Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female boa who is ready to give birth any day now. (104 days after POS) She is also going into a shed cycle. I mean she is full-on in the blue. I have had a few pregnant boas in the past, but I do not remember this happening. My questions are:
Does this happen often?
Is it a sign of her getting ready to give birth, if so, will she do it before or after the shed?
Anything special I should do?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

(the photo of her was taken about 10 days ago, before she started the shed cylce)

-----
Derek Roberts
Sonoran Reptile Breeders
sonoranreptile@cox.net

Never had that happen. My females shed about ten days after parturition. You might have to look at how much you fed during gravidity, or other kind of stressors that cause snakes to shed, medication, stress, disease, etc. I would be inclined, but do not know for sure, that it is not a very good sign if she is shedding at the time that she should be giving birth. Please, if anyone else can shed some more light on this, do so. As I really do not have any answers, just guesses. Good luck.

Also are you 100% sure she is 104 days POS could you have mistaken ovulation with pre-ovulation. And did you allow her a hot spot of 95 degrees throughout the entire gestation? There are many factors to be considered.

Good luck
Bob

I have a gravid female now that seems to want to sit on the cold side of the cage all the time but she is mataining a temp of 85-86 degrees constantly, with the exception of about 3 days her heat tape came unpluged and I didnt notice then she was at about 83. She has about 1 month left by my calculations so we shall see whats in there babys or slugs. Thanks again Vinnie

Here is what has happened. She was observed breeding with our male salmon during mid-Oct. to mid-November. In early Nov. she was obseved, or what I think was her ovulation. Around Thanksgiving she shed which I took to be her P.O.S. She has not eaten anything since mid-November. She has had access to hot spot of 92-93 with the cool side being 80-82. She has spent 75% of her time on or near the hot side ever since early December. She has steadily gotten heavier since Dec. and has ben thermoregulating more often. She has also laid in the "heads up" postion quite often, which I have noticed almost all gravid female I have owned in the past do. This is where they lay coiled, and have their head and about 18 inches of body resting vertical along the cage wall. She has lost weight in the front part of her body, and is very heavy and lumpy towards her back half. I have had several litters of babies in the past, but I do not remember any of them doing this. She is acting just like every other gravid boa I have owned except for the shed cycle. Thanks for your help, Bob, and congratulations on the year you are having. Those are beautiful babies!

-----
Derek Roberts
Sonoran Reptile Breeders
sonoranreptile@cox.net

LOL I guess there is an exception to every rule. Keep us informed.

Bob

.