Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have a 10 year old female that went off feed in early Oct. She also shed in early Sep 08' and copulated in Sep and ended in Nov.

I have never witnessed ovulation.

Having not eaten in months she is the same weight as she was in Oct and stays in the hot spot (mid to upper 80s)all the time.

She is now in pre-shed.

Question: what is the possibility that she is gravid based on the info above? Im guessing she would not need to shed due to the fact that she is mature and has not eaten for some time. The time frame between copulation and now makes me wonder about sperm retention possibilities.

Should I start to make my baby rack now?

Signed,

Wishful
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2.2 Chondros (Aru / Sorong / Biak / Mix)
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.1 Retic (Calico x Dwarf / Calico)
2.6 BCC/BCI (Peruvian / Albino / Albino Het / Guyana / Het Snow)
2.2 Crested Gecko
1.0 Western Hognose
1.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Western Coachwhip
1.2 Black Racer
2.2 Ball Python (Spider / Pastel / 1.1 Het Pied)
1.3 Homo Sapiens
1.0 Pit Bull
0.1 Bull Terrier

OK, I'll take a "guess".

Let see..... You girl shed in Sept........Was this shed shortly after introduction of the male??? If it was, this is normal and a good sign.

He was courting and copulating Sept through...."some time in Nov??" OK, the "time frame" is good. That's about the "average" amount of time it takes a male to get the job done. The whole start to finish thing.

Of course, she went off feed in Oct..... did you lower the temps for breeding?? If you lowered the temps, this could account for her not eating. Of course, her refusing food "could" be a sign that she was forming folicles. "All" my females will refuse food when they're forming folicles, so....... If the temps were not lowered, I'd say that's a good sign. It could mean that your girl was forming folicles.

Now, since we're going by the "theory" that she was forming folicles..... If your male "lost interest" in Nov.... That's an EXCELLENT sign. The time frame is perfect, for when she would have ovulated "if" she was forming folices in Oct.

Of course, you didn't see an ovulation.... or did you??? If you saw a "thickening" that might have been "something". It could have been a mild ovulation or a pre-ov swell. If you saw your female "arching" her body and being restless.... That could have been a "mild" ovulation. Ovulations aren't always an obvious swelling. Sometimes they're very subtle and other times... you won't see them at all. What you will see if your female arching her body, being restless, and it will seem like she's "moving something around inside". If you saw any of the things I just described.... She "could" have had an ovulation.

Of course, she didn't shed. Not all boas will have a shed after they ovulate. With my boas, if they don't have that POS, they'll have a "mid-term" shed.

That brings us to where your girl "might" be. It could be that your girl is having a mid-term shed and she's further along than you thought. Of course, it could also be a retained sperm thing and this "might" be a POS. Or..... It could be that this is just a normal shed and she's not pregnant.

Since your girl was with a male and since she is staying on the heat/refusing food... Treat her like she's pregnant. Go with the theory that this could be a mid-term shed. Basically for "just in case purposes". Mid-term sheds are more likely than retained sperm.

Also, get busy and build a baby rack. I'm sure you'll need one sooner or later.

Thank you...

She shed prior to introducing the pair. The temps were between 85 - 80 in the day and 70 at night. I have raised the temps mid Dec and thought I noticed some swelling but hink it was more wishful thing than anythign else. She still refuses to eat. I read Ronne's Slow Mo ovulation and actually see her moving ever so slightly as indicated in his writings. Today, just now, I see slight buldges and when examining her, she arched the area and held for a bit before appearing to ringing or pushing the area as one does during a purge. I have up them temps and will try to feed weekly as in the past after she sheds...meaning, I will treat her as if she is blessed! And I will start the building.

Question now...Is Pine a bad choice?

Thanks again!!
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2.2 Chondros (Aru / Sorong / Biak / Mix)
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.1 Retic (Calico x Dwarf / Calico)
3.6 BCC/BCI (Peruvian / Albino / Albino Het / Guyana / Albino Het Snow / Anry Het Snow)
2.2 Crested Gecko
1.0 Western Hognose
1.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Western Coachwhip
1.2 Black Racer
2.2 Ball Python (Spider / Pastel / 1.1 Het Pied)
1.3 Homo Sapiens
1.0 Pit Bull
0.1 Bull Terrier

I think Aspen is what is used by a lot of people. I choose not to use wood substrate at all. I just use cage liners.

I used to use wood substrate though. I came home to a litter of babies. All were perfect, except for 1. The only thing wrong with that 1 baby was..... It had been "stabbed" in the umbilical area by a piece of the wood substrate. It was in there pretty deep. It died on the way to the vet. I have't used wood since.

Makes sense...I was wondering about the building material for the racks...a lot of the pre cut stuff at home depot where I live is Pine. I read Pine could have some oils, like Cedar, that can be harmful. I dont know if this is true or not.
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2.2 Chondros (Aru / Sorong / Biak / Mix)
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.1 Retic (Calico x Dwarf / Calico)
3.6 BCC/BCI (Peruvian / Albino / Albino Het / Guyana / Albino Het Snow / Anry Het Snow)
2.2 Crested Gecko
1.0 Western Hognose
1.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Western Coachwhip
1.2 Black Racer
2.2 Ball Python (Spider / Pastel / 1.1 Het Pied)
1.3 Homo Sapiens
1.0 Pit Bull
0.1 Bull Terrier

Sorry, I'm not that good at building, so I'm not sure of what to use. I always buy my cages/racks and stuff. In the long run, it works out best for me to do it that way.

You can use pine for building a rack it will work fine
Even plywood will work fine
I think the key is to seal it well.
I would suggest Spar Urethane to seal your wood
I like using a stain letting that dry completely then
seal with 2 -4 coats of Spar Urethane.
. . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

Here are a fw pics of her laying on her side. She lays in different positions but always in the same spot. Below her in that spot is the ceramic heater from the cage below and above her, her own ceramic heater. Spot temp at time of picture was 89 degrees.

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2.2 Chondros (Aru / Sorong / Biak / Mix)
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.1 Retic (Calico x Dwarf / Calico)
3.6 BCC/BCI (Peruvian / Albino / Albino Het / Guyana / Albino Het Snow / Anry Het Snow)
2.2 Crested Gecko
1.0 Western Hognose
1.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Western Coachwhip
1.2 Black Racer
2.2 Ball Python (Spider / Pastel / 1.1 Het Pied)
1.3 Homo Sapiens
1.0 Pit Bull
0.1 Bull Terrier

She's beautiful.
She looks like she's a fairly large girl too. If she's pregnant, I think this would be her POS. She hasn't got the extra weight in her rear half yet. Of course, depending on her size and the number of babies she might have, you really can't go by "looking".

I had a 7 foot girl, last year, that gave me 4 babies and 14 slugs. She didn't look like she had "anything" in her, until about 2 weeks before she gave birth. The only reason I thought my girl was pregnant, was because she refused food.

Thank you! She darkened up quite a bit...another indicator, I think. I will keep her warm, comfy and left alone. The guy who sold her to me said she has 50 babies on average and her last clutch in 06 produced 16 albinos. She's 8 ' and 18 lbs. My objective is to get her to eat and put on some weight and keep her healthy...there's always next year. Of course, if she shows or produces, I will post like a proud parent. Hey, thank you for you responses. Best of luck to you!
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2.2 Chondros (Aru / Sorong / Biak / Mix)
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.1 Retic (Calico x Dwarf / Calico)
3.6 BCC/BCI (Peruvian / Albino / Albino Het / Guyana / Albino Het Snow / Anry Het Snow)
2.2 Crested Gecko
1.0 Western Hognose
1.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Western Coachwhip
1.2 Black Racer
2.2 Ball Python (Spider / Pastel / 1.1 Het Pied)
1.3 Homo Sapiens
1.0 Pit Bull
0.1 Bull Terrier