Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know everyone is all wound up about the half-time revelation ;p LOL! However, I need experienced eyes to tell me I'm seeing what I always miss...
This female was with my albino male for months... no action witnessed. She did at some point look somewhat fat so I removed her and the anery female to their own cage about a month ago, maybe a little more. When it was apparent that the she, the hypo female, wasn't gaining any girth I decided she was definitely not gravid and fed her two medium/large rats. This was four days ago. While digesting I kept her in one of my spare male tubs, since they are heated.. unlike my normal holding tubs for a few days. I went to move her back in with the male for another try, and I found her swollen as if she'd eaten a long football. Am I correct in assuming this is ovulation? The rats should be fairly digested at 3-4 days... I highly doubt this is 'rat gas!' I've never seen her swell like this at any point after a meal before... not this big anyway!
Here are the pictures of her, I put her back in her larger cage with my male albino just in case... As for sperm retention, should I be more worried that she'll slug out, since she hasn't seen him for over a month and is only just now (possibly) ovulating??
Please bear in mind, that I've never actually caught ovulation before... so I may be way off! ;p
Thanks guys...
This is Scarlet... or Blimpie... whatever works for you!



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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang.)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

OK, I really don't know, but I think that swelling is the rats you fed her.

I do think she's pregnant though. I think that she's already full of babies and that's why the rats made such a large swelling 4 days after she's eaten. It seems to take them longer to digest, even a small meal, when they're pregnant.

The only reason I think this is, because I had a female do exactly the same thing this season. She swelled up pretty HUGE after a meal of 1 medium rat.

So, if she had what might have been a POS of ovulation earlier this year....... Try to figure out when she would be due. Then don't offer her food 6 weeks prior to that date.

She's a BEAUTIFUL girl. I hope she gives you a TON of babies.

Thanks for the reply!
I keep track of all my shed cycles, this is my 3rd year breeding and I've ALWAYS missed ovulation somehow!? The other female is already showing and this one has kept a pretty lean look. I do not normally feed much at all during gestation, but she was starting to look rather lean and leering at me for food... I've NEVER seen one of my boas this big, ever! I noticed it immediately and wondered, because I am careful not to overfeed my boas...
I would be happy if your assumptions were correct though! A little worried about her eating two rats and swelling that big may hurt whatever offspring are in development... but I'll keep an eye on her regardless! Thanks for the input... it's amazing how much you learn about these snakes, even after keeping them for years, they always surprise you!
Thanks for the compliments too!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang.)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

If she's already pregnant the feeding shouldn't hurt the babies. I feed my boas small meals thoughout their gestation.

Since you've never seen her this large before, you should probably put the male back in. Just to make sure you cover all the bases.

Since you never see the ovulations... It would be a good idea if you got a fetal doppler. You can get them on Ebay. They cost between 120 to 150 dollars. The 3Mhz ones are best. The brand doesn't matter. With them you can hear the heartbeats of the unborn babies. They can be heard 8 to 10 weeks before the female gives birth. Hearing them this early takes practice.

If you do get one, give her 2 weeks to finish digesting. That's 2 weeks from when you fed her, not 2 weeks from now. That will just cut down on excess internal noises.

Then try once every 2 weeks, until you either hear the heartbeats or you think it's past time she's due.

I always have seen the ovulation and I basically knew when my girls were due. I've just used the doppler to confirm they're carrying live babies.

This year, I missed an ovualtion and my female never really got huge. She never really got big. She just went off her feed. I was worried about her and I tried the doppler. The doppler confirmed she's carrying live babies. She still hasn't had them, but I figure she's got upto 2 weeks left.

So, if you have the extra cash, having a doppler to check your females gives you a little extra peace of mind.

Thanks! ;p
I have had really good luck feeding during pregnancy as well, I just don't feed them very much at all... two med/large rats is more than I feed my med. sized females that I think are carrying... so it worries me to have fed more than I feel comfortable.
I did put her back with the male when I noticed, just in case... my thoughts mirrored yours with that one!
And I did see the post by Jeff about the boa heartbeats and kept up on the threads following about the fetal monitors, I am actually a high bidder on one now. I wanted to pick up an ultrasound some day, but this is so much more effective for the short term and financially tender folk, like myself!
Thanks for all your advice and kind words...
Stephanie
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang.)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)