Is this supposed to happen?..

My female normal seemed to be developing along just fine. Started breeding her back in July, with locks starting to show up in August. She continued to lock up until November, and then she went off-feed and started showing good signs, like bowl-wrapping and generally seeking the cooler side of the tub. In December, she got really big and really bright. I never saw her 'lump up,' but she was a little wider than a soda can. I figured this might have been an ovy, but I wasn't entirely sure. After she got all big and swollen, she seemed to just.. kinda deflate. She shed a few days ago, and it was obvious in her shed that her belly had really gotten big, but she's still off-feed, and she's still showing signs of being gravid (restlessness, warm-seeking, and still really bright.)

I guess what's confusing me is the fact that she appears to have just deflated. Her spine isn't protruding (she hasn't got the triangle shape going on that I've read about is what I'm trying to say) and I don't think I ever saw her tail-suck. Did she reabsorb her follicles? Is she still on the right track?

Sounds like she's still on the right track, is she looking triangular?

Not that I've noticed. At least, if she is, it really doesn't show.

Triangular is more when they are underweight I think.

When they are stuffed full of eggs they are more circular with the spine pushed up like a rope along the top of the back third.

I wouldn't call this triangular at all really.
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/7237/n...breeding01.jpg


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Triangular is more when they are underweight I think.

When they are stuffed full of eggs they are more circular with the spine pushed up like a rope along the top of the back third.

I wouldn't call this triangular at all really.
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/7237/n...breeding01.jpg


dr del

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Actually no. When they are getting close to laying, the rear half of the female starts to look triangular. Still plump but the spine lifts as the eggs get bigger and start developing shells. I think the girls just try and give the eggs a tiny bit more room.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by interloc

Actually no. When they are getting close to laying, the rear half of the female starts to look triangular. Still plump but the spine lifts as the eggs get bigger and start developing shells. I think the girls just try and give the eggs a tiny bit more room.

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That picture was taken 7 days before she laid?


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

That picture was taken 7 days before she laid?


dr del

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Well mayhaps some females its more pronounced than others. I definitely noticed it on my girl last year. Maybe triangular isn't the right word but we both seem to agree the spine raises and sticks out a bit.

Best advice is count 30 days after the last shed and be waiting for eggs. If the eggs are small or the girl is real big the spine doesn't protrude as much. I recently got a clutch from a girl I wasn't 100% sure of and to make it more interesting she waited 38 days after her pre-lay shed. Just be patient, they go when they want to, not you;)