Hey everyone,
Just wanted to get some input on what to do in the future with regards to premie baby boas.
I had the unfortunate opportunity to have my first "bad" litter a few days ago. One of my normal girls had her litter about 3 weeks premature. She did not look good throughout most of her gestation. Especially at the point when other females would "swell" up in the last month or so prior to parturition, she did not seem to "swell" up all that much. Anyway, at that point I kind of figured she'd have slugs. And I unfortunately was correct and she dropped 11 slugs and 7 premies with a lot of unabsorbed yolk. All the premies unfortunately died within hours of being born. My question is: was there anything I could've done to save them or give them a fighting chance at making it?
I've had nice healthy litters the last couple of years, and so this was a bummer to say the least. Again, this was my first "bad" litter and wasn't really prepared to deal with it, as far as knowing what to do with the premies. After I removed the mother from the enclosure, I left the babies alone for a while but they seemed to be going down hill from the get go. I sprayed them with lukewarm water, and I felt so bad for them that I put them in a plastic shoebox (yolk and all) and put them on some heat. I think this is where I made the mistake, but when I finally decided to move them I found that a few had already passed. Anyway, was there anything I could've done differently, or were these little guys doomed from the start being 3 weeks premature?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
One good thing I can take from this is finally seeing what a female looks like when she's going to have a "bad" or premature litter. She noticeably looked different from my other females that had healthy litters. And I at least know what to look for in a female that is going to "slug" out on me. I read other breeders saying that they feel a certain female is going to slug out, and have never really understood, until now, what to look for despite their descriptions. Now its time to look back and see what I did wrong during this girl's breeding and try to avoid the same mistake.
Again, I'd appreciate any helpful input. Good luck to the rest of you with the remainder of this boa breeding season.
Jay
