how to tell they are gravid???

[fullrace2]

i am some what new to breeding just wondering how/ is there any way to tell or no if they are gravid. i no you can feel them and what not. how and where do you feel and what are you looking for. thanks. any answers would be great

[rabernet]

You know for sure when you see them ovulate - they look like they swallowed a football. Here's a good link for you:

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

And here's an ovulation picture:

[fullrace2]

ya i no that. just wondering if you can tell sooner

[MarkS]

ya i no that. just wondering if you can tell sooner

No you can't. They aren't considered gravid UNTIL they ovulate. You may be able to feel them building follicles before that, but that doesn't mean they're gravid, that just means they have the potential to become gravid.

[dr del]

Hi,

Well the thing is they aren't gravid until they ovulate.

You can try and find out how far into the breeding cycle they are by trying to feel for follicles and then judging what size they are - or you can do that with an ultrasound machine.

The page Robin gave you the link to has all the info on "glowing" and "building" both of which are good signs that things are moving closer to ovulation - but until they actually ovulate there is no gaurantee of anything being produced and no eggs have been fertilized.

Here's a pic of one of my girls glowing and building;



I'm hoping she is going to go but even at this late stage there's a chance she won't.

**edit**

Mark typed faster than me.

**end edit**


dr del