Shed on the 30th.. Still no eggs?

[Thickthroat]

My corn snake had her prelay shed on the 30th but still has not laid her eggs. I have a lay box in there for her it's a shoe box with a hole cut in the side and it's filled with damp peat moss. It's on the warm side with the heat lamp over it. She's been active lately crawling around flipping her water over and climbing up to the top like she's trying to get out. Last night though she finally went in there and slept but this morning she was out again ontop of her box, underneith the heat lamp.

I'm not 100% she's gravid because I didn't see them hook up. I can't feel eggs in her under belly but when I feel her sides with my pointer and thumb I can feel bumps that get more prominent towards her vent end where she thins out.

Do they usually take longer to lay slugs? Is there a difference in feeling when palpating fertile eggs vs. slugs? How long can they go without laying their eggs? Does it take this long to lay often?

 

[medusacoils]

Sounds like she is getting close. All that cruising is an indication that she is getting ready.

I have heard of snakes going 2-3 weeks and sometimes a little longer, before laying. I know it's nerving, but just be patient. It will happen. Unfortunately, snakes can't read Kathy's Corn Snake Manual.

Wayne

 

[Caryl]

You mentioned a heat lamp. How warm is her lay box? Is there another type of heat source?

Some females wait to settle in until the last few hours before the eggs come. Maybe yours is one of those.

Here's an alternate possibility, since you said you didn't actually see the mating. The shed you saw on March 30 may not have been a pre-lay shed at all. Most females do lay within 10 days of a pre-lay shed, but not all of them (as Wayne said). You might consider putting her back with your male and see if she's receptive. The bumps you feel may not be ready to lay eggs, but signs of current ovulation.