Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a newbie at breeding - the last mating I saw there was no visible ovulation at all. However I now have a snake who is swelling up like a (rather alarming) balloon.

She was wild caught and it is just possible that she was gravid when caught, I'm only noticing it now, and she is about to give birth. On the other hand, this has come up very suddenly (noticed 2 weeks ago that she was looking a bit "thick", and now she's positively bloated). This is a species that is pregnant for about 9 months, so nothing usually happens this fast.

She has been housed with males for a while, and it has just dropped to winter temps here which is normally breeding season, but I have not seen any copulations, or attempts at same.

So here are some pics of my swollen Fiji Boa - do you think this is ovulation, pregnancy, or do I have some other problem?

Another pic close up of the swollen one!

Judging by the location of the bulge, I would guess ovulation. I have only worked with C. paulsoni though.

-Chris
-----
Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

Thank Chris ; Any idea how long ovulation bulges usually last? Even though C. paulsoni is different, it's all helpful info.

Cheers

Hi Helen,

Did you get my e-mail?

Cheers Matt
-----

Hi Matt, yes thanks very much, will reply today - been out and about again......

Well, it definitely was ovulation, because this morning the boys were all over her.

Lilith hasn't eaten since 12 July, swelled up on 15 July, and on 10 August became the centre of attention for all 4 males in my tank. I had no idea ovulation would last so long.

Looks like Grendal has won the race, but as he has a severely short tail (damaged before being wild caught) I'm not entirely certain he can do the job. The spurs are out and the moves are right, but he can't really twine with her in the way I've seen the others do.

Anyway here are indelicate pics of them in action...

Congrats! Hope everything works out!

-Chris
-----
Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC