Gravid or something else? (lots of pics)

[BlueMoonExotics]

A little back-story: I got this girl in a group of balls back in March from someone who was no longer able to have them. They weren't taken care of properly and 4 of them had passed the night before I got to them from the cold (they were in a trailer outside with no heat). The owner at the time told me to not be surprised if the big females laid a clutch once they warmed up.

Now: I've posted about this girl not that long ago about soaking in her water dish and the possibility of being gravid. I noticed a bulge in her belly recently and asked a fellow member what she thought about it and she thought the bulge looked a little odd for a gravid female since she was swollen in the back 1/3 of her body near the tail instead of her middle and we thought maybe it could just be constipation. She suggested that I post the pictures up to get some more opinions. This girl has been off feed since I've had her and from the feeding cards (which may or may not be accurate) most of these snakes have been off feed since Jan or Dec and I was told by the owner that they have been off feed "since it got cold". She has not defecated at all in my care nor has she shed. I have found urates but no poo. So, keeping that in mind...what do you think?

[MisterKyte]

That does definitely look a bit too funky to me, not seeing any signs of tail suck either?

[BlueMoonExotics]

Well her tail at the very tip looks a little thin to me but it doesn't seem scrunched up or anything like pictures I've seen of "tail suck". Then again I could have possibly missed it?.... I was trying to leave them alone to settle in so other than putting new water in I haven't messed with her until recently to even notice that bulge.

[BlueMoonExotics]

I'm thinking about giving her a warm soak to see if it will help if she's constipated. If she does in fact have eggs though, would this hurt the eggs?

[jsmorphs2]

She looks like she might be starting to ovulate. I'd let her be for now cause she doesn't look constipated.

The last pic here shows 'tail suck", its visible under the tail and is a sure way to tell if they are ovulating or building. She's looking good though!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...highlight=tail

[joebad976]

I would leave her alone as well. Looks like she may be getting ready to ovy. No reason to stress her out.

[hunte567]

Looks like ovy to me.

[BlueMoonExotics]

Ok, I'll hold off on the soak then and just keep an eye on her. I was starting to get a bit worried at the mention of constipation when her belly was THAT big. Thanks for easing my mind!

[irishanaconda]

thats a ov lol. Watch to see if she goes blue in a week and sheds out