Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I put this girl in with my pastel for several weeks but never witnessed copulation. She hasn't eaten in three weeks (normally she's my garbage disposal). And now she's been in this position for 2 1/2 days. She doesn't appear to be swelling or anything. Not sure what to think except maybe it's false ovulation. Does anyone know how this plays out? Will she eventually figure out she's not having babies? LOL.

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Tosha

8.15.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
1.0.0 Angolan Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.3 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

...so it's not a "false" ovulation...if anything, she's in the pre-ov early follicular growth...cool-seeking phase...

...keep presenting her to your male...or the male to her...her weight looks sufficient...it's not too late...

..."false" ovulation is actually the follicles reaching a fairly large size...say 20-25 mm...and then regressing, forming 'corpus lutuem', or 'luteal bodies', never to become viable follicles again...in subsequent seasons, new follicles will develop from different gametes...

good luck!

Scott J. Michaels DVM
Serpent City

She is probably growing palpable follicles now. Does she wrap the water dish too? Not seeing actual copulation really doesn't mean much. Some are shy and you simply won't catch them at it. I'd definately continue to introduce them until they rest separately, or she shows you a real ovulation.... as you really can't mistake it if you see it. Some of mine are stil sporadically breeding and many won't ovulate until early-summer. So you still have plenty of time. Good luck.

Will

i would just like to say that she is a purty snake XD. i also have a female with the high tail stripe, not sure if its common but it looks kool.
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"who knows". Edgar ~ Skepticism Inc.

Tosha, I think this female knows you are going to let her sit on her eggs for 2 months so she is reluctant to ovulate. If you tell her you will buy an incubator, I'm sure she will ovulate shortly. Lol.

Actually, Doctor Scott is right on. She is probably developing follicles and could ovulate soon whether you put your male in there again or not. Some females will ovulate months after a male has stopped breeding them.

Like the Doc said, put your male back in with her and leave him in there. Some males will only breed a night, and unless your a night owl like me, you will never see it. He may have already bred her while you were sleeping months ago, but I would still put your male back in.

You should check and see if the animal has any follicles. This is not easy to explain how to do in print, but it would definately give you a better idea of what's going on with your girl.

LOL you may be right - I am planning on ordering my incubator next week. Unfortunately I sold off my breeding pastel (for taxes, ick) so I don't have anything to throw in with her. I guess I'll just wait and see what happens.

Thanks
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Tosha

8.15.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
1.0.0 Angolan Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.3 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer