Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I need a little reassurance and I've already written Ralph Davis five times in the last month, so I thought I'd come here rather than bug him (thanks Ralphy).

I had a girl ovulate REALLY early (for me) this year - January 10. Her follicle development was textbook - eight huge follicles, and a giant ovulation.

Feb 4 she shed out. On track, right? By the end of Feb I can clearly feel the eggs...again, right on track. Well, here it is March 29. I still feel the eggs. The feel fine. She looks great. She's not in distress - she's just laying there like a gravid snake does. But geez it's been almost 90 days since she ovulated!

Now I realize my temps were very low for most of her gestation - I began a gradual warm up starting Feb 14, but before that I had my animals quite cool at night. I figure this is why she's taking SO FREAKING LONG.

So please tell me...is everything ok?

Thanks, Christy

90 days, huh? The only explanation I have for this is that what you thought was an ovulation, was not. 90 days, huh?
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www.strictlyballs.ca

Take a deep breath. Ok, I've never had one go this long but hell, half the time I miss the ovulation. Just keep watching her. Has she done any nesting? Has she layed for you before? Some prefer a nest box while others will lay (eggs) anywhere. Is she active? You know, like she really wants to unload her cargo. Maybe a trip to the vet for exrays is in order?

Keep us posted.
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Jay A. Martin

Christy,

I know you have experience breeding ball pythons so you know what an ovulation looks like.

With that out of the way it will be because of your low temps. Typically a snake will ovulate and then (on average) 14-18 days later they will shed. However, in your case the shed was 25 days after ovulation. After the ovulation you are looking at 28 days (on average for a healthy clutch) until egg laying. You are currently at 51 days.

Well..........I had a situation like yours where I had a female ovulate very early and I didn't warm her up early. I waited until everyone else shed. She went at 56 days after her pre-egglaying shed.

So, I would say that it's going to be any day now. My female had 100% fertility and I'd suspect that you'd be close to that as well.

Good luck,
Corey

Hi all,

I need a little reassurance and I've already written Ralph Davis five times in the last month, so I thought I'd come here rather than bug him (thanks Ralphy).

I had a girl ovulate REALLY early (for me) this year - January 10. Her follicle development was textbook - eight huge follicles, and a giant ovulation.

Feb 4 she shed out. On track, right? By the end of Feb I can clearly feel the eggs...again, right on track. Well, here it is March 29. I still feel the eggs. The feel fine. She looks great. She's not in distress - she's just laying there like a gravid snake does. But geez it's been almost 90 days since she ovulated!

Now I realize my temps were very low for most of her gestation - I began a gradual warm up starting Feb 14, but before that I had my animals quite cool at night. I figure this is why she's taking SO FREAKING LONG.

So please tell me...is everything ok?

Thanks, Christy

>>Christy,
>>
>>I know you have experience breeding ball pythons so you know what an ovulation looks like.
>>
>>With that out of the way it will be because of your low temps. Typically a snake will ovulate and then (on average) 14-18 days later they will shed. However, in your case the shed was 25 days after ovulation. After the ovulation you are looking at 28 days (on average for a healthy clutch) until egg laying. You are currently at 51 days.
>>
>>Well..........I had a situation like yours where I had a female ovulate very early and I didn't warm her up early. I waited until everyone else shed. She went at 56 days after her pre-egglaying shed.
>>
>>So, I would say that it's going to be any day now. My female had 100% fertility and I'd suspect that you'd be close to that as well.
>>
>>Good luck,
>>Corey
>>
>>
>>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I need a little reassurance and I've already written Ralph Davis five times in the last month, so I thought I'd come here rather than bug him (thanks Ralphy).
>>
>>I had a girl ovulate REALLY early (for me) this year - January 10. Her follicle development was textbook - eight huge follicles, and a giant ovulation.
>>
>>Feb 4 she shed out. On track, right? By the end of Feb I can clearly feel the eggs...again, right on track. Well, here it is March 29. I still feel the eggs. The feel fine. She looks great. She's not in distress - she's just laying there like a gravid snake does. But geez it's been almost 90 days since she ovulated!
>>
>>Now I realize my temps were very low for most of her gestation - I began a gradual warm up starting Feb 14, but before that I had my animals quite cool at night. I figure this is why she's taking SO FREAKING LONG.
>>
>>So please tell me...is everything ok?
>>
>>Thanks, Christy
-----
Jay A. Martin

I appreciate everyone's input!

I know the obvious answer here is I didn't see ovulation and I'm feeling large building follicles. But, the masses are not hard like follicles - they are "water baloons" and feel exactly like all my other gravid girls after ovulation. At this point, I'd be perfectly happy to be proven wrong on that, however lol!

In answer to some of the questions that were raised - this is her first year laying. She's a big girl given to me by a friend of my son's, who raised her (on my rats!) since she was a baby. She is in perfect shape and well over 2400 grams.

As far as activity - for the most part she just stays coiled over the heat (what I see most of my gravid girls doing). She roams around some but nothing excessive. She occasionally inverts. The "eggs" feel like good eggs not slugs. They are soft and large and all the same size.

I feel better now Corey, haha!

Christy

...2nd paragraph, 4th sentence. This will confuse some people. No criticism here, just mentioning it. sjm

Next time I should preview it before I post...lol.

Thanks,
Corey

Eight good ones this morning. Yay!

np

I told you everything would be ok. So do I get one of the babies???
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Jay A. Martin

LOL, Nice try Jay.

Quig

>>Hi all,
>>
>>I need a little reassurance and I've already written Ralph Davis five times in the last month, so I thought I'd come here rather than bug him (thanks Ralphy).
>>
>>I had a girl ovulate REALLY early (for me) this year - January 10. Her follicle development was textbook - eight huge follicles, and a giant ovulation.
>>
>>Feb 4 she shed out. On track, right? By the end of Feb I can clearly feel the eggs...again, right on track. Well, here it is March 29. I still feel the eggs. The feel fine. She looks great. She's not in distress - she's just laying there like a gravid snake does. But geez it's been almost 90 days since she ovulated!
>>
>>Now I realize my temps were very low for most of her gestation - I began a gradual warm up starting Feb 14, but before that I had my animals quite cool at night. I figure this is why she's taking SO FREAKING LONG.
>>
>>So please tell me...is everything ok?
>>
>>Thanks, Christy

Ok, you can "feel" the eggs? There is a good chance she did not ovulate, she may have swelled but failed to ovulate. Ball pythons can trick even the seasoned breeder with pre ovulation swelling. There is a good chance she did not ovulate and you are feeling mature follicles, she is waiting for a trigger. Sometimes females stall and fail to ovulate or sometimes they take ages and then suddenly do it.

Are the "eggs" distinct walnut(maturing follicles) size or very large, soft like marshmellows(eggs)? How fasr down do you feel these eggs? If they are close to the tail and you feel distinct hard large lumps she may have duds in her.

Hope this helps - Kevin
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www.newenglandreptile.com
The Most Extensive Collection of Ball Python Mutations in Captivity

Eight good eggs this morning! Thanks for the moral support everyone!!!!!