Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Gravid female who is going to lay soon,( I can feel the eggs inside of her) and in the past few weeks as her eggs developed, her spine has become visible. Now I am assuming this is because of the eggs pulling her body mass down and making the spine bulge out, and also her fat reserves deminishing to build the eggs. Is this correct, and is this something normal to experience? Also, since she is off feed, how can I get her to ingest some supplements?? This will be my first clutch hopefully. Thanks, Brian.

I am wondering how you can be certain that your snake is gravid. Did you observe ovulation? Also if "her fat reserves" are "diminishing to build the eggs", then she cannot be gravid as the eggs are not be fully developed. Recall that snakes do not have a placenta... therefore, the eggs must be fully developed before ovulation and fertilization can take place (at which point the snake then becomes what is called "gravid".

I'm concerned that if you presume your snake to be gravid, but she is actually only developing ova, then you may cease breeding trials with your male, and may interupt the follicular maturation process.

you got it all right.......

except.....they do not take in any nurishment during this time.....

that's why they need fat reserves.........

.........yep......she'll live..........

JY

She has eggs in her and just shed about a week ago. This means she will be laying soon. Are you trying to say that i should still have her with the male? You also said that the eggs must be fully developed before fertilization takes place. Have you heard of sperm retention? And if this was true why dont my females lay unfertile eggs every year without a male??? Brian.

"She has eggs in her and just shed about a week ago. This means she will be laying soon."

Karm writes: If ovulation was not observed, then it cannot be known with certainty (w/o ultrasound or other such technology) that your female is actually gravid. You may be "feeling" developing ova rather than actual "eggs" (NOTE: "eggs" are fertilized and shelled ova... fertilization and shelling occurs within the oviduct following ovulation).

"Are you trying to say that i should still have her with the male?"

Karm writes: If you did not observe ovulation, then you cannot know with certainty that she is gravid. Therefore, caution should dictate that you continue breeding trials periodically. There is strong evidence suggesting that females will resorb developing ova without male contact. THIS SORT OF THING NOT UNCOMMON. A female breeds for a month or so and begins to enlarge DUE TO DEVELOPING OVA. The keeper then ceases breeding trials assuming the female to be gravid. The female, without male contact, resorbs the developing ova and the chance for eggs is lost. Once again, she MAY be gravid. But if you did not observe ovulation, the YOU CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE.

"You also said that the eggs must be fully developed before fertilization takes place."

Karm writes: I did write this, but I SHOULD HAVE written that OVA must be fully developed before ovulation and subsequent fertilization takes place (my mistake).

"Have you heard of sperm retention?"

Karm writes: Yes I have, but it is irrelevent here.

Don't try to get her to eat anything...she's fine. The last thing you would want to do is stress her when it sounds like everything is going great.

Eggs feel like water balloons, large follicles may seem almost the size of eggs (golf ball or larger) but they are much harder. Best of luck with the eggs!

Christy