Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok I have a female that has locked up, then ate a few days later...no big deal right? well now she's clearly gravid as her lower half has swolen, but she took a rat a few days ago...does this mean anything? should I keep offering her food if she takes it?

it means she is going to poop.

If what comes out is not white in appearance, I wouldn't incubate it.

And I don't think Ballzy means urates . How long ago did they lock up? I think it's still too early for an ovulation. These things take time.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

The timeline from locks to ovulation to laying is a lot longer than just a few days. I think you should read this...

www.ballpythons.ca/gallery/breeding.html

After you see copulations, the next step will be ovulation -- only after that has happened will she become gravid, not before. So until then, they generally keep eating (all of mine did last year). When they are gravid, they don't generally look fat or noticeable until the very very end when they brighten up and their backbone becomes prominent as their bellies descend, right before they lay. The reason for this is that they don't gain weight -- they replace body mass with egg mass, almost gram for gram. My girls last year remained at the same weight throughout the entire breeding season (maybe 2 grams difference), then when they laid their eggs, the weight of the clutch was exactly the same as the weight they had dropped. It's a very efficient process and is also why it is so taxing on the female.

Give it time, and be persistent -- she'll get there.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

well she only ate a small rat...I'll get some pics tonight for you guys and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about, its been a few weeks sine they were locked. I was told before I got her a few months back she had locked up with a normal male, but a few weeks back she locked up with my mojo, trust me its no poop...she's either gravid or has some wierd parasite thats making her swell, I'll update you guys later tonight. funny story though, I did run into a guy in a pet shop once that said his female ball (he said she was about a foot long) laid an egg when she was in the bath tub...I told him what it was but I thought about telling him to incubate it and see what happens...lol

If she hasn't ovulated, then she isn't gravid. Her swelling may be leading to ovulation, but trust me, it is unmistakable when it happens.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors