Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a pair of adult Argies at a show about a month and a half ago. At that time the female looked gravid and she does appear to be getting larger. The thing is I offered her a jumbo f/t rat when first home and she took it right away. Since then I've offered her smaller rats and she's declined. Last night she decided to eat a small rat and then a jumbo. I've always thought that a gravid animal will usually refuse food but it doesn't hurt to offer them some. Should I be concerned that she still wants to eat this far along? The other thing is I've never seen her water bowl level go down a bit. She doesn't want to be touched and hisses pretty loadly so I leave her completely alone. Is there a proper temperature range she should be maintained at while gravid different from normal?

From the info you have given it seems very likely to me your boa is going to have babies, good luck with that. It is a little worriesome that she won't drink but if she's eating that may be alll the moisture she needs.

Occidentalis here will continue to feed all through gestation, though for safety concerns we do not attempt to feed pregnant boas during the last 2-3 weeks. But the feediing pattern of your pregnant boas may be different depending upon what type of boas you have and/or how you manage them prior to breeding and pregnancy.

Some subspecies and localities of boas respond much more strongly to the so-called fat-ovulation cycle than others. These will breed successfully less-often unless they are fed until they are fairly heavy. Many times these same boas do not need to feed during gestation and so may not be agressive feeders during that time.

In other boas body-weight is much less an indicator or a precipitator of breeding and birth. In these, excess body weight can actually be contra-indicated and more slender, mature animals are often more likely to produce young. In this group, ovulation can be less discernable,or even delayed, and typically the females will feed agressively throughout the process, tapering off as birth is near.

The breeding success-rate between the two types of processes is similar. Overall yield from the the 'fat-dominated' cycle is a little less as it often involves a higher proportion of infertiles or slugs. And that can also be hazardous to younger mothers.

It is our experience that known groups of boas have a strong tendancy for one or the other types or progrressions and long-term success is linked to identifying which routine best suits your animals.
-----
Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com

"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

...temps are the same whether pregnant or not. A gravid female or one that is digesting a meal should have access to about 90F.
As a rule I never offered gravid boas food. If you're going to do so, make the meals small. Reason: a large meal will require a large metabolic demand and blood flow to the digestive tract. A pregant female has large oxygen demands on the two oviducts. By shunting blood from the oviducts to the digestive system may lead to transient ischemia (decreased oxygen) to the developing embryos possibly leading to birth defects or abortion. This has happened to at least one very well-known breeder active on this forum (not me!). SO, be careful!!!
Scott J. Michaels DVM

The idea of feeding smaller meals makes sense to me because of the diversion of blood flow thing. I've read enough about not feeding gravid animals anything but to me I think a little nutrition and energy should be provided both for the mom and babies. I'll offer minimal food from now on and decline when I feel she's weeks away. Trouble is I have no way of knowing how far along she is. Thanks for your inputs on the topic.