Western yellow bellied racer layed eggs....HELP?

Question

6 days ago my husband caught a 30 inch snake for my boy who loves snakes. He thought it was a gopher snake, but I did not agree. I began researching and I am positive I have Colubrus mormon. In my research I learned that if they have mated in the spring a female will lay in mid July.. I immediately began to worry. I thought she looked like a female, and she seemed to be fat with 4 lumps. I tried to make a suitable habitat for her to lay her eggs. Today she layed 4 eggs, in her water dish. From what I have read I should incubate the eggs in damp vermiculite in box or something and keep the humidity at 80-100%, temp at about 80. Is this correct? It is so dry here in Utah, I am surprised they need so much humidity.

Answer 1

If the eggs were laid in water, they are probably no good. Snakes in captivity will lay their eggs in the water dish often if no nesting box is provided, which usually kills the egg. And a racer is a horrible pet. They are usually extremely aggressive, feed poorly in captivity, and usually die quickly in captivity. They are often loaded with parasites because of the wide variety of foods they eat in the wild. I would consider letting it go and buying something which would make a better pet. I have over 150 snakes and consider myself to be experienced and I have tried keeping yellowbellied racers in the past with poor results. They are a very difficult snake to keep in captivity. Gopher snakes, on the other hand, are great snakes. I have four of them myself.

Answer 2

YOUR HUSBAND SHOULD HAVE NEVER REMOVED A SNAKE FROM THE WILD!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to incubate the eggs could be an issue. The eggs must not be rolled in any way, you need to mark the top and keep it in that position otherwise you will kill the babies inside. The shells need to stay moist in order to grow with the snakes inside. Get some pearlite and add water place the eggs most of the way down in the pearlite, you must keep the temperature in the mid 80's place cover on the top to keep the humidity in lift the cover every other day to allow fresh air and to ensure temperature and humidity.

They all need to be released back to the wild!!!!!!!!!!!