Is there an easy way to tell if your Rosy is gravid?

My female Rosy is getting very big and I am starting to wonder if she is gravid. I didn't let me females mate this year but one of them already gave birth to sterile eggs sacs. (whatever you call that). I'm just hoping my big female isn't about to do the same thing. Is there a way to tell the difference from a Rosy that has just been eating a lot and one that's actually gravid?

Gravid females usually go off food at some point during the gestation period, but continue to gain size (especially in the last 1/3 to 1/2 of the body). They often act interested in the food, but most will not eat it in that there comes a time when there is just not enough room for babies and food. Gravid females will tend to hang out in the warm spot almost all of the time, and they tend to feel ridgid or stiff toward the back 1/2 of the body. When held up, you can often see bumps in the sides and in the belly. Hope this helps. Oh ya, in the reptile hobby, those steril eggs are commonly referred to as "slugs".

Originally Posted by pch101

Gravid females usually go off food at some point during the gestation period, but continue to gain size (especially in the last 1/3 to 1/2 of the body). They often act interested in the food, but most will not eat it in that there comes a time when there is just not enough room for babies and food. Gravid females will tend to hang out in the warm spot almost all of the time, and they tend to feel ridgid or stiff toward the back 1/2 of the body. When held up, you can often see bumps in the sides and in the belly. Hope this helps. Oh ya, in the reptile hobby, those steril eggs are commonly referred to as "slugs".

So why do Rosys lay "slugs" if they didn't mate?

They occasionally lay slugs when they have ovulated, but the ova were not fertilized. Sometimes it is thought that they reabsorbe these slugs while still in the body, and other times they pass them. In cases when they pass them, it is not unheard of for them to eat them. I have personally whitnissed this with live bearing lizards such as Blue-tongued Skinks. I once witnessed a female BTS eating the slugs as she passed them out of her vent (never letting them even touch the ground).

After reading your original post again, I am puzzled by the term "steril egg sacks" Can you describe them better? Slugs are usually firm yellow masses.

They were firm and yellow. I just had never heard the term slugs.

Ya, it is kind of a slang term for infertil ova. Rosy Boas that are brumated but not allowed to breed are more likely to give you slugs, But intentional brumation is not always necessary for this to happen. Sometimes, snakes just cycle no mater how hard you try to avoid it.