Need Help on what to do!

This is my first year breeding and i have 2 gravid corns. 2 weeks ago(they were already bred and suspected to be gravid) i found out i am moving! I have to ship all my corns but won't be doing so until the 16th at least. We are moving to Alaska so i have no choice but to ship. my problem is that i expect both femalese to lay this week (both had prelay shed a week ago) and i can't ship eggs! What do i do? once they are laid should i incubate and sell them w/ the incubator? I don't want to dispose of them or give as snake food. I palpated both females today...

Caramel het butter- 10-11 large lumps
Snow- 16-17 lumps

Both were bred to my unknown male (caramel/amber)

I can't prevent them from laying eggs so please give me some advice Thanks in advance,

Thats a bad situation.. =/

Must the snakes be shipped? If you're driving, you can just keep them in a container with moist medium on the way out there. But I guess if you're flying, the airline doesn't allow snakes on board in the cabin, only in the cargo hold.

If they lay eggs before you leave, I'd incubate the eggs as normal, and when I left I'd pack them tightly in a cooler that'll fit under a seat or overhead compartment with a heatpack, just enough to keep them warm without being hot. That should keep them alright until you land at Alaska and get them somewhere at home. I don't think the airline would have any problem with eggs. But I'd call your airline ahead of time and make sure. Wouldn't want to go to the airport and then have to leave the eggs there. Then while you're hand carrying the eggs, you can ship the females to your location.

If the females don't lay before you leaving, I'd get one of those large deli-cups with the pre-punched holes, pack it full with moss, and let her be in there while in shipment. She may lay in transit, and if she does, at least the eggs would have the best chance of surviving being kept moist and snug to prevent damage.

Those are the only things I can think of. Sorry if I wasn't more help.

Thanks,

However, i am driving to Alaska-from Virginia- which will take ~10 days. we also have to cross the border and from what i was reading online pets like mice and reptiles can go freely w/out any permits or other but they have limitations on eggs because they do not know of they might really be turtle eggs.

I really hope that they won't lay because then i can ship them as you described but if they do i'm confused as to what to do. if they are laid i want to sell them to someone who will incubate them rather than feeding as another snake's meal

thats easy

all ya have to do is ship the snakes to me,ill keep them till they lay,fatten em up,and ship them back to you its a win win situation

Well, I hate to suggest this..

But since it's Canada..I don't think they're going to make you unload your car and examine everything to make sure you don't have eggs. As far as I'm concerned, it's a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. =P

As far as I know, they just stop you, ask you if you're carrying anything and how long you're going to be in Canada. It's not like Mexico where they do whole car checks.

I would take the snakes with me, versus shipping them. I always feel better transporting my own pets. If they lay before that, you can try and sneak the eggs across the border, or you can give the eggs to someone on the way across the country.

What about contacting your vet and having them give you a certificate stating that your corns are gravid, and that the eggs (if they lay before you leave) are certifiably corn snake eggs?

I don't know really. But I don't think I'd let a border check stop me from trying. =P

Keep us updated...

Have family where you are moving? Ship them now. I believe I've read that corns are good about not laying until a place is suitable as far as moisture etc. goes. If you ship them early...?

Border Stops

Taceas is correct that the border can be a don't ask don't tell situation . . . BUT, if they decide they want to check your vehicle, they can and will tear it apart from top to bottom checking out every nook and cranny. I have made several visits into Canada, and have been at the receiving end of both types of treatments . . . from both countries!! Going across and coming back. I'd be careful about crossing without being honest, because IF they do decide something isn't right and decide to check out your vehicle you could be up the creek without a paddle. And no, they don't need any probably cause, you could just get someone in a bad mood day.

I probably recommend ship now to friend as suggested already, or unfortunately find a buyer.


D80

The only reason we might have problems is because...

1. They stop and question you if a kid is traveling w/ just one parent due to some new kidnapping policy. My brother and mom are already there right now and on the way up they were stoped and questioned for about an hour.

2. we will also have 2 dogs and our cat w/ us and our 8 of my mice w/ us so they have to check health certificates for all the animals and verify that that is all we have.


I think we are going to try and ship them this week but i don't want to cause undue stress and possible have them get eggbound from holding in the eggs too long? And also we would have to wait until my mom could get containers for them all and she knows nothing about snakes let alone egg care and she refuses to feed them but that is not a problem because they can go a few weeks w/o eating . Hopefully it will work out, Thanks guys,

Update

I know it has been a while, but I just wanted to update what happened. I adopted the eggs from her before she moved. Finally, today the first of the two clutches is starting to pip. Happy ending