Gravid Mystery!

Last season, we bought an adult proven breeder female normal from a show in Indianapolis. A good friend of mine let us use his proven breeder Male Pastel to pair with my normal girl.

The pastel was a major stud. They locked tens of times. Then we started seeing our normal bulge pretty noticeably. Then I was away for a while and when I came back, BAM!

http://tapa.tk/mu/d05f8a30-e085-4bf5.jpg

She was much bigger than before I left,and now she was all on her side and contorted like this. A closer look showed that she was moving eggs through her. I could actually watch them moving. This "ovulation" matched up perfectly with a shed. Then after this, right when she was supposed to have her post ov pre lay shed, she did! So, we prepared for eggs. But they never came. I was under the impression that eggs could not be reabsorbed, but what else explains this? It's been 3 months since she was supposed to lay. She shows no signs of being egg bound or anything. She's just steadily gaining from feeding. She'll be ready this season for our own male.

I am totally, completely baffled by this whole thing. Has anyone experienced this before?

I guess no one can explain this?

Hi,

Was she feeding at that point and if so what on and how soon before the pic was taken?

Have you tried palpating her to see if you can feel anything?

Have you considered getting an ultrasound done at the vets?


dr del

She was on an empty stomach at the time of the picture I believe. I even stumbled across a video of it.

I've palpated her several times after the supposed ovulation, but never leading up to it. I've never felt anything.

I would consider taking her to the vet except she is completely healthy now. She eats fine, passes her food fine, and she's shedding right now. I don't get it.

What could take place that would seem to me like an ovulation?

Hi,

That's the thing - it might not have been an ovulation.

I have a female that, every fricken year, has builds so large I am convinced they are the ovulation I am waiting for - only for her to have the real one weeks later. :rolleyes:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...cleo+ovulation

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...cleo+ovulation

And in the building stage they can obviously still reabsorb the follicles.

Seeing the video might help.


dr del

I found the video but it's taken on a really terrible camera so you can only just barely see it. Here's another pic I found. So this could just be building?

http://tapa.tk/mu/d05f8a30-76eb-bf91.jpg

Thanks for the help Dr. D :)

Hi,

That's the other prob.

It could be anything from gas, retained pee and poop to a prey item decomposing inside her due to incorrect temps. But most of those should have been either fairly temporary or fatal and you say she is currently doing fine.

How long did the swelling last - it looks from that pic that she is swollen all the way down to the vent which is not what happens with ovulation.

Anyone else have any good ideas on this?


dr del

It did seem pretty wide spread. It was mostly in the area I have seen in ov pics. But she was all around huge.

It only lasted a day.

This may seem crazy but did she have a large BM after the pics?


I have a BIG normal female that has fooled me 3 yrs in a row. It can happen.

I'm sorry, BM?