Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you feel a female that is gravid...what does her belly feel like?? Mine feels very soft but plump when I press lightly on her belly. I should be getting eggs anytime but this is the first time I have bred and I don't know what to feel for. Thanks

Let her crawl through your fingers while you squeeze gently. If she is near laying you will feel "water balloons" (You can't feel anything right after ovulation though.

GOod luck!

Christy

Christy, I know that is palpating and I have "tried it" lol...but never having a clutch before, I still didn't know what to look for. All I can say is that when I do it now compared to a couple of months ago...there is a big difference in feel. I have read Ralph Davis's tidbit on palpating, however, I never got that "bump, bump" feeeling, but I know I could have easily missed it if she was in the early follicle development stage. Also, I didn't know if at a very late stage if you would be able to distinguish between individual eggs or not considering they are probably kinda crammed in there. Who knows...guess I will have to wait and see. The incubater is waiting regardless) Thanks

If she is close to laying you are way past the "bump bump bump" stage. Follicles are pretty hard, but eggs are soft. For the first three weeks or so after ovulation I can't feel anything specific. But, I can feel individual eggs in my snakes when they approach laying (the last two or three weeks before they lay). But, these eggs are soft and feel like water balloons (rather than gumballs). You certainly would not want to squeeze her almost flat with eggs the way you can when you are palping follicles.

Anyway good luck with those eggs, whether you ever feel them or not .

Christy