Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there!

I hope everyone is doing well in the beginning of the breeding season!

Here is my story so far:

I put 1.1 together on 1st of september, she was obviously developing follicles.

The male tried to mate immediately, but had visual succes after two months. I observed some swelling and this week she ovulated IMO. She was on the heat mat, which is beneath her hiding place. So I couldnt see it very well, but saw muscle contractions...

But here is the Q:

I always check the bodytemps, and I observed something that makes me wonder. Her bodytemperatures are normally around 80F, during the probable ovulation and two days after it was 88-90F. So thats normal I think.

Right now, the 3rd day after ovulating, she doesnt stay on the hotspot, and her bodytemps lowered back to 80F. So that makes me wonder:

How long does it take after the ovulation for the female to thermoregulate?

And another sub Q:

When does the actual fertillization take place? It must be after the ovulation for sure, but is it immidiatly after, or is it possible that it takes a few days/weeks?

I hope you can tell me, thanks!

np

I think your misunderstanding what thermoregulation means. Your Boa(s) should be thermoregulating every day, gravid or not. So I think that you may want to re-phrase the question?

Hi,

Ok sorry for that misunderstanding. I am Dutch, so that's why I probably don't know exactly what this means.

I used "thermoregulating" because I read it in several breeding sheets. They call it in a phrase like: "she is thermoregulating like clockwork". I thought it meant she kept her body temp constant at 90F.

But maybe I am wrong. I think this breeding has a good chance to work, because all the conditions are perfect. She has NTL of 75F and ambient daytemp of 82F, and a permanent (day&night) hotspot of 90F.

I bred boa's before, but didn't observate and noted all this things, and I am trying to make a good sheet, after this breeding...

I hope someone can explain me the theory of this breeding state.

Thanks!

The fertilization takes place during ovulation. That's actually what the ovulation is all about, from what I've been taught.
Boa are sperm retainers, like many other animals. Sperm is stored during mating. After follicular development, she'll move them in to be fertilized. That's the ovulation.

Soon the male will lose all interest. Just offer her a warm spot, nature will do the rest. They been doing it a long time without human help.

Good luck!
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

Thanks for your reply,

Ok this answers my Sub Q, but according to that... She must higher her bodytemp during ovulation and keep it at 90F after the whole time, because she is gravid after that. But: She was 90F during ovulation, but lowered 2 days afer...

This could mean 4 things:

#1 The OVA didnt fertilize, so no 90F needed-> slugs
#2 She is in the beginning of gestation and doesn't need to be at 90F the whole time, and still have fertilized OVA-> babies

#3 This still wasn't the real ovulation, but a huge pre-ovulation, and I am still waiting for the real thing...

#4 She has had her first ovualtion, and is preparing for the second one?

NOTE: This morning they were copulating again... That assumes option #3 must be true?!

Please help

I don't think her body temperature HAS to be 90 degrees to indicate that she had a successful ovulation.

Most people watch for the series of swellings and then the post-ovulation shed...

I have heard that some boas, at some points when they are gravid, exhibit higher body temperatures but I don't know that it's always true.

I had a female suriname that "faked" being gravid last year, and had 88 degree body temps, so body temperature may not be a guarantee of anything.

It is not an exact science, but I applaud you for keeping good records! Good luck with the pairing.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa

Thanks for your reply!

If she doesn't have to higher her bodytemps immediate, I have pretty good chances

Thanks.

I've never witnessed or heard of a Boa ovulating twice. I've witnessed, and heard of them developing the follicles, first on one side, than on the other side later on, creating two independent swells, than an ovulation later for a third swell.

Maybe the second swell was mistaken for an ovulation???

A question about the temps....You think a Boa in the wild will manage to reach and maintain those kind of temps?
I don't think it's quite the exact science you're trying to achieve. I think each female will differ from the other.

My 2¢
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

I have heard of double ovulation swell before, though maybe I'm mistaken.

I thought it was one pre-ovulation swell, and then possibly two ovulation swells. Since we're talking about two oviducts, it could very well be the case that there could be two of each type of swells.

I'm sure experienced breeders could chime in there... but until after ovulation, I thought the eggs are still housed within one of the two oviducts, and might not react at the same time. I'm not sure though.

For some reason that brought popcorn popping to my mind... time for coffee to wake up completely.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa

Could be you are right. I'm far from a pro on the subject. I'm basing my opinion on what I've observed, and conversations with my Vet about Boa Breeding. I've never asked him or anyone directly about a dbl ovulation though.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices