Palpating females...

I looked up Ralph Davis' explanation on palpating for follicles, and made an attempt on Angel tonight. She's been paired with my weirdo male off and on for the last 5-6 weeks. I did it according to Ralph's instructions and he said they should be like a string of pearls, one after the other with small gaps between. I felt at least 6 perfectly round things in a row exactly like he described...not quite golf-ball sized but maybe half? Bigger than marbles, anyway. Would these be follicles or actual eggs in development? I plan to keep pairing them until at least the end of January, or until either of them decides they aren't interested anymore. Angel's an absolute pig and has never once refused any food item ever (whether it be live, dead, rat, mouse, or even prekilled by another snake)...but for the past 2 weeks she's turned her nose up at everything I've offered (minus one weaned rat she did decide to take). Good sign?

I know nothing about palpating females Jen, but it sounds like you have your string of pearls.......way to go and congrats if all works for you!111

Females are palpated to help determine which females should get the most attention from which male.

For example, let's say you have a pastel male, a lesser platinum male, and 10 normal females. Then you palpate your females and determine that one of them had 12 follicles, 3 of them had 8, 2 had 4 of them, and 4 of them had nothing yet. You would most likely make sure that the female with 12 follicles, and possibly most of the ones with 8, got a lot of attention from your lesser. Your pastel could have his go at the females with 4 follicles and maybe a female with 8. And you would would know not to waste your males time with the females that have nothing forming yet.

However if you are only trying to breed one pair, then you would not have to worry about that. Just put him with her a few days each week until she ovulates.

Good luck Jen!

Originally Posted by garweft

Females are palpated to help determine which females should get the most attention from which male.

For example, let's say you have a pastel male, a lesser platinum male, and 10 normal females. Then you palpate your females and determine that one of them had 12 follicles, 3 of them had 8, 2 had 4 of them, and 4 of them had nothing yet. You would most likely make sure that the female with 12 follicles, and possibly most of the ones with 8, got a lot of attention from your lesser. Your pastel could have his go at the females with 4 follicles and maybe a female with 8. And you would would know not to waste your males time with the females that have nothing forming yet.

However if you are only trying to breed one pair, then you would not have to worry about that. Just put him with her a few days each week until she ovulates.

Well, I think that's coming soon, she's starting to swell. They were locked up for the last 49 hours and I just separated them for a 3-day break.