Unexpected eggs...

[duroo]

Hi all.

I work in the Animal Facility at Appalachian State University in NC. My boss just left yesterday for two weeks to go to Hawaii, leaving me in charge of the lab while she is gone. Today I go into the lab and find that our female Baird's Rat Snake has layed 5 eggs. We also have a male, but to my knowledge they have never been placed together, or at least not in the 5 months I have been working there. I also dont think she has ever been exposed to any other males, though it is possible I guess. My boss is gone and I cant contact her, and the only other professor that would know anything about this is currently in Vietnam. Are these simply unfertilized eggs that will not hatch? Am I the lucky witness of parthenogenesis? Has she been mated at some point without my knowledge?

Also, if there is a chance of them hatching, some pointers would be great since I have never raised baby snakes before.

Thanks
Drew

[DaemoNox]

If theyre infertile they will be slimey and yellowish. Fertile eggs will be large, round, and white. Retained sperm is possible, or if they were placed together for cleaning or something. Incubating is fairly easy, often the top of the fridge keeps them warm enough; just put them in a container with damp moss or something and keep them between 80 and 85F.

[duroo]

These eggs are definately fertile then, they are slightly leathery yet somewhat hard and white, not yellowish. I am excited now, baby snakes yay!

Drew

[johnrandle]

take the eggs home.

[Somed00d]

Candle them by holding a flashlight up to them in the dark. You should see veins if they are fertile.

[Aaron_S]

If you really want. You can make or buy an incubator. I would go with that DaemoNox has suggested. I'm sure your boss can handle them when they get back from vacation.