Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is going to sound REALLY thick, but I can't find any info anywhere about Brazilian rainbow boas giving birth that tells me if they have a pre lay shed like our other snakes, or any other really useful info come to that. Most articles and caresheets give you the basics and nothing more, and this is our first experience of livebearing snakes!

I saw one of the females mating with our male on April 22nd. She has been steadily growing and basking a lot under the heater so I'm pretty sure she's gravid. I know they're not due until September UNLESS they had mated before this! This female hasn't eaten since the week after I saw her being mated. The other female is a very large snake anyway, but now seems to be bursting at the seams! I haven't her mating, and she's still eating, so I don't know for sure if she's gravid. Both females are approx 8 years old and are proven with this male.

Can anyone give me some advice, like do they have a pre lay slough, how should you handle her afterwards when removing the babies, take her from them or them from her? Feed her? Bath her?

I did loads of research into mating them (there's loads) but nothing to read about prenatal or aftercare!!!

V_and_T,
....I used to keep records of when mine ate, mated, shed and laid babies. I have accurate records for nearly 100 Rainbow Boa gravidities. There is no correlation between shed dates and parturition. I have had several litters delivered while the mother was opaque ready to shed. They do not usually lay within a couple weeks after shedding. I have had 2, 3 and 4 sheds from time of last observed mating to delivery of babies. I have not had any litter laid sooner than 5 months after last observed mating. Most births come around 5.5 months after last observed mating. Gestational tamperature may have a great deal of effect on length of gestation. I have had many BRBs breed and then look and act gravid and not eat and then eventually pass a very large messy stool and begin eating again without laying any babies. I have never had one eat heavily and regularly while actually gravid.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>I know this is going to sound REALLY thick, but I can't find any info anywhere about Brazilian rainbow boas giving birth that tells me if they have a pre lay shed like our other snakes, or any other really useful info come to that. Most articles and caresheets give you the basics and nothing more, and this is our first experience of livebearing snakes!
>>
>>I saw one of the females mating with our male on April 22nd. She has been steadily growing and basking a lot under the heater so I'm pretty sure she's gravid. I know they're not due until September UNLESS they had mated before this! This female hasn't eaten since the week after I saw her being mated. The other female is a very large snake anyway, but now seems to be bursting at the seams! I haven't her mating, and she's still eating, so I don't know for sure if she's gravid. Both females are approx 8 years old and are proven with this male.
>>
>>Can anyone give me some advice, like do they have a pre lay slough, how should you handle her afterwards when removing the babies, take her from them or them from her? Feed her? Bath her?
>>
>>I did loads of research into mating them (there's loads) but nothing to read about prenatal or aftercare!!!