Ovulating corn question

[Demonique]

My cornsnake is ovulating ATM, I didn't expect her to ovulate as I hadn't planned on breeding corns this year so I didn't cool her.


I heard that if eggs aren't fertilised there is a risk of egg-binding, I don't want to risk losing her.

If there is a risk of egg-binding should I put her in with my male in the hopes that fertilised eggs with reduce the risk of egg-binding? She has had no problem passing fertilised eggs. She is five years old and this would be her fourth breeding season. (nope I didn't breed her as a yearling, she was first bred as a robust two year old)

[Dutchology]

I've never heard of a snake just dropping eggs for the sake of it, like lizards & birds do. It is possible that she retained sperm from last year's breeding though. If she's not fit for a clutch i.e. not at breeding weight I would not put her in with the male as you have a greater risk of egg-binding with the female in this case.

I think that possibly what you heard about unfertilised eggs is that when snakes are bred, a certain number of the eggs that she is carrying may not be viable and that these eggs can be the cause of egg-binding. I certainly wouldn't think that she's just going to drop eggs without having been bred i.e. a totally unfertilised clutch unless she's retained sperm as I said above.

I could be wrong, but we've been breeding corns for a number of years now, as well as other snakes & have experienced sperm retention & snakes dropping eggs, but never a snake just 'laying' a clutch of totally unfertilised eggs in the way that you are describing.

[darragh 3.0]

wen i had my first corns the female had eggs and did (do it )and they werent  fertilised

[Dutchology]

That is quite possible, but I'm on about a snake that hasn't 'done it'

[darragh 3.0]

lol no bother

[Demonique]

I could be wrong, but we've been breeding corns for a number of years now, as well as other snakes & have experienced sperm retention & snakes dropping eggs, but never a snake just 'laying' a clutch of totally unfertilised eggs in the way that you are describing.

I got a clutch of unfertilised eggs, yearling female, never been near a male corn (at least not since she hatched alongside her brothers and sisters), I found a yellow egg in her enclosure one day. Rang the reptile haven, they said to put a nest box in with her, she sent straight into it, came downstairs a week later, four-five eggs in the nest box.