GAH! SHE LAID EGGS!!! HELP ME PLEASE!

[shaberry]

First of all, sorry guys for making a new thread about this. I know there's been quite a few that popped up.

Anyway. So, I was looking for Arshess this morning cause I didn't see her out or under her driftwood. (Where she's normally at.) So, I went to go look for her, and found her curled up underneath the substrate with 5 eggs. I was so surprised and beside myself with happiness, I was literally running around my room in circles wondering what to do and looking for a container for the eggs. I'm assuming they're not even fertile, but I want to incubate them just in case.

Oh, and just a little bit of information that I think might be relevant. When I purchased her from the reptile shop, she was housed with another snake. I don't know what the gender of the other snake was though. But, the owner did tell me that he was going to use her as a breeder. However, he didn't tell me that he bred her when I purchased her. So, I really don't know what to make of this situation. Also, I was supposed to feed her today, so should I hold off on feeding or should I go ahead and feed her a small mouse (well, smaller than her usual)?

In any case, I'm kind of flustered on what to do. I've read around to figure out how to incubate eggs, but it's not really coming to mind how to go about it. All I know is that I can use moss as substrate to put the eggs in and cover them with. And the only incubating box that I have at the moment is a small plastic tupperware box. Is that ok? Ahhh, I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP ME! >.<;;;

Here's some pics of Arshess and her eggs.

 

[shaberry]

Oh, I also forgot to say that I haven't bred her to another snake.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

The tupperware will be fine. Your best bet as far as an incubation substrate goes is definitely Hatchrite. It'll keep the humidity where it needs it, and you don't have to worry about misting and what-not. Just make sure that when you do put them in the tupperware that you watch to see if there's any condensation that forms. You don't want any condensation dripping on the eggs.
Good luck!

 

[shaberry]

Uhm, where can I get Hatchrite? I only have Petco and PetSmart around me. And, I don't think that they'll have it. And, I think the local reptile shop that I go to uses vermiculite. Also, when I was looking around, I read in another thread that for temporary incubation substrate, I can use warm, moist paper towels. Can I do that? (Well, I kinda just did it already. But just let me know if I should remove the papertowel.)

Here's some really quick pics that I took of the eggs after I moved them to the tupperware. Btw, Arshess really didn't want me to take her eggs. She kept trying to bump my hand away. >.<;;;

Sorry for the crappy pictures, they were all I could take at the moment. I didn't want to keep the eggs out for too long. Do they look ok? I think the one all the way on the right is a slug.

 

[shaberry]

UPDATE:

Alright, so there's no Hatchrite available around me, locally. *sigh* So, should I use moss or vermiculite? Also, for the water used on the moss or vermiculite, does it matter if it's tap, dechlorinated, or not? What about the temperature of the water? Also, is this tupperware ok to use? Is there too many holes? I was reading in my corn manual (by Kathy Love) that you want holes for ventilation, but you don't want too many to dry the eggs out. In the book, the example is of a tupperware with a big hole cut out in the corner. So, I figured a lot of little holes wouldn't hurt. But, what do you guys think?

Should I used the left one (the current incubator) or the right one?

Also, where do I put the probe of the thermometer in the tupperware? I'm assuming where the eggs are to get an accurate reading of the temp of the eggs, but I just want to make sure. Also, what is the temp that I should keep the eggs at? 85 degrees?

 

[airenlow]

I haven't incubated eggs personally but I would use the container on the left. The big one would not hold the humidity at the levels you want. I think they should be kept right around 80*...something like 78-84. If the slug (yellow egg) isn't attached, I would pitch it. But the other 4 look healthy.

 

[shaberry]

Alright, so the left one it is. But there's no holes on it. How many should I put? The measurements of the container are: 5.5" x 3.5" x 3". Also, if Arshess lays more eggs, if I cover up the middle 1/3 of the top of the right container, would that be ok? Or would that still be too much ventilation?

Thanks a lot for your help guys. I really appreciate all your advise. =)

 

[airenlow]

Some people don't use any holes...they just open the container once a week to allow for air transfer.

 

[shaberry]

Oh, ok. That's perfect! Less work for me! =)

 

[starsevol]

I don't put holes either. 3 years ago I had those nasty carrion flies and I don't want those things near my eggs!

 

[Old_School]

use the container on the left. vermiculite is fine if you can get it. It is important to mix it at a 1 to1 ratio BY Weight!! another way is to slowly add water til the vermiculite will stay in a clump when squeezed in your hand, however not wet enough so it drips water when you do so.
I prefer to place the eggs and cover halfway around the egg. I then cover with damp moss. I do have small holes for air exchange, just a few as the moss will prevent the eggs from drying.
If you can not get vermiculite Using damp moss will work, prepare it so it is damp but not dripping. Layer it in the tub, then place the eggs and then completely cover with more moss. Check once a week to make sure eggs are ok. If they start to dimple in, dampen the moss. Keep in mind the eggs will dimple in perhaps a week before hatching as the lil snakes use up their yoke sac. Good Luck!!

 

[Susielea]

UPDATE:

Alright, so there's no Hatchrite available around me, locally. *sigh* So, should I use moss or vermiculite? Also, for the water used on the moss or vermiculite, does it matter if it's tap, dechlorinated, or not? What about the temperature of the water? Also, is this tupperware ok to use? Is there too many holes? I was reading in my corn manual (by Kathy Love) that you want holes for ventilation, but you don't want too many to dry the eggs out. In the book, the example is of a tupperware with a big hole cut out in the corner. So, I figured a lot of little holes wouldn't hurt. But, what do you guys think?

Should I used the left one (the current incubator) or the right one?

Also, where do I put the probe of the thermometer in the tupperware? I'm assuming where the eggs are to get an accurate reading of the temp of the eggs, but I just want to make sure. Also, what is the temp that I should keep the eggs at? 85 degrees?

The tub with the big hole cut in the corner is a nesting/laying box, the hole is to allow the female to gain access to it so she can lay her eggs in there

The more holes you have in the incubation tub, the quicker it will dry out and you will have to add more water. As previously said by Airenlow, some people don't use any holes, but open the box once a week to allow for air exchange and some put just a couple of tiny ones in to allow for air exchange. If you put a couple of holes in and it starts drying out too quickly, then you can always close them over with some Blue-tac, you know that sticky stuff you hang posters on a wall with? that stuff

I make my lay boxes and incubation boxes up in advance, but if I were caught out and had to do it on the fly like you, I would use tepid, not cold, not warm, water to make up the incubation medium, whether it be sphagnum moss, vermiculite or whatever. I use filtered water, but know many who use tap water, to do this, I suppose it would depend on the quality of your water :shrugs:

I use vermiculite in my incubation boxes and this year I'm using a blanket of sphagnum moss over the top of the eggs, this helps hold the humidity around the eggs and also stops dripping condensation from hitting the eggs directly. If there's too much condensation on the lid of the box, then I wipe it off when I open the box, if there's just a tiny bit, I leave it alone.

I place my thermometer probe right next to the eggs, maybe even just touching the edge of one, to get a true temp reading and I incubate between 79*F and 83*F, usually averaging about 81*F

As for the female, if you think she's finished laying, you should get her out and gently let her run through your fingers and very gently press your thumb against her belly while she is doing so, to feel if she has any eggs left in her. If you believe she is totally finished, you may want to offer her a drink by gently holding her head over a bowl of fresh water, sometimes they are too tired to go to the water bowl themselves. You could then offer her a small meal, like half the size of what she normally eats, either today or tomorrow, she may eat, she may not, don't worry. She will have a post lay shed in about 7 to 14 days and she will probably be very hungry after that

I hope that helps a little and good luck, those white eggs look fertile

 

[shaberry]

Alright, thanks guys for all the advise. So far, I've checked on Arshess to see if she laid anymore eggs, and she hasn't. I picked her up to check her belly, and had her run through my fingers. I had fingers applying light pressure on her sides and very lightly on her belly, and she felt gassy(?). I'm not quite sure if I felt anymore lumps, since I'm not quite sure what it's supposed to feel like exactly, but she might have 2 more in her. I really don't know. What's the longest that I should wait, to assume that she laid all of her eggs? Is 5 eggs a normal amount of eggs for a first clutch? I was reading in Kathy Love's book that corns usually average about 12. So, I don't know what to make of it.

For now, I just wrung out some sphangum moss and put it in a breeding box inside her viv. Just in case she decides that she has some more that she needs to lay. And man, do my hands hurt. I seriously she-hulked wrung out that moss. >.<;;;

 

[usmcbecker]

Sounds like you had a little bit of the same luck as myself. I just got a female corn on Saturday. Next thing I know Monday morning comes around and my new corn of three days is popping out eggs. I managed to get her a box with some moss and 22 more eggs later she finally quit. It would have been nice for them to let me know ahead of time her situation, seeing that I have never had a female corn before.

Just out of curiosity, how long did you have yours for?

 

[shaberry]

I've had Arshess for a little over two months.

Wow, 22 eggs, that's amazing! Well, extremely sudden. But, amazing none the less. =) I'm actually kinda jealous. ^_^;;; Was your snake housed with another one prior to you purchasing her?

 

[usmcbecker]

Yeah, there were nine other snakes in the cage. I dont believe that the eggs are any good. I think they may be slugs. I threw them in the incubator anyway since i forked out the money to buy one. My male corn is a spit'n image of your female. I wanted to mate the two, but now that she dropped her eggs, she's not as hefty as I would like her to be. She has been in her hide since She ate a few days ago.

 

[shaberry]

Wow, he's pretty. =)

Same here, I think Arshess' eggs might be infertile. But, you never know. I'm hoping against hope that at least one egg makes it for me to full term. I wasn't expecting to get any eggs from Arshess, until I bred her next year, but this is a welcomed surprise. Well, good luck on your eggs! Hopefully they all make it. =) I'll be looking you thread up to check on the progression on your girl and the eggs. =)

 

[Quiet Tempest]

The tub with all the holes could still be used but you'd want to put a layer of Press N' Seal (or similar) on the tub before putting the lid down. That would prevent the loss of humidity through the holes. Low humidity will dehydrate your eggs and you definitely don't want that.

I don't use holes in my incubation tubs at all. I just "burp" the tubs every few days or so when I'm checking on eggs to allow for some air exchange.

Hope it helps.

 

[psychoprimate84]

Just one of the eggs I saw in the pic looks like a slug (the yellow one). The other ones look pretty good.

 

[Regit]

Your eggs look pretty good, aside from the yellow one. As for the size of first clutches, it really can vary- last year my friend's gal laid 9 for her first clutch, and 17 this year (8-10 fertile, the rest slugs). My ghost girlie who just laid her first clutch tonight finished off with 18 eggs, all fertile!