Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got an adult female from a guy who owed me some money for tas and now sold everything. this femele was housed with a male up till half february and this guy said he saw them mating and so might be gravid. now this female is slightly swollen in her lower half. this is not normal for me as usually my boas are of uniform width troughout their body.

so is it normal for gravid females to show "fatter" in thie lower half?

also do gravid females shed while gestinating or only when they are due to give birth?

thanks for your kind help.

Some signs of a gravid boa are visible swelling in lower half, animal appearing more stretched out with scales stretched showing the skin underneath, gradual thinning of neck area, heat reserve position (coiled on top of itself), constantly looking for heat, nasty attitude, and refusing food.

Usually after a boa ovulates and becomes gravid, they have what is known as a post ovulation shed or P.O.S., and more than likely babies are born about 105-110 days later.
This is not always the case.. it doesn't 'have to' happen.

Just the same, some tend to shed a short time prior to giving birth ... most don't, but some do.

Hope that heps.

Take care, Joe Rollo - Bci Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

i loved your answer.. you explained everything very simply. one last thing if i may... 2 as such.

1) the POS.. when is it supposed to happen. i mean copulation was witnessed 1.5 months ago.. does it make sense?

2) in boas... what happens first... ovulation or pregnancy? from what i had read it seemed to me that first the boa ovulates and then they become fertilised.. but you made it sound the other way round...

som emore light pls.. thanks a lot anyway!!!!!!

it should've happened already, if it indeed was going to. they don't necessarily do..
my first year, I had two females produce for me, and neither one had a POS. Neither one put on much weight, nor thinned out much up front, they weren't too crazy about the heat or always in heat reserve, no attitude change, and only one refused food.. Sometimes...
I didn't know they were gravid until after they dropped! go figure..

You are right about #2.

Go to www.Boaphile.com and go to the info/breeding article page..
This is an article Jeff wrote way back when.. i'm sure you've heard of Jeff Ronne?

take care, Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin