Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have a gravid ATB I purchased at the daytona show last year. I thought at first that she was gravid when I got her, but that was last Aug. and she has not had her babies yet (I'm assuming that they are not gravid for over 6 months). I had her ultrasounded to see if she had follicles for breeding the first part of December. Imagine my surprise to see babies in there. I know that with regular boa's you can't see heartbeats until about 30 days after POS, and to see formed babies with spines, longer than that. So I'm assuming she was at least gravid 30 to 60 days at this time. Since it has been three months since the ultrasounding and she was at least 30 to 60 days back then. I have been expecting babies for weeks now! I'm ready to pull my hair out.

There are 5 babies I believe. I can feel each one separately. She has been eating the whole time and acts starved. I don't know if this is good or bad. Usually I don't feed gravid females but she is so skinny, being a tree snake that I felt she didn't have the reserves to support a pregnancy and needed the food for the growing babies.

Can anyone tell me what the gestation is for ATB's? Should I continue to feed her (only crawler mice pups)? Is there any way I can tell how soon she will give birth, waxy stool, roaming, anything at all like regular boa's? Last but not least, how hard is it to get the babies eating, and is there any tips? I've heard of senting pinkie mice with lizard scenting? How do you do this?

Thanks in advance for any help in this matter, I'll need all the help I can get.

Gaylynn

Last season, one of my females ovulated on April 3rd. I finally had babies on August 16th. I have also been told that gestation can be incredibly variable and much longer. I hope this helps a bit.

I'm in the same boat as you, my female should be dropping any day now. First, ATBs can take up to ten months to drop, it depends on a lot of variables. Second, In my experience with newborns, don't even bother them until after their first shed.
Then try to feed each one seperately, in a container with a perch, so they can be above their food. I usually give them a live fuzzie or small hopper the first time, they'll eat a far bigger mouse than you think they can. I haven't had much luck with pinkies. I usually put the fuzzie in and leave them alone until the next morning. I think it's the movement and body heat that gets them interested in trying to eat. I give them three or four live feedings before trying to get them on f/t. If they don't eat the first try, give them a couple of days and try it again. It may take four or five trys before they'll eat so be patient. I've never had to sent any food for my ATBs. On the subject of feeding gravid females, my female will usually stop eating for a couple of weeks after ovulation and then starts eating again until she drops. I give her smaller food items less often and she will usually take them. I'd try giving yours a medium size mouse and see how she does. I tried to e-mail you in reply to the e-mail you sent me and it sent it back, so please e-mail me again w/more contact info.I hope this helps!
Phil Patton

Hello,

Thanks for the responses to my questions. I hope I don't have to wait 10 months for babies, I'll be bald if that were the case.

I've found that I can safely feed her 3 mouse crawlers. A bigger mouse or any more smaller ones and she gurges. It happened once and I'm terrified to have that happen again so 3 very small mice pups is her limit.

You know it's funny, but she was quite mean before becomming gravid and now she hasn't bitten or tried to bite even. Hope she stays this way afterwards too. Both my other ATB's are very nice as they go. The male will strike but not with teeth and the other female doesn't even try to bite. Guess I got lucky

Regards,
gaylynn
p.s. I'll let you know when the babies get here!