Like rabbits in the back seat of a Camaro

[MouseKilla]

This is our first breeding season so it's been interesting lately. I had originally paired our female snow with our male Great Plains rat and for whatever reason they didn't take to eachother (I suspect it's because the GPR is a fat slob, but I'll fix that!). So instead I tossed our first snake, a normal male corn, in with the snow just because I'd already gone to the trouble of cooling them all and had my heart set on some babies.

For the last 2 weeks I've caught them shaggin away several times and I know by the rustling noises I hear at night and the disgusting, crusty blotches on the newspaper beneath them that they'll do it without an audience as well. They've spent nearly the entire time entwined except for when I've seperated them periodically for feeding, as soon as they are reunited, they're right back at it again.

I could be imagining it but she seems to be somewhat swollen already. I bought her at the end of last November so she was basically straight into the cold room and I don't really have a good concept of what size she is. Is it too soon to be seeing swelling?

Also, how long is it between the time the lovin' starts and the time she lets her egg laying shed go? I've managed to find out every other relevant time frame but everywhere I've looked has left out the length of this time period.

[seann]

a month 30 days to 45 days for the eggs to be laid average is 39 days you should place a nesting box in on your 3rd week of after the mating she will shed before she lays and that tells you the eggds will pop out in 10- 14 days good luck man! mine porked too, i am psyched about it later dodd

[marisa]

Well they do ovulate before becoming gravid, which can cause a little swelling for sure.

Here is what my guys did last year:
Mating on: March 18th 2003
Second Mating: March 24 2003

I noted egg swelling on April 18th
Pre Lay Shed April 20th 2003
Noted extreme swelling April 27th 2003

Eggs laid May 1st 2003

:)
Marisa

[MouseKilla]

Thanks guys, I'm getting anxious already. It reminds me of when I was waiting for my daughter to be born. You know, a swollen, grumpy female ready to burst with the offspring you've been waiting for... at least the snakes don't often make you fetch them things from the kitchen or ask you to rub their feet.