What is this? - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

What is this?	Reply
by roadkruzer on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I have a copperhead and a cotonmouth that are both kept together in the same encloure. I have had them for about 2 years and both snakes are healthy and eating well. I recently found an egg like object in the water bowl. It is about the same shape size and color of a snake egg. But, I know these snakes are ovoviparous. I broke the unknown object open which then busted like a puss filled balloon. A few days later I discovered another object in the water bowl which was the same shape and size as the first object except this one was amber colored and almost transparent. In all, over a 2 week period, I found 2 of the white objects and 3 of the amber colored objects in the water bowl several days apart. Sorry, I didn't take a photo but will if any more show up. I have no idea what these could possibly be. Has anyone ever heard of this?

RE: What is this?	Reply
by thenewdisciple on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
my guess is feces... thats just my guess though, there is no way they could lay eggs, as you know.

RE: What is this?	Reply
by Chance on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Sounds like what they may have been were unfertilized or improperly developed ova expelled from the female. Are the two snakes different sexes? Copperheads and cottonmouths are known to be able to hybridize in captivity, but I've heard it can be tricky to get a successful clutch. If your snakes are male and female, what likely happened is that they bred and the female began to develop her ova ('eggs'), but one way or another they weren't compatable and they were either unfertilized or malformed. In the herp world, these are referred to as "slugs," and can be produced by both egg-laying and live-bearing species. These are generally what resorts when a hybrid is attempted, and often multiple tries are needed to get even a few living babies. Did you happen to take any pictures of them? -Chance

RE: What is this?	Reply
by LarryDFishel on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Unfertilized ova. Early stages of viviparous snake embryos are basically the same as oviparous ones, and if they are not fertilized (or fail to develop) the result is a "slug" which looks just like the unfertilize egg of an egg-laying snake. We've had a pigmy and a western diamondback drop slugs recently (neither had been housed with a male).

RE: What is this?	Reply
by roadkruzer on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I did not think about taking pictures until after I discarded them. I also am not sure of the sexes of the snakes, but an undeveloped embyo may have been what I saw. Thanks to all who replied.

RE: What is this?	Reply
by thenewdisciple on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
i always thought undeveloped embryos were blobs, not hard especially in live bearers.

RE: What is this?	Reply
by roadkruzer on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
The two white objects were soft but the three amber colored ones were more tough.

RE: What is this?	Reply
by LarryDFishel on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
They may or may not be hard when laid, but they will turn hard (and darker) in fairly short order.

RE: What is this?	Reply
by thenewdisciple on November 3, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
i think he said they were in the water bowl

RE: What is this?	Reply
by Americanvenom on November 5, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Both Larry and Chance are 100% correct. Not uncommon. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe eventually or after the next breeding season the female will drop healthly offspring for you.

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