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Building, Ovulating, Gravid, or not?

BaltimoreBees

BaltimoreBees

Baltimore Bees
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We've had this girl (Hattie) in breeding for a little while and I'm not sure if my efforts are working or not. Let me start with some background. She's been spotty eating since May (I did lose some of my records for a month or two around then), she ate 2 jumbo hopper rats mid September and had what I thought was her pre-ovulation shed around that same time. She had been locking with our Bumble Bee (Buzz). She didn't eat again until October 24 and was in shed by November 02, when she came out of shed, I'm fairly certain she got lighter (nothing like our Piebald, Bolt, but just a few shades). By around mid/early October she stopped breeding with Buzz and doesn't show a whole lot of interest.
I introduced our Cinnamon male (who seems as though he may be shooting blanks :shootfoot, forgive my lack of a better expression :) ) and once again, no interest, locking, or even "cuddling". She has gained weight since she went off feed so I'm thinking she's gravid and due soon, I just am not too sure. This is our second year breeding so we're still new and I have a hard time telling with this stuff. I'm attaching a picture of her for you experts out there if you don't mind giving me your opinions. Thanks for any/all help and for taking the time to read.

P.S. On another note, does anybody have any good tricks to get first time males to start breeding? I'm having a heck of a time with this OG, Pastel, & Piebald lol
 
Lovely! I published that without the pictures. Gotta love hitting the wrong button :)
 

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Best guess by your timeline and by looking at her is that she's beginning to glow and should ovulate in a month or so and then head into prelay shed.
Eggs arrive around 45 days after ovulation.
 
You can try, some will breed when in glow, some will not.
I had quite a few lock ups while snakes were in glow this past season.
I've heard rumors that it's past time when they glow, I can't say for sure though, maybe someone else might know??
 
She had been locking with the Bee up until her last shed so I'll keep my fingers crossed. So she would be at the building phase (about 2 1/2 months from laying)? Not yet ovulating, but heading that way? Thank you so much! You are always so helpful!
 
I think she's there

Hope all had lovely holidays!

I think she hit ovulation, or is this closer to 'they're about to go'? She just shed on 12/24 :) She is definitely glowing... Thanks!
 

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snakesRkewl said:
You can try, some will breed when in glow, some will not.
I had quite a few lock ups while snakes were in glow this past season.
I've heard rumors that it's past time when they glow, I can't say for sure though, maybe someone else might know??
Click to expand...

Those rumors would not be true at all. I maximized my desert last season by having other males do the breeding and put the desert on the female a week after she started to glow. My results have been 3 for 3 with that one lock up, and none have been multi sired. I know it's a small sample size but it would indicate it's really the best time to get what you want from the female.

I dont see an ovulation from that picture, Just check her daily. You will see a big difference when she does. Good luck to you with her and keep us updated.
 
She kind of looks like she already ovulated. If she sheds in less the two weeks, I would bet she did. My guess is she will lay on or about Valentines day.
 
Montoya said:
Those rumors would not be true at all. I maximized my desert last season by having other males do the breeding and put the desert on the female a week after she started to glow. My results have been 3 for 3 with that one lock up, and none have been multi sired. I know it's a small sample size but it would indicate it's really the best time to get what you want from the female.
Click to expand...
I breed up until Ovulation also and have had many lock ups during the glow period.
I haven't switched up which male bred during that time though.
 
Thanks guys! She just shed on 12/24. She stopped breeding the shed before that and hasn't eaten in a while. She has a bulge when I looked closer, you really can't see it in the pictures, I'll try to get something better. Have my fingers crossed for a killer bee :) I figure the worst she will have (assuming no slugs) is het piebalds from my theory of "the piebald won't do anything" (prior he would find something to hide behind and look at the girl with a look of "omg its going to eat me". Thanks!
 
Welp, I got a definitive answer this afternoon on my question...6 eggs, 2 slugs, 4 nice, heavy eggs :) What a great early birthday present! I will post pictures later of the little eggies. Fingers crossed for some Killer Bees :) Thanks everyone!
 
Sarah, When where the first two pictures taken? I also see the ridge back in the 3rd so that is a very good sign.

As far as females refusing to breed after glow/pre-shed/etc, I have had two females lock after both pre-shed and the glow. I believe one even locked after ovulation (frisky lil girl. blame the horomones maybe? >=] )
To me she looks like she is in ovulation in the first two pictures more than the 3rd as well as more in her glow too. But maybe its the flash =\
The 2nd picture is where I really see it, she looks nice and plump (swollen) in the lower 2/3rds of her body in that one.

keep us updated and best of luck!
 
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