Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here she is and she hasn't eaten in a couple months...this is my first attempt with bloods so any help would be great.

Thanks
Jamie

Hey,
It is very possible that the big girl is gravid. Was there any contact with a male and was there ever any observed copulation between them. If all of the above is true, then, I would say that there is a good chance that she is. However, just because there was never any observed copulation, doesn't mean that there was none. I've heard of eggs being laid, where there were no observed copulations by keepers, of their charges, and yet, viable eggs were laid. Of course too, it could go the other way, but lets hope not.

One of the tell tale signs of a gravid Blood or Short-tail, is a noticeable hardness to the area of the abdomen and sides where the egg mass is concentrated. The females, will almost feel like they are resisting being picked up, by stiffening this area, and almost straightening them selves out when you do. There could be some noticeable swelling or a distention too, in the area where the eggs are concentrated, on both sides.

The other possible scenerio, is, that the female is just going through her ovulation phase and is producing ova. Females producing ova, will during this period, exhibit a noticeable distention and or swelling around the sides, and will have an enlarged appearance around the area of the abdomen, about one third her total length from her tail. The phase does not guarantee eggs, as females have been known to reabsorb eggs, with no fertilization of the ova ever taking place. (Ova can still be passed to the oviducts with no fertilization taking place in the oviducts, and infertile eggs can be shelled and laid). One advantage you have going for you, however, is that the female has not exhibited interest in food for several months; so this could be a positive indication that she is heavy with eggs.

These are some of the signs that I've observed with my gravid female Blood and Short-tail. Good luck with her and keep us posted on any eggs.

-Angel
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Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. --Dryden.

My guess would be ovulation possibly. My gravid girls are MUCH lower especially when they are ready to lay. I just got another clutch last thursday of 19 eggs of which about ten are fertile.

This was the clutch I was realllllly waiting for. I am not talking about it any more or I will jynx myself.

Well I have felt her...that is how I noticed...when I was cleaning her cage her felt like she was going to burst and very solid in the last 1/3 of her body. I have observed copulation many times by a proven male, this is my first time with bloods so if this is ovulation how long until I should expect her to lay? Any other tips would be awsome

Thanks

np