Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have any of you ever experienced a pre-ovulation swelling in your females? I have only been breeding for two years and last year as well as this year, I have witnessed swelling 1-2 weeks before the true ovulation occurs. The first swelling is not as noticeable being smaller than the swelling associated with ovulation. Please provide any observations experienced.
Thanks

D.R. Grimsley

That's what I call it. This is when females build towards ovulation and you can see a swell in their body about 2/3 down. It's a great indicator of eventual ovulation. Ovulation can take place anywhere from a few days after you notice to 4 weeks.

I mark it down as that on my spread sheet and mark the container with a special colored label so I can, at a glance, see which females to keep a special eye on.

I have taken pictures and included them on my breeding page.

Good luck!

Mark
Breeding Page

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www.ballpython.ca

Markus,

Thanks for your reply. That is EXACTLY what I have been observing in my snakes. Also, I would like to commend you on your breeding page as it is very informative and has helped me a bit on the situation I observed with my first breeding attempt last season.

The female I bred last season, had a "building" stage and then ovulation. She shed 14 days later, not going into a shed cycle, but cycled and shed in 14 days after ovulation. She then laid her eggs 23 days after shedding. These dates are not even close to the "standard" set by most people of 30 days after ovulation, shedding, and 30 days later having eggs laid. Thanks again for your reply.