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Gestation length with no POS?

mdc Jan 28, 2005 09:55 AM

Does anyone have any information on this. I'm looking for an approximate number of days from ovulation to birth.

Thanks,
Matt Crabe

Replies (5)

Trueredtails Jan 28, 2005 11:33 AM

Perhaps she may have a second ovulation? I have not bred boas enough to be an expert but I had a female the other year not shed at all until 3 weeks after giving birth. Im not sure about the average number of day after ovulation until POS or until she gives birth but I think I have read that it's about 124 days after ovulation until birth. If Im wrong someone please correct me
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True Redtails

ajfreptiles Jan 28, 2005 12:33 PM

That is frustrating...I know a little about this. Allthough my female did eventually shed. I will try and explain a little of this. She had an ovulation and the male lost all interest in her. He was trying very hard to get out of her cage...so I put him in with another female, thinking he would have been done with the first female, having witnessed preovulation swell and then ovulation. He calmed right down, and went right to work. The first female had a very long ovulation, over a week and after about another week went into another very long second ovulation. After that one was completed she then went into a shed which made the whole thing look out of wack...time frame went just over a month. I was only counting days from first ovulation and never realized her shed would go from the end of both ovulations.
I am sorry if this is going in circles it is hard to put into words.
Now that my female had babies, I feel I learned something. The breeding may have only been successful, only for the first ovulation. Then followed the second ovulation and either it was too long a time span or just not enough sperm to fertilize the eggs. That is why I believe she had 26 slugs and 12 babies.
This also explains the shed time frame being off.

I would say to answer your question...make sure male is with her until she goes into the shed. That way if you miss an ovulation the male will not. I think this may be why people have said their males had a renewed interest in the females again and keep trying to breed them.

I would say based on all the other info out there, your boa will shed after her ovulations are completed.

I would appreciate comments on this. Thanks Andy Federico

tcdrover Jan 28, 2005 02:47 PM

Is there any clear cut way to tell the difference between an
ovulation and a pregnancy?

When my boas were together the female swelled up pretty big. I
was worried for 2 days that she may have eaten the male. This
was at the end of November and about 3 weeks into December,
but no, everything seemed fine. This was after a shed she had in
November after the first time I put them together.

She is now MUCH bigger at least twice as big as before. I think
she must be pregnant, but she hasn't shed yet. I have removed
the male. I put him in with her twice for a day or two and there
was no interest on her part. He seemed interested, but she blocked off her cave entrance and kept her tail away from him.

I'm not sure what to think. How long would an unfertilized
ovulation last for? Thanks................tc

ajfreptiles Jan 28, 2005 06:00 PM

I am taking your points individually bellow....

Is there any clear cut way to tell the difference between an
ovulation and a pregnancy?

All I can say is once you see it you will never forget the ovulation.

When my boas were together the female swelled up pretty big. I
was worried for 2 days that she may have eaten the male. This
was at the end of November and about 3 weeks into December,
but no, everything seemed fine. This was after a shed she had in
November after the first time I put them together.

First that shed does not count...

That sounds like the preovulation swell...that is not the ovulation. The ovulation is a concentrated swelling like she ate a softball or even a football.

She is now MUCH bigger at least twice as big as before. I think
she must be pregnant, but she hasn't shed yet. I have removed
the male. I put him in with her twice for a day or two and there
was no interest on her part. He seemed interested, but she blocked off her cave entrance and kept her tail away from him.

Provided she is about at least 10 pounds and your temps and humidity is in control, go ahead and put them back together.

Take out the cave, get them back together. If he is interested, then he will court her to get her interested, He will straddle her back and give her short squeezes, and tickle her with his spurs.

I'm not sure what to think. How long would an unfertilized
ovulation last for? Thanks................tc

You may still be able to get her pregnant...Go buy the book at the local pet shop called the boa constrictor manual. The Boaphile Jeff Ronne, wrote the section on breeding. Hope this helps.. Andy Federico

tcdrover Jan 28, 2005 06:52 PM

It looks like she shed this morning, I don't want to disturb
her. I'm going to return the male tonight just in case.

Thanks for your help. I've got that book, that's what I've been
going by. It just seems difficult to actually verify anything
since it's the 1st time I go through this. Slowly I'll get there.
This is THE place to scan for good info.....tc

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