Hello
I've suddenly become the keeper of about 50 grass snake eggs. The manure heap was being spread, and the eggs didn't stand a chance. I'm hoping to find another manure / compost heap in the area for them, but until then I've got them at home. I haven't kept snakes before... any advice would be very welcome.
I am trying to simulate natural conditions:
They're in a bucket on some material from the manure heap - and a light covering of the same stuff on top of them. I'm keeping this moist, and air can circulate.
I'm struggling to find information about optimum temperature ranges, and what is too hot or too cold. I'm moving the bucket around the house at the moment - keeping it between about 20 and 32 degrees. I think manure heaps can be warmer than this, but I don't want to make the eggs too warm.
And how much air circulation is required? And how damp does it all need to be? I don't want to go and buy incubators or anything, but happy to spend time trying to do what's best for them. I'm trying not to disturb them too much.
Obviously I don't know how old the eggs are. One egg was damaged before I found them, and the snake that came out was about 6 inches long. Does this give any clues about how long they've got left? I guess the eggs are likely to be different ages too.
I also don't know what to do if the eggs start to hatch while I've still got them! Will the young snakes need food? Water? Will they be able to climb out of a bucket? I don't want a house full of snakes - for their sakes and mine! What's best to put them in to transport them back home?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I've suddenly become the keeper of about 50 grass snake eggs. The manure heap was being spread, and the eggs didn't stand a chance. I'm hoping to find another manure / compost heap in the area for them, but until then I've got them at home. I haven't kept snakes before... any advice would be very welcome.
I am trying to simulate natural conditions:
They're in a bucket on some material from the manure heap - and a light covering of the same stuff on top of them. I'm keeping this moist, and air can circulate.
I'm struggling to find information about optimum temperature ranges, and what is too hot or too cold. I'm moving the bucket around the house at the moment - keeping it between about 20 and 32 degrees. I think manure heaps can be warmer than this, but I don't want to make the eggs too warm.
And how much air circulation is required? And how damp does it all need to be? I don't want to go and buy incubators or anything, but happy to spend time trying to do what's best for them. I'm trying not to disturb them too much.
Obviously I don't know how old the eggs are. One egg was damaged before I found them, and the snake that came out was about 6 inches long. Does this give any clues about how long they've got left? I guess the eggs are likely to be different ages too.
I also don't know what to do if the eggs start to hatch while I've still got them! Will the young snakes need food? Water? Will they be able to climb out of a bucket? I don't want a house full of snakes - for their sakes and mine! What's best to put them in to transport them back home?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
