Help with a pregnant Childrens' Python!!!

[herpfan101]

Hey there! We have a lovely Childrens' Python who has just laid lots of eggs. Currently she seems to be looking after them well in the tank she is already in. Humidity and tank temperature are pretty good. My question is - the daddy snake is still in the tank - should he be taken out now? Or should he be taken out close to the time when eggs are expected to hatch? Or is it ok for him to just stay in there? All this breeding is a new thing to my partner and I!

HERPFAN 101

[spilota_variegata]

I'm not an expert, but for peace of mind I would remove the male. The female will not get lonely and it just takes one move variable out of the equation.

[MrBredli]

Yes, definitely get the male out of there quick smart. What are the eggs sitting on?

[herpfan101]

Yeah that was the line of thinking I was going with too. Right now I'm not too keen to put my hand in that tank tho!!!! Hes doing the typical male thing and leaving her to look after his babies by herself right now too...

[herpfan101]

Um, well, we didn't know she was pregnant till she punched out the eggs this week. So she is on a kind of wood shavings substrate but has pulled this all out the way and the eggs are resting on the glass of the bottom of the tank. From under the tank you can see all the eggs and there is a fair bit of moisture, which i've been told is good (?) she has been wrapped around them since they were layed now too.

[patonthego]

Congrats on the babies. I have absolutely no experience with this but listen to the people on here and get him out asap. Have fun raising them. Quite envious.

[MrBredli]

Moisture/humidity is very important, but too much and it's all over. It's a very fine line between enough, and too much which equals death to the eggs. How many eggs do you have? Considering you should be able to sell the hatchies for over $1000, perhaps it would be a wise investment to go out and grab yourself an incubator ASAP. Or perhaps find someone close by who has some space in their incubator. Another advantage of artificial incubation is the fact the female will begin eating again sooner (she won't eat until the eggs are taken away or hatch), so the sooner you start getting food into her, the more chance you have of her laying again next year.

[herpfan101]

Thanks guys! We think there are 18 eggs. I thought Children's were only worth about $50 or so. (Not that the money factor makes a difference to us wanting to keep them alive - baby snakes are so cute!!! And it must be rewarding when they hatch).
I will get the male out ASAP. Hes an ugly bugger anyway. Out of curiosity, what would happen if we left him in there? Would he eat the eggs, or the offspring? Or make the mum snake really cranky?

[slither]

id be getting the male out as soon as possible guys and depending om the temperature and humidity etc of ure cage u should of got the eggs out and straight into an incubator

[herpfan101]

Yeah unfortunately I was in Perth last weekend so didn't see the eggs till I got back.

[hallad]

I am in exactly the same position as herpfan101. My snake unexpectantly laid eggs on Thursday night so I have gone out and got an incubator but noww don't know how to get the eggs out. My female will not leave them alone. Do I try and move her or will that be dangerous for the eggs. I have had my snakes for two years and this is their first clutch I had actually given up hope of them breeding.

[mertle]

I would take the male out straight away, he may stress the female ,

It may be too late to take the eggs now??? They can incubate them self, just don't breed her next year!