I have a female corn, was not cycled. She was in with a male, and laid 23 eggs, most of which were not fertile, or went bad fairly quickly. I never placed her back with that male. I did place a male prairie king with her, but that only lasted for one day, as he tried to eat her the next day. I went to feed her today, and there were eggs again (18). They had to have been laid in the past week, I don't think they are any good, as they were starting to shrivel from no humidity. I went ahead and put the ones that weren't too bad in the incubator just in case. My questions is, did she retain sperm from the first breeding, or is it possible that the prairie king mated with her in one night? I really hope I can save a couple of the eggs, just to see what hatches out.

Female Corns snakes can retain sperm from a mating. This is how people get surprise double clutches, like you. Take the ones that you have in the incu, and make sure that you re-hydrate them well, and hope for the best. Good luck.

Paul

Yes corns can retain sperm so it is very likely that she could have laid these eggs from her first mating with the male corn. However, it is also possible that she could have been mated with by the king - you wouldn't know for sure unless any eggs hatched.

If you are successful with any of the eggs then you need to be sure of the father as you will need to advise any buyers of hybrids, that is the cross between the corn and king.

I am a little concerned about a couple of things:
1) you must be careful when breeding kings - they are known cannibals. Now I have never bred kings so I can't talk from experience but it is my belief that when they are in breeding mode they are unlikely to eat other snakes. Nevertheless you should be extremely cautious and perhaps should have not left the snakes unattended. They will breed fairly quickly usually and keeping an eye on them and then separating again is probably your best bet. It could have very easily ended up as a much worse ending.

2) With many reptiles ourselves, we don't get to handle and check the snakes every day. I do tend to look into each enclosure daily though to make sure everything is ok, that they haven't soiled etc, and we clean, change waters when needed, and feed once a week. But you seem unsure as to when the snake could have laid these eggs - within the last week.. perhaps you need to consider just quickly checking on her more often. Having had a recent bad experience ourselves, you need to take careful notes when it comes to breeding, as without a lay box you could have easily ended up with an egg-bound snake.

Good luck with the eggs - you didn't say how long ago you had the king in with the corn?: that could help you with the identification of the father.?

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