Seventy percent of snake species develop and lay eggs, while the other thirty percent give live birth. You may come across snake eggs in your garden, out on nature walks, in a pet store, or in your own reptile’s enclosure!
But what exactly do snake eggs look like? In this guide we look at how you can tell the difference between snake eggs and other reptile eggs. Plus we share some tips on how to handle snake eggs.
Key Takeaway
Commonly, snake eggs are white or off-white in color, though some species may lay eggs which are slightly yellow, brown, or even pink. The eggs are usually soft and pliable so they can stretch as the embryos grow.
The eggs of snakes are very obviously not chicken or other bird eggs. They are soft, leathery, and oblong instead of hard, smooth, and round.
Learn more about the differences between snake eggs vs lizard eggs.
What Does a Snake Egg Look Like?
Use our handy table below to identify some common types of snake eggs:
| Species | Egg Appearance |
|---|---|
| Ball Python | Smooth, leathery, off-white to beige color |
| African Python | Large, hard-shelled, elongated, white |
| Corn Snake | Elongated, white or slightly yellowish color |
| King Snake | Elongated, white or cream-colored |
| Boa Constrictor | Large, elliptical, creamy or off-white color |
| Rattlesnake | Elongated, slightly rough, pale color |
| Garter Snake | Small, elongated, creamy white or yellowish |
| Milk Snake | Elongated, white or pale yellow |
| Python | Elongated, leathery, creamy or yellowish |
| Black Snake | Oblong, creamy white |
| Brown Snake | Elongated, creamy white |
| Grass Snake | Small, elongated, creamy white |
| Pine Snake | Small, oval, creamy white |
Reptile eggs, on the other hand, look and feel very different. They are also found in very unique types of nests. Below are some simple techniques you can use for snake eggs identification.
Where Do Snakes Lay Eggs
The location of the eggs will help you identify whether they belong to a snake.
Snakes usually lay their eggs in loose soil or leaf litter. The soil or leaf litter then acts as a natural incubator and keeps the eggs at a specific temperature. You won’t find a snake’s eggs in a tree or in a birdhouse.
The soil also acts as an additional layer of protection against egg-eating predators, such as other snakes or rats, and the elements such as temperature drops, rain, and intense heat.
Some snake species like Pine Snake will lay their eggs under rocks, logs or in sandy burrows.
The only exception is arboreal snakes like green tree pythons which will often lay eggs in trees or even should be given a dry nestbox in which to lay eggs.
Texture of Snake Eggs
Snake eggs have a soft and leathery texture, unlike bird eggs, which have thin yet hard shells.
Snake eggs have a semi-permeable membrane, which means water can get through the shell. As the baby snake grows inside the shell, this rubbery texture absorbs water, resulting in the egg swelling slightly at first and then slowly growing larger.
Snake Egg Shape
Snake eggs are typically oblong; they kind of look like an overgrown Tic Tacs or grains of rice! Although some Asian and African snake eggs are a little bumpy like a ginger root.
By comparison, bird eggs are usually round with a narrow point at one end.
Snakes’ eggs are an oval shape and are the same width all the way along the egg with rounded ends on both sides.
Interestingly, this is one of the most telling indicators that birds are the descendants of dinosaurs and not reptiles! Dinosaurs and birds have similar egg and embryonic structures!
Learn about the differences between snake eggs vs turtle eggs.
Color of Snake Eggs
Snake eggs are almost always white, off-white, or a cream color. Snake eggs do not generally have patterns on them. However, if they have come in contact with plant matter that can stain its surroundings, then some of that ‘natural dye’ may transfer to the gg and give it a mottled look.
Snake eggs that are blue, green, dark yellow, or brown usually contain dead embryos that are decomposing. These eggs might have also been infected with a mold that caused them to die.
If you spot an off-color egg in a clutch of snake eggs, make sure you remove it ASAP to avoid contamination with the other healthy eggs.
Snake Egg Size
The biggest differentiator between snake eggs and other reptile or even chicken eggs is size. Most reptiles will lay eggs that are around the one-inch mark or even smaller.
Snakes will lay eggs that are between one inch and five inches long! Here is our quick guide to common snakes eggs sizes:
| Species | Average Egg Size Range (Length) |
|---|---|
| Ball Python eggs | 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) |
| African Python Snake eggs | 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) |
| Corn Snake eggs | 0.75 to 1 inch (1.9 to 2.5 cm) |
| King Snake eggs | 0.75 to 1.5 inches (1.9 to 3.8 cm) |
| Boa Constrictor eggs | 2.5 to 3.5 inches (6.4 to 8.9 cm) |
| Rattlesnake eggs | 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 cm) |
| Garter Snake eggs | 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) |
| Milk Snake eggs | 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) |
| Python eggs | 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) |
| Black Snake eggs | 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 cm) |
| Brown Snakes eggs | 2 inches (5 cm) |
| Grass Snakes eggs | 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8cm) |
| Pine Snakes eggs | 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8cm) |
However, an adult corn snake will lay eggs that are only one to two inches in length.
How Snakes Reproduce
1. Viviparous (Live birth). Such as garter snakes and water snakes
2. Oviparous (Lay eggs), such as corn snakes and pythons
3. Oviviparous (A combination of live birth and laying eggs).
70% of snakes lay eggs, however, snakes in colder climates like North America are more likely to have live births becuase the cold termperatures would prevent eggs from hatching.
It’s important to know how your snake reproduces so you can make sure you’re prepared for any potential snake babies!
When Do Snakes Mate?
Snakes reach sexual maturity and become ready for mating between the ages of 2 and 3 years old, although some may need until they are 4 or 5 years old.
Adult snakes usually mate during the spring and summer when its warmer as it helps to keep the eggs at a warm termperature. However, snakes in tropical climates often mate all year round.
How Do Snakes Mate?
When female snakes are ready to mate they release pheromones to attract male snakes. THen there will be a courtship and if the female snake is willing the male will then extend his hemipenes to fertilize the eggs inside the female snake.
There are also some snakes that can reproduce asexually. This usually happens when a female snake is unable to find a male snake in the wild to mate with.
Examples of snakes that produce asexually include water snakes, copperheads, pit vipers and some boa snakes.
What Happens After Fertilisation
Once mating is complete, the eggs will develop inside the female snake.
After about a month, the female snake will lay her eggs and the eggs will be covered in a thin mucus to keep them together. The incubation period for most snakes ranges from 55 to 60 days.
Some snakes, such as pythons and boas. will stay with the eggs to protect them and keep them wrm until birth but many snakes leave their eggs as soon as they are hatched.
Snakes lay on average around 30 eggs, although depending on the species they can lay anywhere between 1 and 100 fertilized eggs. Often not all the eggs will hatch if the temperature isn’t warm enough of if they are not properly fertilized.
Snake Egg Identification Through Candling
Identifying the species of a snake solely based on the appearance and feel of its egg is almost impossible, even for snake experts! The differences in the eggs are so minute and difficult to spot that most pros are unable to definitively say what kind of snake it is until it hatches.
Candling is one method that can be used to help determine the health, size, and if the embryo is alive is known. Some very experienced professionals and reptile experts are able to use the candling method to identify the species of snake or to simply determine if the embryos are viable.
This is how you candle a snake egg:
- Have a bright light source on hand in a very dim room, like a flashlight or lamp
- Take the snake egg gently out of its nest and hold it up to the light
- Do not shake the egg or turn it upside down; instead, move the light source around the egg
- With the light shining through the egg, you should be able to make out some characteristics
- Do not hold the egg too close to the light for too long, as you may damage the embryo
Handling and Identifying Snake Eggs: Do’s and Don’ts
It is very exciting to find a clutch of eggs, however many baby snakes die because people do not know how to handle the eggs properly.
Do:
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching snake eggs
- Keep an eye out for mommy snake! Snakes are not generally protective of their eggs, but you do not want to tempt fate
- Place the egg back in the original position once you are done looking at it
- If you are returning the egg to the ground, place it at the same depth you found it
Don’t:
Snake eggs are very delicate. The smallest bump can damage the egg and yolk sac enough to kill the baby inside.
- Do not squeeze the egg
- Do not turn the egg upside down
- Do not drop the egg
- Do not hold the egg for a long period of time
- Do not pull eggs apart if they are stuck together
FAQs About Snake Eggs
Can You Eat Snake Eggs?
Snake eggs are delicacies in many parts of the world. They need to be cooked slightly differently to duck and chicken eggs. However, many people consider them a delicious and unique experience!
Are Venomous Snakes Able to Hurt You as Soon as They Hatch?
Venomous snakes are able to kill people from the moment they hatch! Baby venomous snakes are not more venomous than adults; however, they have not learned how to moderate their venom output when they bite, so they use all of their venom in one go, which is often fatal.
The only venomous species that lays eggs in the USA is the coral snake.
How Do Baby Snakes Get Out of Their Eggs?
Baby snakes have something called an ‘egg tooth’ on the tip of their snout. This ‘tooth’ is hard and used to slice open the leathery egg shell so that the snake can slither out. These ‘egg teeth’ fall off shortly after the snake hatches.
Are Snake Eggs Hard or Soft?
Snake do not have hard-shelled eggs like birds. Snake eggs are slightly soft and stretchy, just like many lizard eggs.
Are Snake Eggs Sticky?
Snake eggs are covered in mucus when they are freshly hatched. This means they often stick together if they are touching. This does not harm the snakes as they develop. However, if they are pulled apart once they have stuck together, the egg shell will be ripped, and the snake will die.
If you are removing eggs from your snake’s enclosure, then make sure to do it carefully, and do not pull any eggs apart.
Conclusion
Many snakes lay eggs, and it takes work to identify them and differentiate them from birds’ eggs and other reptile eggs. Snake eggs look different from other eggs. They are bigger than most other reptiles’ eggs, and depending on the species, they can even be a lot bigger than most bird eggs!
Snake eggs are a whitish color and have a soft shell that is leathery to the touch. These oblong, Tic Tac-shaped eggs are very delicate and vulnerable to predation and the elements. This is why you will mostly find them underground or buried in moist, protective leaf litter.
Identifying the species of snake from their egg is almost impossible, and candling can be used to narrow down the list of suspected snake species. However, professionals even find this incredibly difficult, so don’t sweat it if you aren’t sure!
Good luck in identifying eggs as snake eggs that you find on your nature walks, hikes, in your garden (lucky!), or your local pet shop!
