Gravid or Just Fat?

[chadharper]

So any eggs yet? lol

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

So any eggs yet? lol

Not yet but she appears to be getting fatter!

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

A quick update, will add pics later. She's definetly bigger and the area around her spine seems to be sinking in a little bit. It's day 30 after her last shed (she shed on 2/10) she's also been diplaying nesting behaviour, pushing her bedding to the sides of the cage making a nest. I can easily feel her eggs if i run my hands gently down her sides. I am seriously nervous though because I dont know if her shed on 2/10 was a pre-lay or pre-ov shed. I'm seriously considering bringing her in to my local vet to get her an ultrasound to see where her eggs are at. She's a little girl, weighs around 1,500g with a full belly of eggs, so i'm worried about egg binding. Am I being too paranoid here? Should I bring her in for an ultrasound or leave her be?

 

[Orlandoflor]

Sounds like she is almost going to lay eggs. From what you say sounds like she had her pre lay shed.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Here's the pics of her, just took them a couple minutes ago.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

I can tell ya she might be gravid, if she came from outback as an import then its possible. Ive seen first hand the gravid females he sends out(this year) so anything is possible.

Yeah she's an import from Outback. Josh was great to deal with but I dont think i'll be buying any more wild caughts.

 

[mgoblue347]

Looks like she's ovulating to me

 

[NIGRO51]

Yeah she's an import from Outback. Josh was great to deal with but I dont think i'll be buying any more wild caughts.

What problems have you had with her?>

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

What problems have you had with her?>

None yet, though I figure getting her to eat will be a challenge. It's just sad how scared of people she is. I figured she would be nervous, but I've had her a couple months now and she's still terrified of me. I wasnt expecting her to be as chill as my others, but shes terrified just when I open her cage, never mind actually having to touch her. It just doesn't seem fair to her when there are many other CBB snakes out there that wont get traumatized when I have to open their cage and refill their water dish or spot clean.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Looks like she's ovulating to me

So her body is saying one thing but her actions are saying another? Are gravid girls normally this confusing? I feel like I'm playing mind games with a snake and the snake is winning!

 

[mgoblue347]

Look at it this way, she's wild caught, ripped from her home. Possibly never had human contact except for the day she was caught. It will take months for her to settle into any sort of routine. She has no idea what is going on, poor girl. Just make sure you record when she sheds because if that is ovulation she should be having her pre lay shed in a couple weeks. From there a little under a month and she should be laying. Keep us updated!!

http://www.ballpython.ca/gallery/breeding.html

 

[NIGRO51]

How's she doing?

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

How's she doing?

She's doing good, was laying inverted last night. She's been more active lately. She's still huge, how long is ovulation supposed to last?

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Look at it this way, she's wild caught, ripped from her home. Possibly never had human contact except for the day she was caught. It will take months for her to settle into any sort of routine. She has no idea what is going on, poor girl. Just make sure you record when she sheds because if that is ovulation she should be having her pre lay shed in a couple weeks. From there a little under a month and she should be laying. Keep us updated!!

http://www.ballpython.ca/gallery/breeding.html

Thanks for the article, its very helpful! I think she's getting more used to me. Was changing her water last night and she checked out my arm instead of running to hide. Progress!

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

We have 5 healthy looking eggs here this morning! Pics to come!

 

[AbsoluteApril]

congrats!
now it gets even more nerve wracking

 

[mgoblue347]

Awesome!!! The wait begins!

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

So Savannah (the WC momma) wants nothing to do with the eggs. So right now I have the eggs in a 10g aquarium with a 50w light, cypress mulch, sphagnum moss and a very damp paper towel over the top of the cage. Any suggestions or is what i'm doing now ok for the eggs?

 

[mgoblue347]

You should get a thermometer with a probe to go in the tank and something that won't allow as much air flow as a paper towel into the tank..possibly a sheet of glass or something..seems a difficult task you have ahead of you..also I really couldn't tell you about the heat lamp, but I'd get some heat tape and a thermostat, you could put the heat tape on the side of the tank,,even lay some water bottles between the eggs and the glass..I doubt the tank will hold the heat very well..Good Luck!!

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

You should get a thermometer with a probe to go in the tank and something that won't allow as much air flow as a paper towel into the tank..possibly a sheet of glass or something..seems a difficult task you have ahead of you..also I really couldn't tell you about the heat lamp, but I'd get some heat tape and a thermostat, you could put the heat tape on the side of the tank,,even lay some water bottles between the eggs and the glass..I doubt the tank will hold the heat very well..Good Luck!!

At the moment heat seems to be the least of my worries thankfully. I keep my room very warm about 80 degrees so the heat lamp isn't doing a whole lot, just adding 8 degrees. The damp paper towel is for humidity.