Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female rubber boa I and I introduced a male to her back in May. I have not observed them copulating, but she seems larger than usual. Is there any sign (can you help me here Richard?) that would lend me to determine if she is gravid?
thanks to everyone,
Eric

Eric:

What is your female boa's current weight and stretched total length? Without the weight or length information, I cannot hazard a guess.

Does your female have a very observable distention or buldge to her mid to lower abdomen? Has she eaten since mid June? If the answers are yes and no respectively, then she could be gravid.

What temperature conditions has the female be exposed to during the time you have been maintaining her? If you have had a
heat source for your boas with temperatures in the low to mid 80's all during the time you have had the female, then she probably is not gravid as she should have produced her litter by now.

This year, I only had one captive bred female (from S. Calif.) and she produced her litter on Aug. 24. The last wild gravid female, picked up in August, produced her litter on Sept. 11th. If gravid, your female should have produced a litter by now provided she had a heat source. If instead, she has been only exposed to average room temperatures from about 68 to 74 degrees during much of the time you have had her, then there is the possibility she could produce a litter later on. Without a heat source, gravid females frequently exhibit a restless behavior, wandering around their cage or aquaria seeking a place to thermoregulate.

Richard F. Hoyer