Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, well Sable is making this very hard for me to figure out. She looks like she might be gravid, but I can't tell for sure. She started looking plump in February and then she stopped eating and shed on 4/20. If she was gravid, that would put an approx date for her litter in late August.

Well, a couple weeks ago I had a leftover large rat, so I offered it to her. She ate it! And then yesterday she shed again! She still looks somewhat larger in the middle to rear of her body, and that area feels kind of squishy when you hold her. (I know I shouldn't be handling gravid BRBs, but I had to to change her soiled paper.)

Here are a couple pictures I took of her today. The largest area is the section she has up against the wall of her tub and around her head. It is really hard to see the larger area in these pictures, but I didn't want to mess with her.

What do you think the eating of large rat and extra shedding means? I know I shouldn't let this get to me, as I'll know for sure what's going on by fall: No babies - not gravid, babies- gravid, duh!
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Aubrey Ross

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www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

First off she looks REAL good and solid. (which makes it even tougher).

Well that lump if it isn't a rat (I assume digested and passed by now) looks like something that is not seen normally in non-gravid snakes.

I have only bred brb's twice and both times the females where noticeably gravid.

I have a female now and I am in same dilemma as you.

So this may offer little consolation.

When in doubt....wait it out.

Yeah same to me. Suks don't it !!!

LOL!!!
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

IMO the extra shed and rat thing is not an indicator that she isn't gravid as not much stuff is concrete when it comes to sporadic feeding and added shed cycles.

Some say feeding usually means slugs or a bad litter.

Almost all of my gravid females of EVERY snake I ever bred at least fed intermittently through gestation!!!

Although I only breed BRB's twice I like to feed ANY gravid female as much as she can handle or is willing to take, it takes some burden from depleting her system.

If you offer chicks to gravid female snakes they will take them for most of their gestation more so then rats or mice. Something almost irresistible about avian prey!!!!

(except ball pythons in my experience)

I have had gravid females of different species feed normally and give birth or in some pythons lay normal clutches.

SO who knows!!!!
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

...a local breeder I know who produces BRB's regularly has always had his female eat like normal through the entire gestation process. Not saying it is normal but some specimens are like that.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

Thanks Sean, that makes me feel a bit more hopeful!
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

"When in doubt....wait it out."

Yeah.. I think that is just going to have to be the case for her. Even if she lays slugs, I'll be somewhat happy that she actually tried to have babies!

As for the rat, I was suprised that she ate it because I had heard of gravid BRBs only eating small meals. A large rat is no small meal, so that just got me thinking. Then she shed... ahh! Who knows!
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

I am just as frustrated with my female BRB, same boat as you, but she just stopped eating last week, but may just be not hungry lol!!!!!
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

like she could be gravid - maybe!!

Every year I have some I'm not sure of, sometimes I get abies, sometimes not.....

Sorry I'm no help
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

LOL Dave... you snot!

Yeah, I figured I'd just have to wait to see what happens, but any insight from the experts may rest my mind a bit.
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

And keep in mind you're not alone. Besides you and Frank I am also in the "not sure" limbo. My female has missed a couple meals since warming up but continues to eat normal size meals most of the time I offer them(large rat every other week). These forums may end up being support group for indeterminate gravidity lol.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

Well, if there's a pool, Aubrey, I'm betting she's gonna pop!
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

Thanks Renee, I hope you're right!
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

I am breeding my BRB for the first time and confused by her behaviors too..she will eat once in awhile and shed earlier this week...but going to wait and see if she gives eggs or not. Before I cooled her and bred her, she was a consistent eater...so still hopeful that her inconsistent eating the last several months, is an indication she's gravid.

Your female is great looking. I do hope she does give you a nice litter
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks... yeah I'll just have to wait this one out. She ate a small rat today, so I don't know what that means. Maybe she just got fat, and didn't lose any of it when she fasted.
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

lol yup you are confused...boas give live birth
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Kare

"keep smiling; it makes people wonder what you're up to!"