Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's a picture of Pandora, my blotched king. Since she's not eaten more than one adult mouse in the last 4 weeks, I'm thinking she's gravid. She did right after her "pre-lay" shed, but yesterday I offered her three orphaned hoppers, and she ignored them. I took a few creative pictures (well hubby took the pics), and made a close up of Pandora to show what her sides look like, and her scales.

Opinions are always welcome. In the next few days I think she'll prove she's gravid.

-----
~Sasheena

and the kids: Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple, Castle, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Pandora, Phantom, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes, and Lady

I took Pandora out of her cage and she immediately decided she liked my hair.

-----
~Sasheena

and the kids: Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple, Castle, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Pandora, Phantom, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes, and Lady

Now there is a pretty blotched king...makes me miss the one I had several years ago. Thanks for sharing.

your post seems to say the "pre-laying" shed was four weeks ago. That would be extremely unusual, if it's the case. I think it's more likely that was not a pre-laying shed but the next one will be. You might have wanted to offer more food than one mouse four weeks ago and then a few hoppers a few days ago--if I'm reading your post correctly, that's no food offered for three weeks. Or perhaps you were offering all along and she simply wasn't eating. That would be consistent with the period approaching the prelaying shed.

If I misunderstood anything, sorry, tried to read your post as precisely as possible. yeah, with the lack of food, i'd say she's gravid. but if my interpretation of the chronology is correct i'll bet she's got another shed in her before laying.

btw, i wouldn't subject a gravid female to much handling at all, much less as a photo prop behind my back. they're not toys! Even if somebody was standing nearby to grab her if she fell, a gravid female isn't going to benefit from being grabbed. Sorry I couldn't find a more tactful way to say that, i mean no offense, but you said opinions welcome, and i felt it warranted saying.

peace
terry

Sorry, a few misunderstandings. But that's okay. I always think it's better to clear them up BEFORE going blitzo and assuming the worst.

First, she had her "pre-lay" shed about a week ago, was bred on April 15th. She ate voraciously to begin with after being bred, but sort of slacked off a few weeks before she went blue. I offered her a full grown mouse about a week ago, right after she shed (the mouse bit me, I whacked him, I hate to waste a mouse and all the other snakes had eaten, so I offered it to her, she ate). Day before yesterday I offered her three hoppers that had not yet been weaned. (but I was feeding off the colony so mommy and daddy had already been made into a meal for other snakes). She didn't want them and didn't even look at them as if they were food. So of course I'm hoping that she's gravid. I only mentioned the amount she's eaten BEFORE the pre-lay shed as an explanation of why I didn't think she was OBESE.

As to handling a gravid snake. I do agree with you, and I was NOT treating her as a toy. For some reason, ever since she became gravid (?) she seems to want to be held. (anthropomorphosizing, I know)... whenever I go into the room where she is (to check for eggs, make sure her tiny water dish has water, etc) she is curious. If I open the cage to check more carefully for eggs she'll crawl right out of the cage and up into my hair. Seems to love it there. She was up and wrapped securely (could not fall without making a LOT of movement first) around my hair before I could even stop her. It was her choice of where to hang out whilst I checked her cage. Hubby saw how she was hanging out on my hair and decided to snap a few pictures. A close up of one of those yielded the "scale shot".

I appreciate your concern. I do not want to do anything to jeapordize HER primarily, nor her eggs. I'm still fairly new to snakes (little less than two years), and I'm sure I do make mistakes from time to time. Hanging out here in the Kingsnake forum has taught me a great deal, and I continue to learn from all the people here.
-----
~Sasheena

and the kids: Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple, Castle, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Pandora, Phantom, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes, and Lady

I better understand the chronology now. Thanks. I'd imagine she's gravid, from looks, from breed date, and from shed date. But very odd that she ate after her prelaying shed. Maybe the reason most people's females don't eat at that stage is because we don't think they will so we don't offer them food. Still, very odd, so good info to have shared. I know you'lll let us know what happens.
peace
terry

Sounds like you're doing the right things!
Great post, but you don't owe anyone here any explanations for your actions.
Good luck with the eggs.

Bobby

As a teacher, and as a human being, I've learned that the best thing to do is to teach by example. All the words in the world are NOT going to help anyone learn, there must be something more. I realized that having a gravid snake as a hairpiece could be a tremendously BAD example, and I didn't want anyone to think I did that, moreover, I did not want anyone to start EMULATING me.

I sure hope she is gravid. I've been checking her cage every couple of hours. I don't really think that she is ready to actually lay, and probably won't until perhaps monday. She hasn't been very restless. I keep a shallow water dish in her cage (which is why I check very frequently) and on Tuesday when I go back to work I'll take the water dish out again. And of course I Will post pictures once she lays her eggs. Then I'll spend the next two months wondering if the eggs are any good. Hopefully with a snakey reward at the end of it all.

I've appreciated all that anyone here has said, especially those that give advice frequently even though its the same advice that's been given a zillion times before. I think that is half of what attracted me to this hobby... the caring attitude of the herpers I've "met" here online at kingsnake.com
-----
~Sasheena

and the kids: Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple, Castle, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Pandora, Phantom, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes, and Lady

Well...she is your snake, so what ever happens blame no one else but yourself. As for knowing what a snake "thinks" I think your nuts. Regardless of if she crawed in your hair on her own or not, is not the point. She should not be handled unless for a cage cleaning and/or health check...end of story.

Well...she is your snake, so what ever happens blame no one else but yourself. As for knowing what a snake "thinks" I think your nuts. Regardless of if she crawed in your hair on her own or not, is not the point. She should not be handled unless for a cage cleaning and/or health check...end of story.

Well actually, she had eight beautiful eggs (and one ugly one) this morning, but alas, I cannot blame myself, I can only blame her, nature, and the papa snake. The point of my comment about anthropomorphosization was that I understood I was being silly about saying I knew what she was thinking. The good thing about this world is that we are all allowed our opinions. I'm certain I will continue to make mistakes and learn from them. I do handle all of my snakes regularly. Pandora included. I wasn't even sure she was gravid!

As Terry said, Peace

-----
~Sasheena

and the kids: Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple, Castle, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Pandora, Phantom, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes, and Lady

Congratulations my dear, I do believe you're going to be a grand-mama in the next week or so =)
The timing is correct, I remember from your former posts. What Terry said about handling is correct too, it is ok to handle her, just be extra extra gentle. LOL, I don't think theres a one of my kingsnakes that doesn't like to burrow up into my husband's and friend's long hair.
Do let us know when she goes, I'll be looking forward to hearing!

Hello, I just wanted to mention if your snake is gravid[which she sure appears to be] you may want to put a very small dish in with her for water. Sometimes snakes don't use their nest box and end up dropping a clutch in the water bowl and that's a bummer.Hope you get a nice clutch soon.Tom