Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've noticed that an adult female cheynei I recently purchased has some swelling. When I purchased her, the previous owner advised that she had been mated once this season, so in theory was possibly gravid, but he believed her not to be. I was later of the opinion that she wasn't, since I could feel no eggs in my (brief and few) periods of handling her. On the other hand, I've never handled a gravid python before, so I might have missed it even if it was present.

As you can see in the attachment, the swelling is not big and you probably wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it--it's less noticeable if you look at her from a different angle. While you can only see that swelling in the photo, there looks to be a couple more around the same area, unless my eyes (and the eyes of others who have seen her in the flesh) are playing tricks on me/us.

The female also has the normal groove down her spine for a healthy python, except down the lower 1/2 (approximately, could even be only the lower 1/3) of her body, where there groove is not apparent.

I've also noticed a couple of scales in this area that are not quite sitting flat (there's no apparent injury and no way I can see that she COULD have injured herself here. Additionally, the scales are all perfect, just some of them are raised at the tip).

I might add that she has been fed, but has now passed it, so the slight swelling should not be food related. This female has a history of feeding right up until she lays, so the fact she is still eating isn't really indicative of anything at all.

She has also stopped hiding continuously and started basking almost continuously. The hide box is under the light, but until recently she was always IN the hide box (even when she was digesting), now she is always on top of the hidebox.

Anyway, I've sent a message to the previous owner asking his opinion, but I would like to hear from other experienced people also.

Do you think it's time to put in a lay box, just in case? She sloughed approximately two weeks ago, so I imagine if she IS going to drop, it would be some time within the next two weeks....

Thanks everyone!

alot of people post these pics trying to get a straight answer. Most of the time its impossible to tell from the pic. I recommend you let the female crawl between you hands, pinching her firmly but make her do the work and crawl through, just keeps you hands still. This is a way to palpate follicles...which i bet is what your circle points a... one follicle, or unfertilized ova which in some species is exactly the same size as a laid egg is, just before ovulation. Ovulation on the other hand, causes unmistakable swelling...if your not sure in my experinece thats because it wasnt ovulation or you just caught the very end of it. Anyhow, after ovulation, the follicles are in a totally different place- much closer to the tail- this is also unmistakable because the last egg usually sticks out as a relatively huge bulge. good luck...but unless youre sure just keep the male in there. Just before egg deposition there will be no mistake about it- so you will get time to prepare for the eggs at that point.

Hi there,

Thanks for your response.

I'm actually in Australia. Due to the seasonal differences, she was cycled and mated some time ago now, by the previous owner. It is too late now to put her back in with a male for this season, she is either gravid or not at this stage.

Given that she sloughed two weeks ago now, which would be her pre-lay slough IF she is gravid, I would be expecting eggs within the next two weeks.

What you said about the follicles does make me wonder though. To quote you, "this is also unmistakable because the last egg usually sticks out as a relatively huge bulge." That circled area in my photograph is one of several bulges and is both the last and most noticeable of them.

Thanks again.