Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my female Dumerils is definitely gravid. However she is still feeding regularly! Is this normal? She is right at 6 months along. I have never done Dumerils. I have done loads of boas and pythons and they all go off feed. I am perplexed. Any insights will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

First off, how are you certain that she's gravid? Were you able to record Tail Wraps, Ovulation, or Post Ovulation Shed? Also, although Dumerils sometimes mate year round, they're usually only fertile just after the end of winter. Your estimate would put the breeding in the beginning of fall. At 6 months pregnant, she should look like she's ready to pop. While some boas eat while pregnant, it's very uncommon.

If you could provide some additional details and pictures, maybe we can all figure out what's going on.

-----
Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

Paul is correct.

If she is continuing to eat, offer her smaller food items than normal & only one per feeding.
-----
Pat Higdon - Higdons Herps, Tuttle, Oklahoma USA
Oklahoma City Herpetological Society Member
4 dumerils boas, 2 rosy boas, 3 burmese pythons, 1 reticulated python, 1 ball pythons, 3 borneo pythons, 10 bearded dragons, 9 leopard geckos, 4 african fat-tail geckos & 1 sulcata tortoise

She is getting really big and laying belly up under her heat lamp. The room is at 80, so I know she is plenty warm. The only time I have ever seen a Boid go belly up is when they are gravid, or dead. She is getting lumpy on the last third of her body. I was out of state when the pairing occurred. My oldest son who is not a big snake guy put them together then never checked for copulation. They are a proven pair that I purchased last year. She did go off food for 3 weeks early on. She has continued to eat every 1-2 weeks since then.

Sounds like congratulations are in order. Some boas continue eating while pregnant. If she's getting large enough that it shows, you may want to hold off on feeding her. It would be good for any food to be processed through her system before giving birth. 80 degrees is generally warm enough for Dumerils Boas, but you may want to provide a basking spot that's 85-90 degrees while she's pregnant. I know one of my females was glued underneath a heat lamp the last few weeks of her pregnancy. Best of luck to you.

-----
Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

She spends about 6 hours a day under her lamp witch is about 95 degrees. Kinda hot but she loves it. So you think I should lay off the food?
Thank you

Yeah, this far along in her pregnancy, I'd lay off the food just to be safe.

-----
Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

They were put together the end of August beginning of September. Every thing I've read says 5-7 months. What is the deciding factor on the time line??? I was kinda worried about her eating so much while gravid. Is there any chance she is just getting fat? Besides basking all the time on her side and back she has also gotten very dark. Like I stated I have never done Dumerils before so I really appreciate any first hand info you can give me. I bread B. c. i. over 20 years ago and non of them ever ate after about 3 months! I am kinda worried.
Thank you

What's her approximate length and weight? Do you have any records or guesses when she has shed since you've had her? Also, what size food have you been feeding her and how often? Do you have any estimate how often she's been defecating?

Her behavior seems to indicate that she's pregnant. If you have any records of sheds, we can estimate a due date based on Post Ovulation Shed and temperature. If you have a temperature gun, it would be helpful if you can get a couple readings of her body temperature throughout the day. Temperature can be an important variable for gestation period.

-----
Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

Ok they were put together on 8-30. She 1 xl rat on 9-15, 2 medium rats on 9-26 and reintroduced male, "didn't see any action",10-4 2 med rat, 10-24 shed, 11-7 2 xxl rats, 11-15 1 xxl rat,11-22 2 xxl rat,12-23 2 xl rat,1-2 shed, 1-18 2 xl rat, 2-13 1 xl rat,2-27 2 xl rat. She is really dark and getting lumpy on her last third of her body. I think it must be soon. She has not laid belly up in over a month. The room is 60 from 7 am to 7 pm, and 72 at night her only heat source is a 125 watt heat lamp.
Thank you

Looking back through my records and comparing them to yours, I came up with two possible due dates for you. From what you said, your Dumerils Boa shed on 10/24 and 2/1. Only time will tell which one was her Post Ovulation Shed. 10/24 would put her due date around Feb 15, and 2/1 around Apr 26. I was about to throw the Feb 15 due date out because it already passed, then I considered that having continued to eat this entire time could have thrown the numbers off some. My best guess is either she's about to pop, or she'll have her babies near the end of April. Please keep us updated. It'll be exciting to see how this all turns out. Good Luck.

-----
Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

Thank you.
I don't think she will last till the last date. I could be wrong. She is not a Bci.

Thank you.
I don't think she will last till the last date. I could be wrong. She is not a Bci.

I think she is about to pop. Everything has dropped to the last 1/2 of her body. I wish I knew how to post pics!

She is opaque!!

She just shed. She looks smaller but still really dark.

FANTASTIC!!!!!!
-----
Pat Higdon - Higdons Herps, Tuttle, Oklahoma USA
Oklahoma City Herpetological Society Member
4 dumerils boas, 2 rosy boas, 3 burmese pythons, 1 reticulated python, 1 ball pythons, 3 borneo pythons, 10 bearded dragons, 6 leopard geckos, 4 african fat-tail geckos & 1 sulcata tortoise