It's egg laying time

[Catherine]

It is that time of the year when my female corn snakes lay eggs. They respond to the weather so usually all the eggs happen in a short period of time.  This week there were four batches of eggs. One was on Monday, one on Thursday and two on Friday.















Catherine Becket • Only you

The pictures are not that clear, but they are an up close view of eggs actually being laid.

I still can't believe my tiny little females can produce such big eggs and so many. Some of the clutches had 20 eggs.
Once a year they all produce eggs and then the rest of the year they live quiet lives. For the girls it is just one batch of eggs a year. For me it is a hectic time because I have the eggs to take care of and I have the girls to look after. They usually lie curled around the eggs until I arrive and then they are happy to leave them to me.  The girls trust me to take care of things.
I think we are almost done for the year...or not. My female pine snake looks like she might be pregnant. She is a bigger snake and she will only have 6 eggs, maybe 8, but they will be bigger than chicken eggs. I am getting a box ready now for her eggs to incubate in. I like to be prepared because like humans, snakes often deliver at night. I don't want to be trying to set things up at 2am.