woma python incubation

scarhead · 01-21-15, 11:28 PM

Hey can any1 give me some tips on woma egg incubation? My females about to lay eggs and can use any help I can get.. I bought a breeding pair and found out the male is sick and am unsure if he will be able to breed again.. I really need this clutch to turn out.. I have the new exo Terra fridge style incubator? Any tips folks?

shaunyboy · 01-22-15, 05:39 AM

if you pm Derek Roddy on here,i'm pretty sure he would walk you through it,he works with Woma's and BHP's mate

i wish you the best of luck and hope it all goes according to plan with the clutch

all the best,shaun

scarhead · 01-22-15, 09:41 AM

Thank you for your help I had c'n a couple of his threads on BHP.. I'll try sending him a msg ty
..Scarhead..

Derek Roddy · 01-22-15, 02:34 PM

Hey there,

Well, the first thing you'll need will be....

1. a 15 -18 quart sterlite tub for the eggs
2. Bag of Perlite (without miracle grow if you can find it) vermiculite works as well and so does over water (we'll get to that in a minute) but, I like to have some sort of substrate to keep the water from sloshing around if you need to move the tub for any reason.
3. Light defuser grate from home depot. this is the stuff they put over fluro blubs....looks like a tic tac toe setup.(See picture)
4. 4 small deli cups (to put the light defuser on)

Check out my setup here...

Mix perlite/vermiculite 1 part water to 4 part substrate to begin and tweak as needed.
Put the defuser on the 4 deli cups in corners of tub to keep the eggs out of contact with moisture and suspended above the wet perlite. You do NOT want the eggs to come into contact with any moist substrate.

Temps around 88-89
Humidity 85-90%

58-64 days

Should be good to go...

D

scarhead · 01-27-15, 12:02 PM

Thanks Derek I apriciate the tips I've been trying to get the humidity levels inside my incubation box down lower.. There at 99% now I have the EXO. TERRA new small fridge style incubator thermo electric.. I have a zilla digital temp and humidity probes inside the incubation box but not touching the substrate.. I do not use the water tray at the bottom of the incubator as it brought the humidity levels up to 99% inside the incubator... Should I try putting more holes in my incubation box to bring the levels down?

scarhead · 01-27-15, 06:59 PM

Thanks Derek I apriciate the tips I've been trying to get the humidity levels inside my incubation box down lower.. There at 99% now I have the EXO. TERRA new small fridge style incubator thermo electric.. I have a zilla digital temp and humidity probes inside the incubation box but not touching the substrate.. I do not use the water tray at the bottom of the incubator as it brought the humidity levels up to 99% inside the incubator... Should I try putting more holes in my incubation box to bring the levels down?

Derek Roddy · 01-28-15, 05:26 PM

Hey there.
Ok humidity too high in egg box.....means too much water in the substrate.
Dump it and try again with less water in the mixture.

You could add holes but its better to be on the drier side with the substrate with woma eggs.

D

Nick V · 01-31-15, 12:58 PM

You know, it's funny that I've been looking into an incubation setup for my womas and sure enough I come on here and see this. I was actually considering this exact setup I saw on an Australian site because I don't trust the substrate touching the eggs after last year's mold experience. Well, I'm sorry to hear about your male scarhead, what exactly is wrong with him? You can try posting some pics on here for some gurus to chime in and help assess his health. I wish you good luck with your eggs this year as I'm hoping for the same with my pair. Also, thanks for sharing this Derek, I'm sure a lot of people will find this incredibly helpful, including me.

scarhead · 02-06-15, 04:03 PM

My male woma had a respiratory tract infection and wen off food in July I've been force feeding him by tube for months now and he still refuses to eat.. I purchased them as an adult breeding pair. Were bread by Don Patterson a reputable breeder from BC Canada at the age off 3 an had no problems eating or health issues in the past.. I can't afford blood work right now an have been feeding him a slurry of carnivore care and electrolyte mix..

scarhead · 02-06-15, 04:09 PM

I. Was wondering about other slurry mixes or other things I can give him to keep him healthy as he's loosing weight.. I was also wondering if putting raw egg in the slurry for extra nutrition? Any tips? And again I really apriciate all the help with my egg incubation

Cmwells90 · 02-06-15, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarhead

My male woma had a respiratory tract infection and wen off food in July I've been force feeding him by tube for months now and he still refuses to eat.. I purchased them as an adult breeding pair. Were bread by Don Patterson a reputable breeder from BC Canada at the age off 3 an had no problems eating or health issues in the past.. I can't afford blood work right now an have been feeding him a slurry of carnivore care and electrolyte mix..

If the snake was feeding fine for 3 years, and just went off feed when you took over, i would assume it's a husbandry issues, and force feeding isn't helping lower the stress any. What are your cage temps/humidity/ and how are you measuring AND controlling these temps?

scarhead · 02-06-15, 11:27 PM

It was feeding fine for me for a few months when I got them the male went off food during his medication for the respiratory tract infection.. Its not husbandary issues or stress from the move I have a proper racking system with heat tape and a helix thermostat... I have digital temp and hygrometers with probes for monitoring there temp an humidity.. And my female is eating fine its a breeding pair they both got the same respiratory tract infections an she recovered fine and eats heartily...

scarhead · 02-06-15, 11:39 PM

He didn't go off food when I took over thank you.. He ate fine for three months till they got respiratory infections.. I'm an experienced handler and don't skimp on equipment especially for my womas. The prize pair of my collection.. Every thing I use for equipment is high end zoo med, exo Terra, zilla and helix... My female is healthy and gravid along with the other 21 in my collection... I couldn't achieve that with improper husbandary conditions.. I breed corns, kings, pythons, and every kind in between lol

Derek Roddy · 02-07-15, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarhead

It was feeding fine for me for a few months when I got them the male went off food during his medication for the respiratory tract infection.. Its not husbandary issues or stress from the move I have a proper racking system with heat tape and a helix thermostat.

If when they came to you they were fine and developed RI issues 3 months after getting to you, then yes....it absolutely is husbandry issues (Esp if both got it). Snakes just don't get sick for no reason.

Being that they're Womas I'd bet that the humidity is too high. Womas Like lower humidity than most other Aussie species and will develop RIs, esp in rack systems, if Humidity is too high. Somewhere in the 45 to 55% range is good most of the year for them.

And also, temps being too high can cause RIs in Womas. They don't like being a consistent temp all day and night. I find they prefer a cool down of about 4 - 6 degrees at night time.

If you talk to Don again....tell him hello. I've know him for several years.

D

scarhead · 02-07-15, 08:01 AM

My vet thinks it might be a liver issue hopefully will have blood work done next month hopefully I'll find out more but I keep my womas at 35-40% humidity