Need Help! I think my snake is pregnant.

[Michael823]

hey guys,
I just took out my Orange Creamsicle to hold, and something seemed strange. At first I noticed a slight wrinkle on her belly, which looked like the middle of a couple of slight bumps. Then I held her up and could see several bulges down her belly. I felt her sides as she moved through my fingers, and I'm gonna say she's pregnant. The sides felt somewhat stiff where the bulges were, so I'm not sure what to do.
Here's the thing, I cohabitated her with my male anery/ghost. I'm not sure which he is, anery or ghost. My mother bought him for me as a surprise like 4yrs ago from petco, he was 90$ and the guy said something about being hypo (I wasn't there, and my mom is'nt very corn snake morph literate). I've seen ghost's and anery's that look similair, but seeing he was 90$ and they had a striped anery that was the same size for cheaper, I assume he's a ghost. Plus he has no real dark coloration, and his belly checkers are more of a bronze, which I've heard is a sign of a ghost.
Anyways He was my first snake, and until recently I was unsure what sex he was. I held him about a week ago and found out with certainty that he was a male (don't need to explain). I had every intention to breed him eventually, but I was hoping to have been better prepared. I've researched breeding since I got him as a baby, so I know quite a bit other than having 1st hand experience. Even though cohabbing might seem somewhat irresponsible, both are large enough to breed, and I have every intention of working hard to make this successful.
There's a reptile show in about a week, and I highly doubt she'll lay before then. I need the best advice for what I should get at the show to incubate possible eggs, PLEASE. I am going to purchase a tub tonight at the hardware store so I can separate her and keep a better eye on her.
Any advice, any at all, would really be a HUGE help to me. I'm very excited, yet nervous, because I really want to hatch some babies.
Thank you for your time, sorry for the long post!!!

 

[RobbiesCornField]

First of all, you need to keep them separated, now that you know the sex. The male might possibly keep breeding with her, and she could possibly die from exhaustion in the end.

The first thing you're going to need is a lay box. Depending on what size tub you get, you can get a small sterilite, put a hole big enough for her to get through in it, and fill it with a damp (barely wet) substrate (like sphagnum moss).
After she lays the eggs, you're going to need an incubator and some sort of medium. You can do a search on here for DIY incubators, or you can possibly pick one up at the show from a supply booth.
The medium I would recommend for incubation is Hatch-Rite. It worked great for me last year, and you don't need to worry about keeping it moist.

Good luck!

 

[starsevol]

Well, congrats! (I think)

First thing...you should really reconsider co-habbing your snakes. Corns are solitary animals by nature, and even though they are old enough to breed, being forced to live with another snake can create great stress and health problems for these guys.

Next thing...did you know that your creamsicle is a hybrid between a corn and a great plains rat? She isn't a pure corn, so her babies won't be corns either. Nothing wrong with that at all...unless the babies are misrepresented by the seller.

When your girl sheds, you need to provide her with a laybox. She will lay eggs after that.
Good Luck! (and remember to breathe!)

 

[Michael823]

Thank you very much starsevol, I know cohabbing might not be the best idea. They were very young when I first put them together, and I was relatively new to keeping corns. I just didn't have the heart to separate them. They sleep together and seem to get along well, but I will definitely take your advice and not cohab anymore. I don't do that with any of my other corn snakes. I did quarantine her first though, I would have been devastated if my other corn got sick. But I don't want them to be stressed, so I'll seperate them.
I did know that she was part Great plains as well, and would definitely be sure to share that with possible buyers (should I have success). Right now I just want everything to go as smoothly as possible, and I really want her to come out alright. She's around 3' and has good weight, and muscle mass.
Thank you for the advice!!!

 

[Michael823]

BTW, she looks like she's about to shed now. I will put a lay box in her separate home with her when she sheds. Could it be a coincidence she's shedding now, or is this probably a sign she's about to lay. She doesn't look too far along to me, but I could definitely be wrong.

 

[Michael823]

First of all, you need to keep them separated, now that you know the sex. The male might possibly keep breeding with her, and she could possibly die from exhaustion in the end.

The first thing you're going to need is a lay box. Depending on what size tub you get, you can get a small sterilite, put a hole big enough for her to get through in it, and fill it with a damp (barely wet) substrate (like sphagnum moss).
After she lays the eggs, you're going to need an incubator and some sort of medium. You can do a search on here for DIY incubators, or you can possibly pick one up at the show from a supply booth.
The medium I would recommend for incubation is Hatch-Rite. It worked great for me last year, and you don't need to worry about keeping it moist.

Good luck!

Perfect, thanks for the advice. I'm glad you guys are so helpful, I feel bad now that I kept them together for so long. I should just be glad things have gone well so far, and thank god they didn't breed earlier, seeing the male is a little older.

 

[vetusvates]

Maybe I missed it, but how old and how big is she? Just asking.
I would think her size and health, before during and after carrying eggs would be the health priority here.

 

[starsevol]

It's funny that people tend to humanize a snake's behavior. Most people see 2 snakes together and think that they like each other, or are cuddling up together...but in reality they are competing for resources.
But I'm SO GLAD you listened about the cohabbing, and I KNOW your sweeties will be glad too (in their own snakey way,lol).

Robbie said alot of the details I didn't think of. I personally don't use an incubator. I leave the eggs in an unairconditioned room. I definately sense an addiction about to be born, though....so be warned! And please please post pictures! I can't get enough of "female with egg" pics!

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

BTW, she looks like she's about to shed now. I will put a lay box in her separate home with her when she sheds. Could it be a coincidence she's shedding now, or is this probably a sign she's about to lay. She doesn't look too far along to me, but I could definitely be wrong.

Beth and Robbie have pretty much covered the basics - but to answer this question - they normally lay within about a week or so after shedding. This is what is called the "pre lay shed".

 

[Michael823]

It's funny that people tend to humanize a snake's behavior. Most people see 2 snakes together and think that they like each other, or are cuddling up together...but in reality they are competing for resources.
But I'm SO GLAD you listened about the cohabbing, and I KNOW your sweeties will be glad too (in their own snakey way,lol).

Robbie said alot of the details I didn't think of. I personally don't use an incubator. I leave the eggs in an unairconditioned room. I definately sense an addiction about to be born, though....so be warned! And please please post pictures! I can't get enough of "female with egg" pics!

I'm not trying to "humanize" their behavior, I take your advice very seriously. I do love them very much, but I wouldn't keep them together for the sake of them having a companion. I never saw them being together as a friendship or "cuddling", I noted that they slept together because I thought they were sleeping together for warmth, and that I didn't notice any stress. But you clearly make great points, so thank you. I just separated her about an hour ago in a temporary 31qt tub with a hide, water, heat pad, and a large enough ziplock with a hole in the top and moist shredded paper towel as a lay box (I'll switch to sphagnum tomorrow, I just have to go to the pet store).
Thanks again, I REALLY appreciate all of your help!!!
Again thank you

 

[Michael823]

Maybe I missed it, but how old and how big is she? Just asking.
I would think her size and health, before during and after carrying eggs would be the health priority here.

That is certainly my #1 priority, she is a loved pet and I want her to come out OK way more than the eggs. I just wanted info on hatching because I'm not sure what the time table is.
She is about 3yrs old, and a little over 3'. I'm not sure her weight, but she has good size and muscle tone. Also I didn't feel many bulges, definitely no more than 5, so I'm hopeful that it won't be too big of a load.
Thanks for your concern though!!!

 

[vetusvates]

That is certainly my #1 priority, she is a loved pet and I want her to come out OK way more than the eggs. I just wanted info on hatching because I'm not sure what the time table is.
She is about 3yrs old, and a little over 3'. I'm not sure her weight, but she has good size and muscle tone. Also I didn't feel many bulges, definitely no more than 5, so I'm hopeful that it won't be too big of a load.
Thanks for your concern though!!!

Thanks for replying to my question, Michael. Not being critical at all. When you said this :

The sides felt somewhat stiff where the bulges were, so I'm not sure what to do.

I was thinking about her size compared to a mature egg, ready to be laid. LOL.
And by the way, welcome to the forum.
You can see we pay close, concerned attention to detail.

 

[starsevol]

I'm not trying to "humanize" their behavior, I take your advice very seriously. I do love them very much, but I wouldn't keep them together for the sake of them having a companion. I never saw them being together as a friendship or "cuddling", I noted that they slept together because I thought they were sleeping together for warmth, and that I didn't notice any stress. But you clearly make great points, so thank you. I just separated her about an hour ago in a temporary 31qt tub with a hide, water, heat pad, and a large enough ziplock with a hole in the top and moist shredded paper towel as a lay box (I'll switch to sphagnum tomorrow, I just have to go to the pet store).
Thanks again, I REALLY appreciate all of your help!!!
Again thank you

Michael, I didn't mean people as in you specifically....I meant people as in people in general. I hope I didn't offend you. We get "co-hab" threads alot on this forum, and you would be surprised how many people think they can't seperate because their snakes would be lonely....

Co-habbing is kind of a sticking point with me because a few years back one my racks had a heating element fry and almost burn down my house. I had no choice but to temporarily co-hab until I could get a new unit. One of my snakes died as an indirect result.

Your girl sounds big enough that she shouldn't have a hard time. I'm excited for you, there is nothing as great as checking the eggs and seeing a little face looking back at you! It's miraculous Oh, and you can go to a pet shop for sphagum moss....but Lowe's or Home Depot will have it cheaper. Look in the gardening section

 

[Michael823]

Thanks for the advice, I've always wondered about getting moss elsewhere, I just didn't know if there was any difference in Flukers moss than others (like dust or pesticide etc..).
I take no offense to either of your comments, clearly your concern comes from seeing mistakes end up in disaster. I feel bad sounding like a fool for cohabbing, it's just that they were my first snakes before breeding was a thought, so I liked the idea of having a corn snake habitat. All of my other corn snakes are seperate, and will remain that way. I guess my thinking was that seeing I never cooled their tank, or prepped them for breeding, that somehow it was all good. But you are absolutely right, forcing them to cohab, no matter how big the tank is, is unfair, and I'm just lucky they didn't breed earlier.
I've been so excited to breed, and I was possibly going to try to get an adult female snow or ghost at the upcoming reptile show 4/11, to breed with my ghost. In which case I was going to separate him and try to breed the two. But now I'll just focus my attention on getting ready for possible hatchlings, and hopefully it goes well.
BTW, how would I transfer eggs from the lay box to the "hatch right" in an incubator? Also I will definitely look for hatch right at the show, but if I'm unable to find an incubator what should I do?
Sorry to ask so many questions, but you guys are very helpful!!!

 

[Susan]

Oh, and you can go to a pet shop for sphagum moss....but Lowe's or Home Depot will have it cheaper. Look in the gardening section

I was even able to find it at Walmart (they were out when I looked this year, however). The better stuff is labeled "orchid moss", which is where you'll find it...with the orchids and their supplies.

And incubating in the warmest room or on top of the fridge is just fine. No need to get an incubator (at least yet).

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Thanks for the advice, I've always wondered about getting moss elsewhere, I just didn't know if there was any difference in Flukers moss than others (like dust or pesticide etc..).
I take no offense to either of your comments, clearly your concern comes from seeing mistakes end up in disaster. I feel bad sounding like a fool for cohabbing, it's just that they were my first snakes before breeding was a thought, so I liked the idea of having a corn snake habitat. All of my other corn snakes are seperate, and will remain that way. I guess my thinking was that seeing I never cooled their tank, or prepped them for breeding, that somehow it was all good. But you are absolutely right, forcing them to cohab, no matter how big the tank is, is unfair, and I'm just lucky they didn't breed earlier.
I've been so excited to breed, and I was possibly going to try to get an adult female snow or ghost at the upcoming reptile show 4/11, to breed with my ghost. In which case I was going to separate him and try to breed the two. But now I'll just focus my attention on getting ready for possible hatchlings, and hopefully it goes well.
BTW, how would I transfer eggs from the lay box to the "hatch right" in an incubator? Also I will definitely look for hatch right at the show, but if I'm unable to find an incubator what should I do?
Sorry to ask so many questions, but you guys are very helpful!!!

Very very carefully. After you take the mother (gently) out of the lay box and put her back in her tank, you want to very very VERY carefully pick up the eggs (making sure none of them roll, as rolling over will kill them). The eggs will most likely be all clumped together, and it should be very easy to pick them up as a whole clump and transfer them. You do want to make sure that you have another box with a lid that you can put the eggs in on the hatch-rite in the incubator.

If you can't find an incubator at the show, look in the DIY section on here for home-made incubators.

 

[starsevol]

I've been so excited to breed, and I was possibly going to try to get an adult female snow or ghost at the upcoming reptile show 4/11, to breed with my ghost. In which case I was going to separate him and try to breed the two. But now I'll just focus my attention on getting ready for possible hatchlings, and hopefully it goes well.
BTW, how would I transfer eggs from the lay box to the "hatch right" in an incubator? Also I will definitely look for hatch right at the show, but if I'm unable to find an incubator what should I do?
Sorry to ask so many questions, but you guys are very helpful!!!

You're going to the show?? I'm so jealous! 2 of my friends from here are going too. I wish I didn't have to work! How many other corns do you have?
Oh, and Robbie was right. Just try to make sure the eggs don't roll when you take them out of the laybox and keep them right side up.

 

[Michael823]

Thanks for the advice again. I pretty much knew the basics (not to let the eggs roll, or change position), I just wasn't sure if the eggs would be too delicate to transport by hand. I went online to lllreptile, and they coincidently have an incubator sale that ends tomorrow. 35$ for the hova incubator, 40$ for the whole kit which includes deli cups and hatch rite. I'm also going into wal-mart and petco later, so I'll look for the moss in the gardening section. Thanks.
BTW, I have 5 other corn snakes, but don't worry each have they're own separate enclosures. I have my husbandry down pact, it's only the breeding that I'm still a little unsure of. I have a bloodred and anery bloodred from the oct show that are still very small, a yearling butter motley male and ultramel het caramel 66% poss het motley female, and a small adult "miami" phase.
I'm very excited to go to the show too, it's only about a 1/2 hour 45min drive from my house, which is pretty lucky. I'm not looking to get anything at this show, but sometimes something really catches your eye. This time my goal is just getting supplies (Mice, bedding, maybe some extra heat pads, etc..). I especially need mice though, I ordered a bunch online a while ago but they've since been consumed. So I've had to temporarily buy from Petco, which is SOOO expensive. I just haven't had enough money at one time to make another shipment online, so I'll stock way up at the show. Which probably won't leave me with enough to get another snake, plus supplies and caging. But honestly, that's fine. I'm not an impulsive shopper, so it won't be hard to pass one up.
Thanks again guys, you are the reason this site is so great!!!

 

[James_pie]

AWESOME, I'm planning to breed my creamsicle and ghost next year. I hope everything works out with the hatching I'd love to see some pics hehe

 

[Michael823]

Thanks James, I'm crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly for her. And should the eggs come out fine and hatch, I'll definitely want to show them off.
I also went to get some supplies today, but I couldn't find any sphagnum moss at Wal-Mart. All they had was Green Moss (which looked very similair), and Pete Moss, so I just got some at Petsmart. It's a little more expensive, but I don't need much anyways.
I'm also going to try to order the incubator tonight, but I don't have a credit or debit so I hope they take money orders.
Take care guys, thanks again!!!