Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female Red Tail Boa that was returned to me after time with a male in January. She had been showing all signs of being gravid (the shed, the lack of appetite, the fat tail) and now in June, closing in on July, I'm curious what the chances are that she'd still have any babies. She recently ate a rabbit, but it had been several months since her last meal, and her tail is still bigger around than my calf.

From what I've read, the long term can be anywhere from 6 to 10 months depending on what website you visit, and we're creeping up on 7.

I'm getting mixed messages from my Red Tail! Anyone here have any advice or information?

Go from her Post ovulation shed date. Most females drop around 105 days, some stretch it out an extra week or so.
-----
loungelizard_us@yahoo.com

MySpace

Er, in addition to the previous message regarding the post ovulation shed countdown.... If you were wondering about her being gravid, a rabbit is a bit large of a meal for a female that you suspect is pregnant. Some folks don't feed at all, some don't need to... because many females will refuse food when gravid, others will feed small meals throughout the pregnancy... most stopping a couple weeks before they think she'll drop (this way you aren't causing premature birth while she passes a meal or otherwise).
Just my two cents, and it'll be easier to tell if she isn't eating as much, but gaining weight as well!
Steph S.
ps- good luck!

What is the date of the shed you identified as the "Post Ovulation Shed"?

Was there an additional shed after that Post Ovulation Shed? If so, what was that date?

I have talked with many people who have been beyond the 120 day point who upon further investigation, did in fact have an additional shed which was in actuality the real "Post Ovulation Shed" date. Those females subsequently gave birth right on schedule.

However, Boas do not know this schedule and will do whatever they do. Some do not have a Post Ovulation Shed at all. I have one gravid female due approximately August 1st myself this year that has not shed since about the beginning of February. I don't know the exact date as I was waiting for the Post Ovulation Shed. The longest I have had a female go from P.O.S. to birth is 126 days.
-----
Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

This helps me a lot. My first time breeding, and my female did have what I thought was a POS. She swelled for ovulation but shrank again and hasn't shown much swelling nor much weight loss, though does seem to thermoregulate and I used to catch her bundled up in a heat conservation position, though not lately.

Still no shedding after what I thought was the POS shed. Her due date was Friday the 15th. This Tuesday we had a big storm and I was hoping for babies then... no dice though she did deposit a shiny yellow urate that looks like it might be the 'waxy turd', though no poop was present.

I guess a lot of people are antsy about their first-time attempts and wondering if they are "really" gravid... I know I go back and forth from day to day "Naaah, she looks normal" etc.

Though a kind soul did link me to the Boaphile's 1996 Reptiles article, which helped too, though I hope my girl doesn't decide to go 126 days...
-----
Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 GTP

I think there was a shed between 1-2 months after we got her back (so February/March) which made us think she was on track. The person who had the male only told us it would take around 4 months (but most of his girls had slugs in their clutches). We have also previously witnessed her being stretched out on one side or the other seemingly heating (but have not seen lately). She had also been given back to us with a slight respirtory infection (which was remedied with a rise in temperature). So we're really unsure of what to think.

We fed her the rabbit thinking she was not gravid based on what we were reading in books and from the owner of the male (the four to eight months bit). However, she was close enough to the side of the tank to see her tail the other day, and we could see where the rabbit was, and where her tail got slightly fatter than that bulge (she's been too testy lately to pick up and check out). This being what spurred this post.

So if her POS was between February and March, she'd be getting ready to give birth any day now, correct? Or do we just have an unusually FAT tailed snake?

Is there anything we can add or remove from her tank to help her out if she is? I have been told 'birthing pans' (or laying pans? my jargon isn't very good) may help. I have also been told that having a higher humidity will help. I'm completely unsure of what I've is bull jive anymore though.

Long winded reply, just a little concerned about our snake!

I also was wondering WHERE do they get fat at? We had been told it would be mostly in her tail region (which it is) but the pictures I'm seeing of females are higher up (almost mid way). Are these just BIG boas? Or is that where she is supposed to be bloated?