Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have seen a lot of posts asking if this or that snake looks gravid or not.

Here is a shot of a snake that is clearly gravid. She mated on 3/30/05 and wet into her pre-lay shed like clockwork a couple of days ago.

Hope she lays some fat eggs...

Sweet Pickle
East Coast Colubrids

This might show her a little better...

Sweet Pickle
East Coast Colubrids

Last year I had some first time breeder females. I sent pics of them to my friends every other day asking,"you think she's gravid?". They told me over n over yes, it looks like it and I still couldn't sleep til I got eggs. It's a great thing when your snake is as obvious as yours. My MBK looks like that about now. Tom Stevens

Wow, I didnt expect that any female would plump up that fast once she's mated. Is that normal? How much longer do you think until she drops the eggs now thats shed? Just a few days?
-----
Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

My snake looked like that after about 3 weeks or so and laid the eggs around day 40 or so, not exactly sure. Also, it had been about 15 days from her shed 'till she laid her eggs.
-----
Matt from Minnesota

If she mated succesfully for the first time on 3/30 and now only 15 days later she is going opaque, I suspect this is NOT a prelay shed. Even assuming it takes her 10 days from now until she sheds and 15 days thereafter until she lays eggs that makes her egg laying date around 40 days after mating.

That seems awfully soon. I usually expect eggs around 60 days after mating with most species, but I could be wrong in the case of this snake.

I wonder if the large swelling you are seeing is related to ovulation rather than getting ready to lay. You will know if the swelling goes down again in a few days.
-----
Chris Harrison

Chris - I always thought that it WAS 40 days.

We will see because this year I kept track of all observed matings in every cage.

We'll get to the bottom of this.

Also, if it was just ovulation, why would she be so thick from midsection to tail? I always thought that would be displayed as a thickening of the midsection only. (???)

- Peter

Hi Guys,

That snake looks to me like she is either ready to lay eggs imminantly, or she is still gowing very large follicles and has not yet ovulated. Is the male still interested in her? Is she receptive? Sorry if you covered this already in another post, Pete.

Some of my girls, especially those on a post brumation feeding tear, will shed several times between breeding and laying. The timing of your female seems a bit quick, although it is certainly possible. Well, if she ain't gravid yet, she will be very soon. Great looking snake. Congrats and good luck.

Will

she bred several times between the end of March and early April.

I think that the timing is just right.

Think about it:

Let's say she mated March 30 (which is the first day I same copulation).

I posted the pic on April 14 - so that is 16 days from copulation. She is totally blue now... so lets say she sheds on April 23 (1 week from now). Then lets give her 15 days from then... May 8 would be the egg drop date.

That would make it EXACTLY 40 days.

- Peter

Yeah, you could certainly be right on. For some reason I always thought mine took longer. I know I have the info stashed somewhere, I oughta look that up (LOL). Hope it's good clutch for you, they are stunning easterns. Good luck.

Will