Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Jase]

The words of Bob Clark

Maternal Incubation

Should the eggs be incubated artificially or maternally? Most keepers incubate eggs in an incubator, but only, I think, because they are unfamiliar with the female snake’s capability for incubation.

If the eggs are to be left with the female, the temperature in the cage should be maintained in the low to mid-80s, with around 80-percent relative humidity.

Those unfamiliar with maternal incubation are often reluctant to completely turn over the responsibility for the eggs to the female. There is a temptation to turn the entire cage into a big incubator by raising the temperature and humidity above the proper levels in order to "cover their bets."

The female, however, only has the ability to raise the temperature of the eggs. She can’t lower it. If the ambient temperature is already set at 90 degrees, then she no longer has any control over temperature. The female can either conserve or release the moisture generated by egg incubation. Likewise, if the ambient humidity is already at 100 percent, then the female python has no influence over that either.

If a female snake is to incubate her own eggs, give her an environment in which she has some control. Remember that female pythons are perfectly suited to incubate their own eggs!

For species that do not generate their own heat during incubation (e.g., spotteds, balls and carpets) I provide basking areas. In most cases the heat source for the enclosure will be warmer than the average cage temperature, and this can serve as a place for the female to warm herself.

As ambient temperatures approach ideal incubation temperatures, females leave their eggs less often to bask and in some cases won’t leave them at all. Females can be very shy when basking and often return immediately to their eggs if they sense any activity near their enclosures.

In the last few days of incubation females loosen their coils and expose the eggs. As this happens, the temperature of the eggs drops to almost the ambient temperature. It’s important to monitor the humidity in the cage during this time.

The female remains loosely coiled around her clutch as the baby snakes begin to poke their heads through the slits they’ve cut in their eggs. In the wild, the newly hatched snakes would disperse quickly from the nest. In a captive situation this is not possible, of course. I have lost some babies at this point, as they can be accidentally crushed by the female. It’s a good idea to remove the hatchling snakes as they appear, if possible.

Remember, wild snakes do not incubate their eggs in a controlled environment. It’s warmer during the day than it is at night. Sunny days are warmer than cloudy ones. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it rains at night. The extra bedroom where you keep your snakes is stable by comparison. Monitor the temperature and the humidity, try not to interfere too much, and your female will be successful
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A lil bit of Madagascar

[Jase]

Right, I'm leaving her to it

Will artificially incubate the other clutches I get
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A lil bit of Madagascar

[Lynne]

you sure now?? you made a decision you know!!!
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[PaulG]

OMG he made a decision
Nice one, keep us all updated !!
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Regards, Paul.

:.Rhacodactylus.:.Eublepharis.:.Stenodactylus.:.Nephrurus.:

[Scott W]

good luck, would be great to see a morph hatching out of it's mothers coils.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Lynne]

there has been a couple of clutches hatched this way. i think nerys did it, but i cant remember who else. cant wait to see first pictures. keep us updated.
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[snakeypete]

do we have an egg count ? or is mamma being a tad bit grumpy about showing ?
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3.7.0 Royals


We do not stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing.

[Jase]

I havent disturbed her so no egg count Just went for a look and she's still coiled
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A lil bit of Madagascar

[Rad]

good luck with the Maternal Incubation, keep us all posted

[DrAdam]

Has she laid them above the heat mat?? Or somewhere a bit cooler so she can control the temp? ?
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