Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone, I have a question.

I received an unwanted female, age unknown, of considerable size, " 6'+ and BEEFY". Well the guy I got her from said she was housed with a redtail at the previous owners property and they we're seen mating. Now I know that one is a live bearer versus the egg-laying of balls. But for the last week she's been laying inverted. COMPLETELY inverted. Her body tenses up in certain spots, and then releases. I've read that this is a habit of a gravid female. But I guess my real question is. What should I be doing......

I have her in a large sterilite, with belly heat. Humidity is around 70 "I'm in South Fl, it's always humid...". My husbandry is up to par, I've kept my oldest going on 14 years now, and I have several other morphs that I've acquired through the years. It's just this has me perplexed.

She shed about a month ago, and hasn't wanted anything to eat since about a week before that.

ANY help qwould be greatly appreciated.

I know I'm a little here and there with my explination, but it's 2am and I just got off work........

Sounds like one of those shows on the Sci-Fi network.

Boa/Cat

Thats funny right there

I would probably be slightly more concerned with her having a possibly contagious disease from the boa than being gravid from it. It's quite well known that boas pass around certain diseases, like IBD, of which they may not be symptomatic for a very long time (years) yet the same disease can very quickly kill ball pythons. I would be sure to keep her separate from your other snakes if you have any until you're sure what's wrong or not.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

I figured there may be a chance for infection. So since I got her she's been on the other end of the house in a very secluded spot. I also don't cross contaminate with anything such and waterbowls, hemo's.....

About the hot spot's. The cold is usually 70-75, and the warm is around 85-90. With a nice even gradient inbetween. I guess I'll have to take her in and see if this doesn't clear up.

Balls of all sexes will lay inverted - check to make sure her tub and hot spot are not too hot.

Also it is possible that the breeding did make her develop her follicles some have even been known to do a "false pregnancy thing" and you might even get eggs - however it is highly unlikely that they will be fertile.

But as mentioned you might be dealing with something else entirely as boas and balls kept together can make each other sick just by the different natural bacterias that they contain as well as the hidden threat of IBD. Hopefully you have kept her quarantined.

Good luck!
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Tosha

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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles