![]() A hygrometer to measure humidity is recommended. An alternative is to place a dish of water in the incubator, which will increase humidity through evaporation. In this case, a submersible aquarium heater with a thermostat works well to heat the water. The same effect can be achieved in a homemade incubator by suspending an opaque plastic container, which holds the eggs, in a water bath in a styrofoam box. This allows for even heat distribution and provides humidity. ![]() Some incubators have built in water baths. If the incubator has a fan, it should be disconnected as it will lower the humidity within the incubator and likely dehydrate the eggs. Be certain that the turning function can be disconnected in the case of a commercial chick incubator. Place the incubator in a room that does not experience drastic temperature variations, and where it will not experience undue vibration or jarring. The principles of a good reptile egg incubator apply equally between homemade and commercial incubators and include: Or, the incubator can be purchased commercially.Īn incubator should be running for at least 48 hours before it holds eggs to allow you to be sure that temperature and humidity variations are within acceptable limits. This container is then placed inside an insulated box, such as a styrofoam cooler. They may be homemade, such as a plastic container, which holds the eggs. The incubator must insulate the eggs against heat and humidity losses and significant ambient temperature fluctuations. Western hog nosed snakes and the grass snake lay up to 30 eggs.īoas and garter snakes (a Colubrid type snake) are live-bearer snakes that are commonly kept and bred in captivity. This includes kingsnakes, milksnakes, rat snakes and corn snakes. Most of the colubrid species lay 15 to 20 eggs in a clutch. All pythons lay eggs, ranging from 15 and 30 in a clutch. The egg producing species kept commonly in captivity are members of the Pythonidae and the Colubridae groupds. Familiarize yourself with the natural habitat, breeding and nesting behaviors and needs of your species. In spite of the intricacies and unknowns of the natural process, attention to detail and sound research will allow healthy snakes to be hatched in captivity. Some viper species will stay with their young until after they shed for the first time. Once the eggs have hatched, maternal care is negligible or non-existent. Unlike some pythons, most snakes do not care for their eggs after they are laid. ![]() Some pythons will leave the clutch for a short time, bask and then return to transmit the absorbed heat to the clutch. They loosen the coils to decrease the temperature at which the eggs are kept when ambient temperature rises or toward the end of incubation. ![]() ![]() Female Burmese pythons coil about the eggs and use rhythmic contractions of their muscles to produce heat to warm the eggs. Of the species commonly kept as pets, only a few species of pythons actively brood their eggs. Grass snakes choose to lay their eggs in decaying vegetation, which produces heat as it decomposes. Some species select a crevice in which to lay. If specific environmental needs are not met, the eggs will not hatch. Snakes in their natural environments select a nest site, which has an appropriate temperature and humidity range, as well as the correct substrate. Snakes that lay eggs do not typically build or dig nests, in the manner of many other reptiles. Unlike tortoises, turtles, alligators and crocodiles, whose gender is determined in large part by the incubation temperature, the gender of a snake is determined by its genes, as it is in the case of birds and mammals. Those species that produce live young are usually found in cooler climates or at higher altitudes. Snakes are either oviparous (egg laying) or viviparous (live bearing). ![]()
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