Phantom Pregnancy

[Vinny/Birmingham/UK]

Hello all.

I have 2 female Corns living together. One is a 5 year old normal phase and the other a 4 year old albino. In the past 4 months the older one has had two cluthes of eggs. Both times the eggs have collapsed as they are both female. (they were probed last year at the vets). Just wanted to know if this is normal? And will she just keep having phantom pregnancies? She has lost alot of wieght during this time also.

Thanks

 

[Tula_Montage]

Maybe your vet got it wrong and one is male. Sometimes males can probe as females if they have sperm plugs built up. I strongly suggest seperating them regardless of sex if one female is laying eggs. She must be super stressed having a cagemate.

 

[Pasodama]

It is possible that, even though probed, the snakes could be of opposite sex.
However, that said (and even if both are 100% female), some female snakes will lay eggs whether they have been bred, or not, and whether they have a cage mate or not. Of course, if the female has not been bred, and lays eggs, the eggs are most likely to be infertile.
It is "normal" in the sense that it can/does happen. It is, also, possible to happen again (next year, or the year that, etc.) but it is not possible to predict whether it actually will happen, again, or not.

Female snakes tend to have a noticeable loss of weight after laying eggs. Just get her fed and back up to weight.

BTW With a laying female having a room mate, it could cause her much undue stress.

Won't go into thoughts of co-habitation regardless of egg laying.

 

[Pasodama]

(next year, or the year that, etc.)

Oops ... That was supposed to say "or the year after that".