Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My longest female(4.5 feet) took a mouse today. I had seen her breeding with my male numerous times, but does this mean she isn't pregnant? I know in most, they won't eat if they are gravid. In your experience, does this hold true for Argentine Rainbows? My other female, the one in the pic posted in a previous message won't eat as of now, so I am hoping she is gravid.... Thanks,
John

John,
...It has been a long time since I last bred alvarezi and I only had three litters of them. I am pretty sure I remember them eating while gravid. In 2005 I bought a pair of them to keep my lone male company. Both males were mating with the female off and on august through october. The female looks gravid but I am not sure about her. She is heavy in the aft end but I cannot feel individual egg masses. She and the male I bought at the same time were both very thin and I fed them heavily to put weight on them. The female is still eating small meals. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck with yours. She looks very healthy.
Jeff

>>My longest female(4.5 feet) took a mouse today. I had seen her breeding with my male numerous times, but does this mean she isn't pregnant? I know in most, they won't eat if they are gravid. In your experience, does this hold true for Argentine Rainbows? My other female, the one in the pic posted in a previous message won't eat as of now, so I am hoping she is gravid.... Thanks,
>>John

Again Jeff, thanks for putting my mind at ease. The more I learn about alvarezi, the more I am amazed at how different they are. She ate 2 large mice, the first one I gave her and then the one the male wouldn't eat! Then, this morning, I found a full shed..lol! All 3 females bred numerous times with the male, so we will see.
I created lay boxes for all 3 females. They are sterilite containers with lids and holes cut in the top. I then took that coconut husk bedding they sell in bricks at the pet store and filled it half way up with that and made it very damp. It holds moisture very well and all 3 ladies are curled up in them.
The only thing that sucks about this is having to wait what..5 months to see what happens?

John,
...I would be careful with the moisture in the hide boxes. I know that my alvarezi do well with much less humidity than my other Rainbows. I am really not sure just how moist an environment they can handle without developing skin problems.
Jeff

>>Again Jeff, thanks for putting my mind at ease. The more I learn about alvarezi, the more I am amazed at how different they are. She ate 2 large mice, the first one I gave her and then the one the male wouldn't eat! Then, this morning, I found a full shed..lol! All 3 females bred numerous times with the male, so we will see.
>> I created lay boxes for all 3 females. They are sterilite containers with lids and holes cut in the top. I then took that coconut husk bedding they sell in bricks at the pet store and filled it half way up with that and made it very damp. It holds moisture very well and all 3 ladies are curled up in them.
>> The only thing that sucks about this is having to wait what..5 months to see what happens?

Ok, that make sense, since I know they take less humidity than BRB's. Guess there really isn't much use in this box then hugh? I have hides in every cage, so that should be the same. I did notice that the one female was in shed and it definately helped her shed -John