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It happens to me too...

boaphile May 08, 2008 10:16 AM

It happens to me too.

I have this one Boa that just is not cooperating with me. Let me assure you, she read the book. I read it to her actually. She knows exactly how it is supposed to be done, but still, she insists on doing things her own way. Let me explain. This past December 25th I noted that she was really large with a pre-ovulation swelling. Then less than two weeks after that... BOOM! January 5th a gigantic ovulation! Eureka Right? Wrong. She didn't go into a shed. No shed = Not gravid right? Nope. I have had, oh... around five females I guess that have not had a POS over the years and still produced babies. I have not been able to blame this on anything in particular or have any idea why sometimes they don't have a POS. So, no ovulation means I am not removing the male right? Right. So the male stays. Once in a great while I saw him doing his thing. On again, off again, mostly off, he is lethargic compared to before. Still she does not go into a shed. So I feign patience and wait. I never observe a later ovulation. Finally she goes into a shed around March 15th and sheds March 23rd. This is 78 days after that ovulation I noted! So what happened? Within two weeks I observe that she is massive! Gigundous even! A huge fat beast. This is normally not seen until they are about half way or a little past half way through the gestation period. So I speculate that the shed on March 23rd was in fact an intermediate shed vs. a POS. I can make the educated decision right? I figured it out. I can do that. I'm Mr. Smarty Pants right? Right... I mean, yea right.

Here is one of the babies she made for me two years ago:

The baby above is in the middle of the picture below. She is a girl but I did get one pretty freaky male in that litter as well. He too is in the gooey picture below. He is the little fellow at the top of this picture below with the nice tail stripe, and he is the one who bred the female I am waiting on:

So now here we are, one day from the due date I predicted as the due date, based upon that huge ovulation I saw, but I don't know what to think. She is thinner and could have that litter any second. At least I think so. Then again, I suppose she could be due as late as July 6th! July 6th! Are you kidding me!? I can't wait that long! So when is she due? When are these puppies going to pop? When will I see some fruit from this little selective breeding project? When I ask... when? She is a bit thinner now. She is not staying on the heat as much as she once did. Both signs that it should be soon. But she is not making a nest yet. She isn't really looking around yet. Nothing. Give me a sign! It isn't happening. I guess it will be whenever she is good and ready. Still, it drives me crazy that I really have no idea when I'll see those kiddies.

I guess the moral of the story is this... I gotta get me an ultrasound!!!
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Replies (4)

southernboids May 08, 2008 12:06 PM

Odd you say that.. I was just emailing this week about Ultrasounds. BOY are they expensive!!!

I have seen cheaper ones but I keep hearing.. "you get what you pay for" I would guess that with the number of animals you have it would be a good purchase for you.

Me on the other hand.. it would just be an expensive gadget waiting for my few breeders to get ready.

I need to find smaller breeders like myself so we can get together and purchase a portable nice unit and send it back and forth. Much easier on the pocketbook!

Here is a link I found that sells ultrasounds and it is targeting Boa and Python breeders!!

Here is the page I found.. I would like to have one but WOW, $6500~

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Thanks
Shawn Morelan
www.Southernboids.com

ilovemylizard May 08, 2008 01:04 PM

Oh I feel you, Jeff, I really do...

I've got one that refuses to read the book too...same weird shed months after the 'witnessed' ovulation...

Either she is two months overdue, or due in 7 days (according to the shed)...or due whenever she pleases for her own personal amusement...LOL...I can't stand it anymore...I'm going to start losing my mind here

Those ultrasounds would sure be a handy gadget for sure...

Good luck on your gravid girl!
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Heather Martin
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voodoomagik May 08, 2008 01:58 PM

ha!
Sorry, Jeff!
Great looking project though and I'm with you on the ultrasound!
Aaron

amarilrose May 09, 2008 01:34 PM

If you just keep sitting there, biting your nails in anticipation, she's gonna drag it out for another two weeks just to watch you sweat!

Beautiful snakes. Best of luck to you for the outcome!
~Rebecca
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.1.1 Ball Pythons
[1.0.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1.0 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

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