Egg bound female - need some assistance

[Jim Smith]

I have a female Ghost Honduran that I bred for the first time this year. She laid 10 slugs about a month ago, then last week she laid another slug. She has not eaten for the past 51 days so I took her out to check to see if she might be egg bound. Sure enough, I can feel and see two distinct lumps; one about two inches from her vent and the other about 12 inches further up her body. I need help in understanding the best way to help her through this condition. I weighed her today and she has lost about 180 grams since her last weighing in which was on March 08. Please help!!!

Thanks for any assistance you can provide me.

[Albert Clark]

Egg binding is very serious. A undertaking w/o a vet can be very problematic. The first thing is to leave her and do not disturb for the next 24 hours. Don't even look at her. After 24 hrs, check to see if she is ok and that she still has visible lumps. If she does leave her alone for another 24 hrs. Add moss and try to improve the lay box. The vet has the drug oxytocin to induce contractions and make it safer for the mother. :)

[Minkness]

Not sure about snakes, but I know that with geckos, if a female retains an egg, getting some mineral oil in her helps her lay.

Again. No idea if this works for snakes or not, justan idea.

[Albert Clark]

The thing to do is to add more moss and soil to increase the integrity of the lay box in the event that she will go ahead and deliver the eggs. If she doesn't lay after 48 hrs then the recommendation is a warm soak coupled by massaging the lower abdomen including the vent. You would have to be very gentle with the massaging. The risks are great for the mother w/o vet care in this situation.

[Jim Smith]

I gave her another soak/swim in luck warm water and with some very gentle probing with a well lubricated sexing probe, I was able to coax her to release the egg closest to her vent. I tried to massage the one other bound egg further down towards her vent, but it didn't want to budge. I added more moist moss in her nesting box and hopefully she will pass the final egg. I'll give her another day or two and see how it goes.

Thanks for all of the recommedations and support.

[Albert Clark]

I gave her another soak/swim in luck warm water and with some very gentle probing with a well lubricated sexing probe, I was able to coax her to release the egg closest to her vent. I tried to massage the one other bound egg further down towards her vent, but it didn't want to budge. I added more moist moss in her nesting box and hopefully she will pass the final egg. I'll give her another day or two and see how it goes.

Thanks for all of the recommedations and support.

Cool, be very careful with massaging and probing bc there are the risks of rupture and prolapse of the cloaca. Congrats on getting one of the eggs to pass.

[EL Ziggy]

Sorry to hear about the complications Jim. I wish you and your Hondo all the best.

[Primal Rage]

Jim,
I would suggest getting in touch with Matt Chapman. He is the president of the South Metro chapter of the Georgia reptile society and recently posted a couple vids of how to aspirate eggs. Maybe try getting in touch with him to see if he would perform the procedure for you. If you cannot get in touch with him good luck finding a Ga vet that has experience with this type of problem. I am very sorry to hear this! One of my fav females re-absorbed her follicles and has only eaten a couple rats fuzzies in the past 80 days or so. If you cant find anyone to help, I "know" a guy that will. Good luck!!

[Jim Smith]

Primal Rage,

Thanks for the input and for name of a person who has experience with this. You're right, it's next to impossible finding a vet that has any experience with snakes. She now has only one egg remaining in her, so I will contact Matt Chapman and see what he recommends. I'll keep you posted.