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This is my Het Pied Girl. She was swelling and ovulating before I left for my vacation (mid-April), and I thought for sure she would have popped by now... but I don't have an exact date to go by. For the past 2 weeks she has been almost completely on her back and bowl wrapping (and most of the time doing BOTH, with more than 3/4 of her body inverted). She looks uncomfortable and ready to go at any moment, but I thought for sure it would have happened by now! When do I start panicking and worrying about her becoming egg bound? Should I be worried yet? When is too long really too long?

I am a veterinary technician at an exotics-equipped animal hospital, so I do have resources. Just not sure when would be the appropriate time to invest in them.

Thanks for any help and all your time, in advance.
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Chelsea,

If you know when her last shed was, assuming it was her post ovulation shed or pre-lay shed, then count 30 days after that shed. She will most likely lay her eggs 30 to 40 days after her prelay shed. I wouldn't start worring until it has been over 40 days between her last shed and parturation.

I too was a vet tech for 9 years, where I also worked mainly with exotics.

I'm including a video that might help you as you prepare for her to drop her clutch.

If you have any questions feel free to call me at 408.981.6694

Best of luck

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

To me that all looks normal (she's showing symptoms that she is about halfway with it all) .....is this your first clutch?

If you don't have a for sure date....keep an eye on her until you see the ridgeline run down her entire back. Once you see that “pyramid” shape she’s getting close to laying. If I was you I would have the incubator running now so you can tweak it to the right temps….this way when the eggs come you won’t have to worry about it. if you need a pic to refer to on the ridgeline I can post a pic of one female when I get home…unless she has already laid.

She will lay when she is ready....you’re almost there!

Good luck!

Pitoon

>>This is my Het Pied Girl. She was swelling and ovulating before I left for my vacation (mid-April), and I thought for sure she would have popped by now... but I don't have an exact date to go by. For the past 2 weeks she has been almost completely on her back and bowl wrapping (and most of the time doing BOTH, with more than 3/4 of her body inverted). She looks uncomfortable and ready to go at any moment, but I thought for sure it would have happened by now! When do I start panicking and worrying about her becoming egg bound? Should I be worried yet? When is too long really too long?
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>>I am a veterinary technician at an exotics-equipped animal hospital, so I do have resources. Just not sure when would be the appropriate time to invest in them.
>>
>>Thanks for any help and all your time, in advance.
>>-----
>>Cheers!
>>� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
>>(and Frank M. Wood)
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Homepage
My BLOG
2011 European Shows

Pitoon and Brian,

Thanks you guys for the help. That was very helpful information, and I do appreciate it. She is actually not first clutch, though I am not a full-time breeder by any means (I only do this as a hobby), and I am no expert. This clutch will actually be added to two other clutches already in the incubator for this season, and this will probably my 9th or 10th clutch altogether in the past 3/4 seasons. (See? Definitely no expert, LoL).

Incubating eggs I am fine with, I am honestly just worried about this Mom... Because even though I don't have an exact date to go by (and my anticipation may be getting the best of me), I feel like I have >never< had a snake take this long.

If I had to judge when her pre-lay shed was: I don't have an exact date, but I would guess it between April 17th and April 25th. I do know the "ridgeline" you are speaking of, and I haven't seen any of that yet. What do you guys think? :-/
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

From your photos she looks fine.She is nesting and pre-rotating, all normal activity for a gravid female ,if she were egg bound she would be swelled very close to the vent.Without the shed date you will have to just wait her out.Here is a pic of one of mine ,love to see them do this.Good luck with all your eggs .Terry

You always have to remember that these numbers we live by are GUIDELINES! There are many "X" factors including sperm retention and just individuality! I agree w/all, she looks fine! As Terry said, if she was in distress, she'd look like she had an egg right at the cloaca and she'd be constantly probing the cage!

If this is not your first clutch….then I’m sure you have seem the ridgeline I’m talking about….just probably never noticed.

I’m at work now, I’ll post a few pics when I get home. This way you’ll have an idea what to look for.

…once you see the ridgeline….you’re at the home stretch.

Pitoon

>>Pitoon and Brian,
>>
>>Thanks you guys for the help. That was very helpful information, and I do appreciate it. She is actually not first clutch, though I am not a full-time breeder by any means (I only do this as a hobby), and I am no expert. This clutch will actually be added to two other clutches already in the incubator for this season, and this will probably my 9th or 10th clutch altogether in the past 3/4 seasons. (See? Definitely no expert, LoL).
>>
>>Incubating eggs I am fine with, I am honestly just worried about this Mom... Because even though I don't have an exact date to go by (and my anticipation may be getting the best of me), I feel like I have >never< had a snake take this long.
>>
>>If I had to judge when her pre-lay shed was: I don't have an exact date, but I would guess it between April 17th and April 25th. I do know the "ridgeline" you are speaking of, and I haven't seen any of that yet. What do you guys think? :-/
>>-----
>>Cheers!
>>� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
>>(and Frank M. Wood)
-----
Homepage
My BLOG
2011 European Shows

ok so here are some pics i just took to give you an idea of what i'm talking about.....

this bumblebee doesn't have the ridgeling either....her dorsal is quite round.....

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Homepage
My BLOG
2011 European Shows

Thanks for the pics! Very nice! But none of that yet here! I shall keep waiting. It sounds like by the time she lays, my other Pied Clutch will have already hatched (Day 46!).

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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

she might even shed again....
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........JY

Chelsea,

I personally wouldn't worry too much. In the photo it actually looks like she's got a ways to go before she drops the clutch.

I think patience will be your best friend.

Good luck
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

events are:
ovulation----------> 15 days------> POS ( post ovulation shed)
--------->30 days--------> eggs.
of course it can take some day more or less, but that's the guideline
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www.qualitysnakes.it

never had a ball get bound up...one egg stuck two times but that was it....hundreds of eggs laid....

the one pic...her vent areaq doesn't even look close to dropping yet and by her actions she isn't close either...she will start acting differently yet....and laying in a circle...all wrapped up making a nest...then she will start the cruise phase maybe...looking for better places to lay....I had one actually rip out of her cage yesterday ...again...second one this year...time for new racks...plastic mesh is no good for balls....

....let her be....

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........JY

Yeah, in the one pic you can def see the eggs have a ways to work down toward her vent yet. Give her time and let her be. Don't stress her out any more then she already is naturally. And like Jeff said earlier, she may even shed again, if your not sure when she shed last.......

Sry I forgot to add, judging by the pics, I really don't believe that the end of April dates you gave were a 30-day shed. Give her another couple weeks and see if she goes into shed again.

Thanks for all the re-assuring words! Like I said, the dates are so "unofficial" because I was out of the country for 10 days at the time of shedding, and my pet-sitter was just a waterer of sorts while I was gone. Working at the animal hospital and always seeing the "bound up" ones, it tends to get you paranoid (No balls yet this year, but a king snake, gecko, and a couple Iguanas, and of course, SO MANY BIRDS).

I'll calm down and wait it out! I appreciate the kind words. You guys are great.
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

np

just curious

Ball eggs are the size of a 60 watt light bulb. Average size clutch is 6-8 eggs. So, imagine what she'd look like holding 6-8 60 watt light bulbs in her. She doesn't look like that.......

Here tail isn't fat and the belly is sunken in. She may have follicles but she is definately not gravid.

Corey

not every egg is the same size. i've personally seen small, medium, large, and super large eggs (almost the same size as bloods).

i guess time will tell if she is or not.

Pitoon

>>Ball eggs are the size of a 60 watt light bulb. Average size clutch is 6-8 eggs. So, imagine what she'd look like holding 6-8 60 watt light bulbs in her. She doesn't look like that.......
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>>Here tail isn't fat and the belly is sunken in. She may have follicles but she is definately not gravid.
>>
>>Corey
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Homepage
My BLOG
2011 European Shows

Thanks, Pitoon. She is definitely, without a doubt gravid. I posted pics below. By the way, your blog link doesn't work.
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Agree - belly looks too flat to be carrying eggs.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

Looks can be deceiving. I posted pics below.
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Hey Corey, thanks for taking the time to read my post, and I am sorry for my delayed response. I will always respect your opinion, and will always consider your advice.

But unfortunately, this wasn't a question of whether or not she was gravid...

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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

cool images

I KNOW, RIGHT?!?! Thank you, BTW!
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

I know this thread is a little old, but I forgot to update it when I should have, for anyone that cared.

My girl is doing great and for the few doubts, she laid 6 beautiful pearly whites on the morning of Saturday, June 18th, 2011 for me.

I'm not clueless, but like I said, I am no expert. But there was a certainty that she was gravid.

Thanks to all of you for the comforting words. I appreciate all of your insight for taking the time to help someone out like me! You guys were all great!
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Cheers!
� Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)