Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A few weeks ago my first female dropped slugs. The slugs were few only about 12 and dry. This is from a 9’ female with huge girth. The first year I bred her she produced 33 big babies. Last year she produced only 19 babies but they were huge, more then 20” at birth!
Well I was checking on her last night because she is still “acting gravid”. When I checked in on her last night she looked as if she dropped, where the babies move closer to vent in prep for delivery? Her back half is larger then normal and if it were not for the slugs a few weeks ago I would be confident that she is gravid.
Has anyone ever had this happen before? I am wondering if it is possible that she held these slugs from last years babies (as there were no slugs in the group) and just now clear them out in preparation for this years babies? She never showed any signs of a problem after birth last year and is feeding for the most part now (she refused this week after she “dropped”
Anyone with a similar experience?
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

I've heard of sperm retention, but slug retention? That would be the 1st time I've ever heard of that.
I'm no way qualified to even assume on this one. I hope someone like a VET or someone really qualified answers this one.
Good luck.

p.s. how is she doing otherwise? Can you post a pic of her?
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

Dry ova? Sounds scary... I would get her to a vet asap... she may be retaining ova. Structural twisting of an oviduct can prevent passage of young or eggs from both horns. They must be removed surgically... you may need an x-ray to ensure she's cleared out. Can you palpate anything towards her posterior? Not sure about holding slugs for a year... Anyone? Wish I could provide more help. Please keep us updated on her progress. Would be very interesting if she delivers a live clutch after a few weeks. Definitely an interesting topic. Good luck with her. Ray
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Quit? Never will I ever... forever 'til the end. Always keep on moving... never stop my friend.

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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

Or could a few of this years have died and dried up and came out ahead to make room for the live/slug batch?There are so many ways,maybe it was her first batch that didnt make it and she is double clutching?Im stymied.The only time Ive heard of retained clutches is when a big female dies for no reason and you do the autopsy and find youngins in there.I hope this doesnt sound to morbid hoppy.I will hope for the best.Do you have a vet with ultrasound?They could tell you whats going on in there.Even an x-ray would help.

I have never had one retain that long without developing some adhesions to the oviducts = surgery. Also the fetuses pretty much line up in the oviducts and I would doubt that it would be possible to pass the live babies without passing the slugs.

Last year I discovered something extruding from the vent of one of my females about 2 months after she delivered. The object was all dried and hard. It turned out to be the tail of a retained fetus and a pretty disgusting thing by this point. I was able to remove the whole body but was questioning what else was in there. Same female laid a near perfect litter this year without complications. Their tolerance for retained fetuses is amazing, but should your female have more in her, the sooner you get it out of her the better. The question seems to be whether she is going to lay it by herself or whether surgery will be necessary. Once the fetuses or slugs begin to adhere to the walls of the oviducts, the surgery becomes much more complicated and frequently forces the removal of the oviducts thereby sterilizing the female. Keep us informed. Good luck.

>>A few weeks ago my first female dropped slugs. The slugs were few only about 12 and dry. This is from a 9’ female with huge girth. The first year I bred her she produced 33 big babies. Last year she produced only 19 babies but they were huge, more then 20” at birth!
>>Well I was checking on her last night because she is still “acting gravid”. When I checked in on her last night she looked as if she dropped, where the babies move closer to vent in prep for delivery? Her back half is larger then normal and if it were not for the slugs a few weeks ago I would be confident that she is gravid.
>>Has anyone ever had this happen before? I am wondering if it is possible that she held these slugs from last years babies (as there were no slugs in the group) and just now clear them out in preparation for this years babies? She never showed any signs of a problem after birth last year and is feeding for the most part now (she refused this week after she “dropped”
>>Anyone with a similar experience?
>>-----
>>Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
>>Hopkins Holesale Herps
>>Hopfam1@aol.com

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Rick Staub
R&R Reptiles