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Virgin Slug-Clutches

wretchedprocess

wretchedprocess

New member
Not sure whether to put this in this forum or general health, since it's not exactly about breeding, but it is about clutching. Mods, please move if the other forum would be more appropriate.

So, my smallest corn snake just produced a clutch of slugs. I was not watching for this, because she was supposed to be male and in any case had never been housed with any other snakes, but we seem to have figured it out. And thank you all so much for previous posts telling how to deal with eggbinding, because if I hadn't had those to refer to the situation would be much more dire.

But now that the crisis is over for now, I wanted to ask a couple of questions about the future. I gather that if this happens once it is more likely to happen again. Does it always? And since this happened so early in the year (I found the first slugs two days ago and cleared the last one out yesterday morning), do you guys think she's more likely to double-clutch? I'll be watchful anyway, of course, but I wanted to know whether I can pretty much assume this is going to be a regular occurrence with her. She'll be bigger next year, and so better able to handle it, but later this year it may not be so. She absolutely lunged for the small mouse I gave her last night after having refused the previous three feedings, btw, if that affects the answer. However until those three feedings (and after I figured out that she'll only eat grey mice), she's always eaten perfectly before.

So, advice on virgin slug-clutches? I want to make sure my little apparently-a-girl doesn't have to go through anything so traumatic again, if I can help her. She will absolutely get a nesting box if this happens again, now that I know she's a she. Is there anything else you'd recommend I do?

Thanks!
 
Some of the more experience breeders will probably chime in, but I have a ratsnake that lays slugs every spring. She's the only one of my females that does this consistently.

She has not been with a male, or produced a clutch for 4 years. She just goes through the motions every year. She shows no interest in the eggs, and kind of pushes them into the corners. It doesn't seem to bother her in the slightest, and she stays on feed throughout. I may actually pair her with the male this year, and see if she produces a fertile clutch.

Can't really say for sure what's going on with your girl. Could just be a one-time thing.

Kathy
 
With the exceptions of my girls I know will slug or double clutch, mine slug out just fine with no nesting box. I don't think egg binding is likely (if it's even possible) with slugs due to their softness. They seem to pass much more easily than fertile eggs. If I had to guess, you were the only one who went through anything traumatic! It was probably just another day in the rack for the snake. :)
 
Chip said:
With the exceptions of my girls I know will slug or double clutch, mine slug out just fine with no nesting box. I don't think egg binding is likely (if it's even possible) with slugs due to their softness. They seem to pass much more easily than fertile eggs. If I had to guess, you were the only one who went through anything traumatic! It was probably just another day in the rack for the snake. :)
Click to expand...

Last year with Snow she laid 13 slugs that were the size and as dense as marbles. They were small but definitely not soft. I think that was part of what killed her (right after the lay she crawled out of the box and died), she may have been eggbound with the hard slugs.
 
I'm worried about my 4 1/2 year female. I bought her sexed male but one year ago she had 24 slugs that were kind of moist. Friday morning when I was changing her water I noticed 1 hard yellowish egg. Since then she almost constantly moving around. Friday I also but in a bowl with moss that she can and has been in, but still no more eggs (slugs).
She's still her friendly self earlier climbing on me when I opened her enclosure.
Right now she has buried herself in the moss with just her tail sticking out.
Now after reading this thread I'm worried for her.
Is there anything I can do to help her? A bath perhaps??
 
Ronzie said:
Is there anything I can do to help her? A bath perhaps??
Click to expand...

As long as you have a nesting box for her that is about the extent of it. My two last spring went crazy searching for a place to lay and one slugged out and I had no idea (2 1/2 years in and still a newbie to this hobby!) it would happen so I made a lay box for the other female, a 13 year old Snow and she jumped in, laid 13 tiny marble size, very hard slugs and then she died.

It was a good learning experience, I am just so sorry it was at Snow's expense. The other girl is fine, but I will have lay boxes for all my girls this year.
 
Thank you for the response.
This morning I checked and found another egg but believe it came out the same time as the last. They're hard, yellowish and larger than a marble, 1 inch long and as big around as my ring finger (I have average size fingers).
Last year they seemed a little smaller, softer and not as round.
 
This is what my girl put out.

20150328_163416.jpg
 
Side question: How young can females start put out slugs? I have Red who's 2 years and my rescue female who is def 3 + super skinny girl... then I only have the yearlings and one that's about 2.. Should I have lay boxes ready in case? I am assuming by next year I will for sure need it but???
 
Ravenessa said:
Side question: How young can females start put out slugs? I have Red who's 2 years and my rescue female who is def 3 + super skinny girl... then I only have the yearlings and one that's about 2.. Should I have lay boxes ready in case? I am assuming by next year I will for sure need it but???
Click to expand...

Scarlett was 2 when she slugged out last year, it doesn't hurt to put one in just in case.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one who went through the "oh so you are a girl?" thing. I got my first ever experience of slugs last year, she was 9 and a half and had never laid a thing in her life. 7wks of hell, around 40 slugs in various states, several vet trips later and my poor girl was in bits. Lost loads of weight, major dehydration, had to have eggs aspirated 3 times and broke 2 ribs. Took months to build her health back up and now we are starting all over again this week.

Anyone got any advice on dealing with this?

Mostly unformed (stinky) goo coming out just now with 2 deformed slugs. Nest box prepped and in place, electrolytes and calcium supplements on hand, will continue feeding as small prey just in case she wants to eat and regular bathing for dehydration all planned.

For info: 10.5yrs old, 6ft4 approx. Can't get a weight as she's not in the mood for handling. Never been bred.
 
Meowthathurt said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who went through the "oh so you are a girl?" thing. I got my first ever experience of slugs last year, she was 9 and a half and had never laid a thing in her life. 7wks of hell, around 40 slugs in various states, several vet trips later and my poor girl was in bits. Lost loads of weight, major dehydration, had to have eggs aspirated 3 times and broke 2 ribs. Took months to build her health back up and now we are starting all over again this week.

Anyone got any advice on dealing with this?

Mostly unformed (stinky) goo coming out just now with 2 deformed slugs. Nest box prepped and in place, electrolytes and calcium supplements on hand, will continue feeding as small prey just in case she wants to eat and regular bathing for dehydration all planned.

For info: 10.5yrs old, 6ft4 approx. Can't get a weight as she's not in the mood for handling. Never been bred.
Click to expand...

Poor kiddo. Unfortunately that is something that does happen with corns, some girls go their entire lives without laying and others are guaranteed to double clutch every year. It's one of life's mysteries.

You sound like you are doing a great job with her.
 
hmm add on question... 40 slugs of various states was that old slugs that she had kept in or from this year only?

Sorry you had to deal with all this :( <3
 
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