Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone - I will be trying to breed BRBs for the first time this year and was hopeful that someone could provide some ultrasound data for follicular growth in these snakes.

I have used my ultrasound for ball pythons and was wondering if anyone had used one for tracking BRBs? The sort of questions I have are how rapidly follicles grow in BRBs, when is the best time for pairing based on follicle size, follicle diameter at ovulation, etc.

Any and all information would be really appreciated!

Happy new year!!!
TIA, Ryan

This sounds very interesting. I think Bryan Hummel of rainbowboas.com has done a little work related to this topic.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Ryan,
....I love playing with ultrsounds and I love playing with snakes but I have never played with a snake with an ultrasound. What kind of transducer are you using and what kind of ultrasound machine? I know some people have had problems with transducers being too large to get a good gel/sonic seal with the snake. Same as the problem trying to use a typical large flat stethoscope on a snake. I have lost a few gravid Rainbow Boas over the years and I always open them up to see what I can learn. I have never lost a gravid one that was not to the point where the egg masses were large (ping pong ball size) and already moved into and spread along the oviducts. I do not know what size the follicles are and how quickly they grow in size. My guess is that females are receptive even before the follicles have passed into the oviducts and are still very small. My females usually do not have palpable egg masses until several weeks after first observed matings.
Jeff

>>Hi everyone - I will be trying to breed BRBs for the first time this year and was hopeful that someone could provide some ultrasound data for follicular growth in these snakes.
>>
>>I have used my ultrasound for ball pythons and was wondering if anyone had used one for tracking BRBs? The sort of questions I have are how rapidly follicles grow in BRBs, when is the best time for pairing based on follicle size, follicle diameter at ovulation, etc.
>>
>>Any and all information would be really appreciated!
>>
>>Happy new year!!!
>>TIA, Ryan

Thanks for the comments. I'll update the forum as I get some data assuming the females start to develop follicles.

Jeff - I'm using a linear 7.5mHz probe, although I can't recall the make/model of the ultrasound. I believe it is an ex-medical system. I haven't tried using any kind of gel on the probe, I just submerge the snake and probe in warm water (obviously the probe is waterproof).

Regards, Ryan

Ryan,
...Thanks and please do keep us updated. Sorry I did not have any more specific information for you to work with.
Jeff

>>Thanks for the comments. I'll update the forum as I get some data assuming the females start to develop follicles.
>>
>>Jeff - I'm using a linear 7.5mHz probe, although I can't recall the make/model of the ultrasound. I believe it is an ex-medical system. I haven't tried using any kind of gel on the probe, I just submerge the snake and probe in warm water (obviously the probe is waterproof).
>>
>>Regards, Ryan