Feeding quail eggs

[Cmwells90]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Just make sure the eggs are fertile.

Of course, I'm already aware that it has to be fertile and that quail eggs are the best because of their size. My only concern is how long can you store a fertile egg for? I've found a pack of 8 fertilized, however I don't want to fed him 8 for a month straight as it wont be very healthy for him, I want to offer a mix of mice and rats too, but I don't want the eggs to go bad.

Not to be rude Hannibalcanibal, but I'm aware that they can eat eggs, and that it has to be fertile. I'm not talking about feeding him a normal chicken egg from Walmart. This whole post revolves around storing fertile quail eggs, I have plenty of reptile experience and not all of my knowledge comes from the internet, I have friends who offer quail eggs to their Corns, but they have enough snakes to use a whole batch and they don't have to store the eggs. My original question was how can I go about storing them, and for how long. Spitting out the shell is normal because it's too difficult to digest, they'll just consume the insides, and cleanup has to be done right away.

I understand the snake deciding to become a picky eater, but this is not something I'm going to do every week, more like a treat every couple of months, just for variety.

[Hannibalcanibal]

Originally Posted by Cmwells90

Of course, I'm already aware that it has to be fertile and that quail eggs are the best because of their size. My only concern is how long can you store a fertile egg for? I've found a pack of 8 fertilized, however I don't want to fed him 8 for a month straight as it wont be very healthy for him, I want to offer a mix of mice and rats too, but I don't want the eggs to go bad.

Not to be rude Hannibalcanibal, but I'm aware that they can eat eggs, and that it has to be fertile. I'm not talking about feeding him a normal chicken egg from Walmart. This whole post revolves around storing fertile quail eggs, I have plenty of reptile experience and not all of my knowledge comes from the internet, I have friends who offer quail eggs to their Corns, but they have enough snakes to use a whole batch and they don't have to store the eggs. My original question was how can I go about storing them, and for how long. Spitting out the shell is normal because it's too difficult to digest, they'll just consume the insides, and cleanup has to be done right away.

I understand the snake deciding to become a picky eater, but this is not something I'm going to do every week, more like a treat every couple of months, just for variety.

Yes, i understand the spitting out the shell part, i was just not sure if corns could do it. Anyhow, a quail egg every couple of months is probably fine, but i agree it should be fed with a rodent.

I don't see why snakes need treats though. if they can do fine on just rodents, then a "treat" should be unnecessary.

Anyhow, if it's a fertile quail egg, and it is only every few months, and if it does not replace the rodent in the feeding, it should be fine. I just don't see why you would want to do it in the first place

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Cmwells90

Of course, I'm already aware that it has to be fertile and that quail eggs are the best because of their size. My only concern is how long can you store a fertile egg for? I've found a pack of 8 fertilized, however I don't want to fed him 8 for a month straight as it wont be very healthy for him, I want to offer a mix of mice and rats too, but I don't want the eggs to go bad.

Not to be rude Hannibalcanibal, but I'm aware that they can eat eggs, and that it has to be fertile. I'm not talking about feeding him a normal chicken egg from Walmart. This whole post revolves around storing fertile quail eggs, I have plenty of reptile experience and not all of my knowledge comes from the internet, I have friends who offer quail eggs to their Corns, but they have enough snakes to use a whole batch and they don't have to store the eggs. My original question was how can I go about storing them, and for how long. Spitting out the shell is normal because it's too difficult to digest, they'll just consume the insides, and cleanup has to be done right away.

I understand the snake deciding to become a picky eater, but this is not something I'm going to do every week, more like a treat every couple of months, just for variety.

I'd love video of these snakes consuming eggs since apparently it's so common.

I don't get why people have to re-invent the wheel in this hobby. Corns have lived fine on rodents since the 50's!

Interesting you mention the egg shell being spit out. The egg eating snake to my knowledge actually breaks the egg shell with it's spine, it's evolved to do so, and then spits it out. I could be wrong but I believe it's actually been designed to do this on a regular basis.

Also, I wouldn't use "wiki.answers.com" for anything. I can edit it if I wish. JUST read in that link that babies start with CRICKETS! FAIL SOURCE!

If you were experienced in reptiles you'd have seen this and realized it's a poop source.

[Cmwells90]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I'd love video of these snakes consuming eggs since apparently it's so common.

You can actually find many videos on Youtube of Corn snakes eating eggs, I'm not saying these are educated pros, just that they do exist. The wiki link was just the first link I found to prove my point, never said it was a primary source for knowledge. If you look at many Zoo's they provide a variety of animals for their reptiles if it's available. Like offering quail every once and a while. We all raise our snakes differently, and I like to give mine a variety. This was never meant to be a post about techniques or whether they should be fed eggs or not.

[Hannibalcanibal]

Originally Posted by Cmwells90

You can actually find many videos on Youtube of Corn snakes eating eggs, I'm not saying these are educated pros, just that they do exist. The wiki link was just the first link I found to prove my point, never said it was a primary source for knowledge. If you look at many Zoo's they provide a variety of animals for their reptiles if it's available. Like offering quail every once and a while. We all raise our snakes differently, and I like to give mine a variety. This was never meant to be a post about techniques or whether they should be fed eggs or not.

Meh. I've seen videos on youtube of people feeding rats and mice (grown ones, too) to leopard geckos. Not somewhere i would take info from. (responsible) Zoos also do not usually provide variety to snakes btw. I got right into one once...just rats.

Why would you even want to feed eggs in the first place? I understand that different people keep snakes different ways (i.e some people feed live, some frozen/thawed), but you do not need to, as Aaron put it, "reinvent the wheel". Rats are good, mice are good, quail is good. Eggs are not usually considered good for most snakes, especially corns.

You said that you want to make sure it is being cared for properly in your first post... and your interest and posting on the forum proves that. But it's a bit pointless to feed eggs, when it can be cared for perfectly fine on a rodent diet. I'd not feed eggs if it were my snake, and that's the advice i'd give to you.

Feeding things other than rodents is opening up pandora's box.... just stick with mice and rats. It's good for your snake.

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I'd love video of these snakes consuming eggs since apparently it's so common.

Unfortunately it's true but it doesn't mean it's good for them.
corn snakes eating eggs - YouTube

But hey i guess if all the other slow people in the world are doing it it must be ok.




NOT!

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Unfortunately it's true but it doesn't mean it's good for them.
corn snakes eating eggs - YouTube

But hey i guess if all the other slow people in the world are doing it it must be ok.




NOT!

Well I'll be damned.

I don't believe they break the shell though. I watched the dove egg being fed. I know why I dislike this prey item. The snake needed help in swallowing it! If it can't do it on it's own it's probably not a good idea...

But whatever...you and wiki and youtube know best. Even if it's not a good "primary source" why would you even use it to prove your point then? That's like putting the wrong answer on the test purely because it was the first thing you wrote down.

[milk man]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I don't get why people have to re-invent the wheel in this hobby. Corns have lived fine on rodents since the 50's!

We have re-invented the wheel thousands of times over. If we didnt we would still be using stone wheels. I dont see a problem with careful experimentation in the reptile hobby. That's why we have better enclosures, and other equipment to make our reptiles life better. Im not saying that this kind of things should be done by novice keepers, but it seems that people on this forum are very apposed to anyone challenging the norm. This is just an observation. I don't know anything about corns eating eggs.