advice needed corn just started layin but

[Wizer69er]

but she did a verry weird thing i have a nest box all set up for her have had for like12 days now and i went down staires about 5 min ago and i noticed her in the water bowl with her cloaca open. I took a closer look and saw a little bit of white so i picked her up and put her in the nest box.

She ended up laying the one egg and now wont stay in her nesting box she is on top. I turned all the lights back out and am going to check on her in a few minutes to make sure that she does not lay them in the water bowl. Do you guys think i should take the water bowl out for the night? sorry for the long post its just my first clutch ever and i just want things to go smoothly. Any thoughts on the water bowl? thanks Blair

[Jeff_Favelle]

1) Leave the damn snake alone.

2) They know where to lay a 1000000x times better than you do.

3) She laid in a spot that was better than the nest box. Putting her back in the nest box serves no purpose other than to piss her off and possibly harm her.

4) Did I mention to leave her alone?

[Wizer69er]

thanks for the reply jeff..the water dish is small a full of water so that is ok to lay her eggs in that? I only noticed that she was doing that because i was on my way to bed and she is in my room. I will leave her alone thank you for your advice. I only reactid to the situation in which i thought was right but my mistake.

[Simon]

It would be a good idea to remove the water bowl. Cause I have had times that my corns laid in the water bowl and actually drowned the eggs. So I would remove the water bowl for her.

But yeah like Jeff said, leave her alone. When it's really laying time and you disturb her it could make her egg bound. Not a very good idea.

Plus maybe your nest box is too dry so that's why the female choose the water bowl instead of the nest box~~

Hope to hear some good news from you~

[Jeff_Favelle]

The water bowl is always removed from the enclosure I thought when egg-laying is imminent? Its been many moons since I've done corns, but seeing as we know to within 2 days of when they lay, I always thought the water bowl/dish was taken out?

Have things changed? Simon, you must remove the water bowls, yes?

But no, you DON'T want he laying in the water dish, ha ha! That is instant death for the eggs.

[Bighead]

let us know what happens, eh?

[Wizer69er]

i will keep everyone posted for sure..Im really hoping everything goes smooth from hear out. thanks guys for replying Blair.

[Simon]

Jeff,

Yeah I definately remove the water bowls before eggs are laid. I really would not want any eggs to drown and die~~

It would be a shame for me to see a lavender lay egg in the water bowl or even my butter motley lay eggs in the water bowl....hahahahh

But one has to learn right? So asking is good~~

[BoidKeeper]

Speaking of asking...what are you using for a nest box?
Cheers,
Trevor

[Wizer69er]

i am using a rubber maid with vermiculite. the rubber maid is not clear so i cant see in and she cant see out. I took a quick peek just to see how things were going and she has layed 7 eggs so far.

[marisa]

Dude. leave her alone. Stop peeking. Remove the bowl. Leave her alone. That's ALL you can do.

Marisa

[Wizer69er]

listen you know what i am leaving her alone this started at 300 in the morning i dont know how long it takes for her to lay her eggs so i checked on her at like after 12:00 a little after i woke up to see if she was ok or done. and the bowl was removed at like 3:00am so thanks for you reply but i am leaving her alone.

[BoidKeeper]

I've not heard anything about using vermiculite for a nest box so I can't really comment but I think she already told you she would prefer something else next time. I personally use sphagnum moss and a buddy of mine use peat moss.
Good luck,
Trevor
PS
Relax guys he has to see if she's done doesn't he?

[boa]

Favelle your pretty rude come down on beginners and give them advice that's why we have a site like this this is not the first time you acted like this either you maybe know what your doing but somone has to start some where.
Look at the stupid thing you did combat snakes with light bulbs inside the cage thats real smart.
Congrast blair hope all goes well with the eggs and your female.

[Wizer69er]

thanks BoidKeeper, and thanks sean i will let you all know the end result things seem to being going great now.
Thanks again Blair

[Wizer69er]

Well guys its about 2:20 am and i have now takin the eggs and put them in the incubator. My female ended up laying what looks to be 14 healthy white eggs i am so proud of her lol.

[Simon]

LOL
don't be too proud yet~
now it's the tourchering time~

60 days counting~
hope to see nice and healthy babies coming out for you soon!!!

Keep up the good work!

[Stockwell]

Just a side note.. Use moist spaghnum moss next time. Snakes don't like laying eggs in vermiculite
as it offers no shelter( I think) Put in some long strand Sphagnum moss, and keep it moist. They will usually bury down in it for cover, and that usually works.
And any live bearer / boid breeders out there... Take the water bowl out even when expecting live births.
I have a friend that has lost several litters of rosy boas that were dumped in the water bowl and drowned before they could get out of the sack..
Now wouldn't that just make your day!! They only have 3 or 4 just imagining finding them all dead in the water bowl...Wow, It would be heart wrenching

[Wizer69er]

well i got a surprise tonight i went to take some vermiculite from the nesting box and found an egg that i missed that was buried to the bottom so the count is 15 not 14 lol.