Last year I paired two of my female corn snakes, they had fertile clutches and one double cluched without being paired again.
This year I have alot going on so decided that I am not going to pair them this year. But recently the thought that snkes can retain spem entered my head. Realistically what are the chances they go ahead and lay eggs anyway using last years sperm. Last year was their first year breeding and only 3 total slugs from the one that double clutched one in her first two in her second.
I didn’t brumate them, but didn’t last year either.
If they are going to lay when should I see signs. They got a bit restless with the few bright sunny days we’ve had recently.
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I don’t think it’s super likely. If either of them stop eating, that’s a strong indication that they’re full of eggs. You could also just keep a lay box in the enclosures just in case. You also don’t have to incubate any eggs, even if they appear fertile. You can just put them into the freezer after they’re laid and then toss them out.
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Thanks, I assumed that was true but wanted to check with someone that had more experience.
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It’s one of those things which are technically possible, but you’d not be very likely to see it with your two girls. I don’t know of any actual scientific data for numbers, but it’s not likely at all. One or both may lay, regardless of whether or not they’ve retained sperm. I’ve had a few females over the years who would lay most years, whether or not they were paired. Generally the eggs were obvious slugs. Only one female actually produced four seemingly fertile eggs from retained sperm. One of those hatched.
Edit: you asked when you might see signs. With mine who laid slugs unpaired, it was usually around May - July, so right about when they’d have been laying had they been paired. YMMV of course.
@solarserpents is right, of course. If you’ve got too much going on to deal with incubation and babies, just freeze and dispose of any possibly fertile eggs if they do appear. Wishing you and your snakes the best of luck!
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