Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this pair this morning going at it for the 4th time since early Decemeber 2003.

The female is a 2001 VPI HET albino virgin 2200 grams.

I sure hope I get SOMETHING this season, I have 5 females breeding on and off this season, and so far it looks like NOTHING is going on with any of them.

Question :

The sister of the HET albino above, has also been breeding with my male albino. Last night before putting the above snakes together I offered both the male and the female food. It has been aprox 4-weeks since my last offering. Both refused to eat, so I placed them together and they were locked up this morning.

Now the sister snake similiar in weight ate last night, she to WAS off feed, and was not offered food for the past 4-weeks.

But last night she ate with great gusto. Do you think her eating could be a sign that MAYBE just maybe I might get some eggs from her this year? I know it sounds pathetic, but again I have never done this before.

I hoping that maybe she is starting to eat strong because she needs food to help her through the pregnancy.

Will be interestig to see if she eats for me again in another 10 days or so.

i am by no means an expert but i have found my females who are in the early stages of egg development want nothing to do with food. i have also found there is no rhyme or reason to gravid females i have some that will eat some that wont, and some who are eating sporadically, just offer every two weeks or so, and keep your fingers crossed.

you could also try palpatate for follicles on the females your unsure of.
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Guy
www.dbreptiles.com

I agree with 'db' but my experience is most PRE-OV females will 'top-off' by feeding at least a few times prior to ovulation. I too have an '01 het albino female at over 2100 gm that is feeding prior to an expected ovulation. Her weight is very good, and the extra meals cannot hurt her chances of ovulating. I have a '99 proven het albino female (proven out by A. McCain in '02) that skipped last year because she hadn't gained back her weight. This past summer she fed fairly well, went off feed in the fall, but the last few weeks she has fed with vigor.

I think that as fat is mobilized to the ovaries, females will feed to help the process along. They seem to know instinctively that this is their last chance to do so.

Hope this helps!
Scott J. Michaels DVM