Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 8 foot CBI threw 18 duds, and what looked like 20 premature babies. They all had large whiteish-yellow egg sacks still attached to them. They were alive at birth, but didn't last threw the night. I attempted to put some in a incubator, but it was impossible to pick them up and keep the sack and all intact. Any thoughts on why she may have dropped them early? She is in a snake room, really no foot traffic, so I think that rules out stress??

I don't want the same thing to happen the next time she breeds!

Thanks

Jim

could have been several things.. like
too hot
too cold
male not 100% good
eating while gravid
male not in long enough

and more...

Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Thanks Joe!, Why would she drop them early? why not carry all the way and have some live?

Jim

I know someone who could've produced Sunglow Arabesques if it weren't for his litter being dropped premature as well.
Heck, Jeremy Stone lost a few SUPER Motleys this way this year..

The females never tell us why, but there is obviously some reasoning behind this... I wish we knew!

Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

i heard advice from not just a single source that any food that a boa will take while gravid is good, now you say that might have caused a premature dump by the female?

not trying to come off like an expert but just trying to learn all i can and hate when i get 2 totally opposite opinions on the same issue

just saw bills post after sending this so ignore i suppose

YOU SHOULD HAVE REMOVED THE LIVE BABIES AND PLACED THEM ON MOIST PAPER TOWELS IN INDIVIDUAL RUBBERMAID TUBS. THEY WILL SOMETIMES ABSORB SOME YOLK AFTER BIRTH. IF THEY LOOK HEALTHY, YOU CAN ALSO CUT THE YOLK SACK AWAY AFTER BIRTH. MY BLACK BOA GAVE BIRTH TO ONE PREMATURE LIVE BABY LAST SEASON AND SEVERAL SLUGS. I REMOVED THE YOLK SACK AND PLACED THIS LITTLE BABY ON MOIST PAPER TOWELS. HE IS ALIVE TODAY AND WILL BE A YEAR OLD IN SEPT. HE IS A MIRACLE BABY BECAUSE SHE HAS PRODUCED TWO CLUTCHES OF ALL SLUGS AND STIL BORNS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. SHE OVULATED AGAIN THIS WEEKS, SO I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED. THEY SAY "THIRD TIMES A CHARM", SO I GUESS WE WILL SEE. I FEED ALL OF MY GRAVID FEMALES IF THEY WILL EAT DURING GESTATION. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DUE WITH PREMATURE BIRTH OR ALL OF MY BABIES WOULD BE PREMATURE. THE BLACK BOA REFUSED TO EAT DURING HER GESTATION PERIOD BOTH YEARS, SO THIS DEFINATLY RULES OUT THE FEEDING THING. TEMPRETURE IS THE MOST LIKELY FACTOR. A FEMALE LIKES TO THERMAL REGULATE AT 83 DEGREES AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR AND SORRY AGAIN FOR YOUR LOSS.

YOUR FRIEND AND FELLOW HERPER, BILL

Bill,
I appreciate your insight! I am leaning twards temp. as the problem, but as Joe says you never know. Next year I will monitor them a bit closer!

thanks

Jim