Not the most auspicious start: TWO problem girls

Vent away! Honestly, who knows why these things happen. It could have absolutely nothing to do with you and it just happens to be the (bad) luck of the draw. The best you can do is keep an eye on everyone, do your best to relax and try to let them be while they do their mama things. You’ll know when they need help, you’ve got this under control!

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There is nothing you did wrong! Just from this post and your previous posts we all know you go above and beyond with your husbandry and care! Don’t beat yourself up about it. You have to be well too! I think it’s just a weird, strange season for you. Hopefully you won’t encounter anything close to this craziness in the future!

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Aww, y’all are so kind. :heartpulse: This community is such a balm to a worried heart. Thank you. I really do try my best by the fascinating, wonderful creatures in my care. It’s so hard to wait while they struggle.

Aria just had her evening soak. She’s still essentially the same. I guess that’s good. At least she’s holding her own. Dazzler hasn’t produced any more eggs but she’s made progress. I opened her bin and got her a drink and saw that the egg nearest her vent had moved down. This morning it was seven ventral scutes away from her vent. Now it’s right there, and I devoutly hope it’s ready to appear quite soon. Praying that by morning she’ll be un-stuck.

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Hoping to hear more positive news for Dazzler today! Have you tried feeding your girls a small meal? Idk if your vet asked you to fast in case of surgery, but I’d think if they take a feeding, might give them some more energy. There’s also the movement of the digestive system maybe encouraging other things to get moving?

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Happy to oblige! She did lay one more egg, which was about halfway dry this morning. I left it with her. Idk if she cared, but maybe it’ll be an inspiration. Others have moved along, and one looks very near the outside world. I gave her yet another long drink, and left her to proceed. She looks serious about it.

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Aria was out of her bin this morning. Nothing has moved, but she seems not to feel so miserable anymore. I’m sure she’s uncomfortable but I guess the meds have her feeling a bit better. She seems to appreciate her soaks. She doesn’t object, at any rate.

I haven’t yet, though I did think about it. Aria’s not supposed to be fed due to the possibility of surgery. If Dazzler doesn’t keep things going on her own today, she’ll get another swim and I’ll offer her a fuzzy. You’re right, the nutritional boost and the physical meal moving along can be helpful. Dazzler currently has that focused, “down to business” look they get in active labor, and the kind of squiggly body position.

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So glad to hear that Aria seems more comfortable and especially that Dazzler has restarted getting those eggs moving and out! With luck, you’ll be giving her a post-lay meal instead. Hopefully time will bring even more good news.

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I’m glad you have some good news today! Hopefully you have turned a corner and things will continue to improve for you! Also wanted to mention Aria looks very good still, condition wise to me!

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Thanks! It’s quite a relief to have some positive news. Dan and I ran a few errands, mostly just to keep me from itching to pester snakes. :laughing: Just got home and checked; Dazzler is continuing to make progress. She’s gotten another egg out and more have moved down. It’s not rapid progress but it’s progress so I’m happy. She has a ways to go as I’d felt something like 13 more when she took her break. She continues to drink well. Fingers crossed, prayers happening.

I love them all, but Dazzler is extra extra special to me; she was the sole hatchling from my first clutch. I dreamed of breeding, researched, selected her parents from Kathy Love. Kept dreaming while they grew, eventually got those first eggs. Several were slugs. Fought mold, then a fly invasion, lost all but one egg. Finally, the magic happened. I vividly recall the scintillant joy of the first sight of her sweet little red nose. Dazzler has been a classroom critter, educational outreach ambassador, mother, and well loved pet. So I’m thinking positive and planning to breathe a huge sigh of relief when she successfully finishes laying this clutch.

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Thanks for that! I’d be much happier if she had laid at least the aspirated/deflated egg down there by her vent, but her attitude seems to be at least somewhat encouraging.

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Cheering for Dazzler! C’mon mama, you can do it, get all the eggies out for a nice mousey reward :mega: :mouse2:

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Quick update before bed: Aria seems stable. She had had her evening soak. Still no movement of any eggs, though. I really wish there were, but at least she doesn’t behave as if she feels any worse. Dazzler has now produced three eggs today and the others are continuing to move down. She’s certainly not laying quickly, but she’s continuing to lay. I’m encouraged.

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Any updates today?

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Aria was out of her bin this morning. She’s clearing up from being blue. I was encouraged to see that lowest egg not already at her vent (hope that makes sense) had actually budged a teensy bit lower. Not much, but it’s the first movement in six days. I’d marked its position on her side with a Sharpie days ago so that I wouldn’t have to guess about progress, something I highly recommend doing.

When I checked this morning, Dazzler had another egg out and looked likely to lay another in minutes based on egg position and body movements. She was busy, didn’t want a drink, wanted to be left alone. So far she’s produced 10 eggs. A couple have “windows” despite all the supplemental calcium & D3, but they look viable. One has a translucent area right where the embryo is located. I tried to get a picture. The science geek in me finds this fascinating.

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I love to hear that there’s actually been progress, however small, with Aria! Perhaps she’ll manage to avoid surgery yet. Glad to hear that Dazzler is still focused on her job of getting the remaining eggs out, too. That’s a really cool egg photo! I hope the positive updates continue, we’re all cheering for you & your girls.

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Thank you for the support! I am very thankful to have this community. There are many who understand a human’s stress when their dog or cat or horse has health issues. Not so many who are sympathetic to the stress of a snake having problems. It’s truly a blessing to have a community who “gets it.”

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Speed update - Dazzler has at least two more eggs since morning! I looked through the side of her nest box with a flashlight before leaving the house. She’s definitely gotten back into gear.

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Amazing! Hopefully she keeps this pace up and you’ve got one less noodle to stress about soon.

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Sounds like good progress!

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Awesome news! Also I am glad most eggs from dazzler seem viable, great to hear! One year I had a first time bp lay only 3 eggs, I thought what a small clutch but didn’t feel or see any other eggs. She ate in a couple weeks. She went in to blue shortly after and then shed, pooped, and also “layed 2 real small obviously slugs! So hopefully after aria sheds maybe she will surprise you with the rest of the eggs! I know it’s not the exact same circumstances, but one can hope! Thanks for the update, everyone is still rooting for you and your girls!

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