I have collected a fair amount of data on the weight loss of female boas and pythons during reproduction. The best subjects are live-bearing boids because it is easier to control, and subsequently measure, the different aspects of the process. My best data comes from several successful reproductive efforts with green anacondas. I take initial weights shortly before ovulation. At the time of birth, I weigh all of the young and any slugs, weigh the newspaper substrate and all the accompanying fluids and subtract from the initial newspaper weight, and take the final weight of the female. I cannot account for any evaporative fluid losses immediately following birth, but I have calculated that these are not that significant.

There is always a net loss in weight of the female that cannot be accounted for. I usually see a total weight loss of 25 to 35% but there is typically about a 5% loss that does not include the combined weight of the fluid, slug, and egg mass. This 5% is the metabolic energy loss by the female with regards to maintenance of standard biological processes and the conversion of body mass into the production of the egg mass. So there is always going to be a slight net metabolic weight loss by the female throughout the period that she is gravid.

Kelly

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