Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What to do when a female gives birth. Do you take the babies out right away? How long do you leave them in for. I assume you want to soak the babies in some warm clean water. Can a mother have babies over a couple of days or is the whole litter out all at once.
I have a gravid female boa that should be giving birth next month. Im also gonna be away for a week next month. What should I do when Im about to leave for the week and the female still didnt give birth. Opinions, thanks. I will post a big of the female shorty.

Here is my big girl. Not sure who been feeding her footballs, but its not me.

I normally take them out as soon as they are out of the sack and slithering off. Only for my own reasons, not for the "better" care of the babies or moms. I want to see them all, get them cleaned up and see what all I have. It's like Christmas every time a litter drops. Also, is easier to clean up all the goo while it's fresh. Once it dries, it's like tar!!

I was away last year for a week when three of me BRB litters dropped. I believe one was at least 5 days old when I found them. They did just fine hanging out with mom.
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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

I think babies do well with the mom majority of the time! Over time you get to know your animals as well. For example I have a female Hogg Island who has produced three times for me! The first time I was not present for the birth and she had crushed about half of them and when I say crushed they were still writhing full term but mom and done damage to them. The second time she produced I was able to witness the birth she delivered the babies in the front corner of the cage as soon as she was finished she proceeded to climb on top of them and curl them in. I'm fairly sure this is a defensive instinct this female has, but she does it and it does result in crushed/smothered neonates. The third litter was the same as the second and as soon as she was finished I moved her before she could climb on them. Just an example, in my experenices with my boa breeding!

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

Thanks for the insite. So you think a female mom of this size could do some serious damage to the babies. This female is about 40-45lbs with no food or babies inside her

I think that any mother boa could do damage to a neonate. The question is how will the mothers instincts cause her to behave after birth? I have noticed most of my Colombians tend to give birth on one side of the cage and then retreat to the other side to rest and then after a hour or two will begin to nose the babies around and let them come to her for protection. Where as my Hogg Island female felt the need to protect the babies immediately after birth. The only thing written in stone when it comes to boas is they are great fun to keep!!!!

Al Brown/Brown's Boas