth again almost looks not gravid at all and I'm not able to feel the eggs I distinctly felt a couple of weeks ago.
>>
>>Can colubrids "re-absorb" eggs? I've palpated dozens of snakes over the last few year and I'm confident she was developing eggs. I've produced consistently with other hondos in my collection. She did produce a clutch for me back in 2003 that had both viable eggs and slugs.
>>
>>Mark

Ya know I have a Ball Python Breeding DVD and they say that eggs cannot be resorbed, but it is follicles that are resorbed. Does this help answer the original post? Not really...but I find it more baffling in colubrids who generally eat more than Ball Pythons. Especially a female who is of age to breed. I had a proven Brooksi drive me nuts this year....she still is as I type. Not eating as much as she should, yet seemed to attempt to lure in her potentail mate eagerly. The attempted copulations by my male and even a borrowed male looked sloppy and just retarded. Tails by heads instead of Cloacas and hours of trying to get in the right spot...which I am not even certain ever heappened? She blows up and shrinks and then eats more. I am giving up on her for this year. I will inspect her poop as I clean her cage though for signs of bacterial infection which can halt the process of producing eggs dead in its tracks. This snake produced two fertile clutches last year...I am getting a headache. Damn snakes! Tom Stevens

I've heard the same. Don't know if they are follicles, prefertilized eggs, eggs that haven't been shelled but she definitley had nine in her that are not there any more.

Thanks for the reply,
Mark

Thanks for the detailed reply. Sorry to hear what happened to your animal. I'd be interested in any more that your vet has to say regarding at what point an egg bearing snake can "reabsorb" and if you can get info about what kinds of things could cause this to occur. I haven't done any fecals on her or taken her to the vet but I've had no reason to as she appears to be perfectly healthy except when it come to reproduction.

Take care and as you frequently say, peace,
Mark

I had a female do the same thing last year. She was appearing gravid and healthy and never laid. I thought she didn't take but couldn't explain her showing. This year she became gravid again and laid 5 eggs, but retained 3. I didn't even think of the correlation until I read your post. Maybe last year's problems spilled over to this years. She had the eggs imploded and pulled out (last one she passed after imploded). I'm attempting to breed her next year so it will be interesting to see the outcome of any long term effects. Good luck

Matt