Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As much as I an pretty well versed on ball pythons, I am a complete newbie when it comes to boas.

I have a situation where I am waiting on a few females to give birth and I have there ovulations and pre lay sheds recorded, I have one that I think I may have missed and she is rather huge now. I have ultrasounded her so I know she is gravid. What I don't know is when she is due. She has been hugging the heat but now she is away from it and I caught her laying on her side. she is huge and she looks like 2 different snakes. The front half looks normal and the back half looks like a water balloon. Is this a sign that she may be ready to deliver soon?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't been this excited in a long time!

Markus
-----
www.ballpython.ca

I have a girl with the same look and behaviors... She is not due until June 6th, she looks so uncomfortable I'm thinkin she's gonna pop by then, expecting lotta babies!!
-----
06
0.2 h albino
07
0.1 dh snow
0.2 leticia
1.1 triple het
0.1 albino h snow
08
2.1 hypo hog
0.1 sunset
1.0 ghost
0.1 arabesque dh stripe alb
1.1 h type 2 anery
0.1 pastel motley
0.1 leticia
1.0 hypo ph bloody sharp
0.2 ph bloody sharp
1.0 h blood
0.1 sunglow poss super
1.2 anery h snow
0.2 albino h snow
1.1 50% guyana h albino
0.1 triple het
0.1 ghost h albino
1.0 jungle h anery ph albino
0.1 pastel het albino
09
1.1 dh blizzard
0.1 h albino
0.1 jungle h albino
1.0 motley h albino ph snow
1.0 albino h snow
1.0 anery h snow
1.1 hypo dh stripe albino
and 25 balls

I have 2 females due on June 1st and they are not behaving like her at all. I'm not really worried. Just anxious!
-----
www.ballpython.ca

markus youre one of the ball gods i think you will do great with boas as well best of luck regards

I wouldnt expect them just yet. Usually a few days before she is going to give birth she will become restless and start roaming her cage looking for a place to put them. Also something I would keep an eye on, depending on what substrate you are using, she may form a nest a few days before delivering.

I have had females that i keep on aspen push a lot of it aside and make a very noticeable ditch, and go figure within 24-48 hours there is babies in her little nest. So pending what you use as a substrate keep an eye out for that also.

It sounds like your about to be caring for a bunch of babies soon. I rarely see females on the heat too much before having the babies and almost always the litters I've had are born on the cool side of the cage. But that's just my room's conditions.

Manny
You are right, thats exactly what i observe.
-----
Richard Ceniceros

These are all good signs.
The thinner the females look up fron the better chance it's a live litter too.
Usually during the last couple weeks the back half actually thins out a bit too and the female does change her routines. I would expect a waxy poo or two and then babies soon after.

enjoy the experience!
-----
www.BetterBoa.com

40 Bci's
3.3 Corn snakes

Also you will notice with the dopplers that the heartrates are increasingly louder and closer to the vent as the due date approaches tho I wouldn't recommend bothering them too too much at this time.
-----
www.BetterBoa.com

40 Bci's
3.3 Corn snakes

I'll keep you posted.
-----
www.ballpython.ca

Keep her nice and warm for those developing babies in the females body. If you are noticing her laying on her side she is probably close to dropping the litter. Gravid boas often lay on their side to expose the babies inside to the basking spot in the cage. I hope the babies come out bright eyed and bushy tailed and feed for you with no problem.
-HAPPY HERPING