Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone - I've started to use an ultrasound this year for my BPs and was hopeful that other people would share some of their data. In particular, I was hoping to get some info on the following:

1) when do you start to pair BPs based on follicle size? I generally start around 10mm.
2) how rapidly you've discovered follicles grow in BPs? Mine seem to vary A LOT - some stay at the same size for several weeks where-as others grow >10mm/month.
3) when do you find is the optimum time for introducing males for best fertility? My males in general show more interest as the follicles gradually grow from 10mm up to ~30mm.
4) what is the follicle diameter at ovulation? Seems to be ~45mm?

Any and all information would be really appreciated, and happy new year!!!
TIA, Ryan

Ryan,
I have been using ultrasound for about 3 years and my findings correlate closely with yours with respect to size, growth rates, & size at ovulation. I have been waiting to place males with females until follicles get close to 20mm, however I have noticed that some females will grow follicles up to 15 - 20 mm and then stop and they reabsorb them. I don't know whether these are females that wouldn't have gone anyway or if they would have gone if they were put with a male. For the rest of the year I think the 30 or so females that I have not placed with males yet that I will start putting a male in with them earlier to see if this makes a difference.
Another thing that ultrasound has confirmed is that while generally the majority of females start the process and grow follciles in the fall and early winter, there is a pretty good percentage that are ready to breed at other times. I have had females lay clutches in 10 of the 12 months of the year.
Finally, I have found that I only need to breed a female 2-3 times using ultrasound. I breed the first time when follicles are approaching 20mm and then once a month after that until follicles are >30mm.
Good luck
Grant

Thanks, Grant, great info. Most of my females now are either not developing (5mm) or in the 10-15mm range. I have a small number aready 20-25mm and they should be early this year.

I had quite a number resorb also last year - some were even at 25mm and I thought great. Then a few weeks later down to 20mm, and then, well, you know the story

Hope you have a good season.
Ryan

What kind of ultrasounds are you guys using and where did you purchase them?
Thanks Mike

Mike,
I work in the healthcare field and have some experience in ultrasound. I obtained a used a medical ultrasound unit. Visualizing follicles and eggs is actually pretty easy and doesn't require a high end machine. Most any ultrasound unit will do as long as it has the capability to utilize a linear probe. I use an external probe with conducting gel (stuff like KY jelly), but others use a waterproof probe with their snakes in water. For balls the best probe frequency is 5mhtz to 7.5mhtz linear probe. For retics I find a 3.5mhtz - 5mhtz probe works best.
Grant Whitmer

Thanks!

What can someone expect to pay for an ultrasound and where should you look to get one? Any particular models to look for?

Thanks!