Eggs? Ovulation? Building? Something else entirely?

Okay, well, let me start off by saying I'm sorry if this is something completely obvious! I do not breed Ball Pythons (or any other snakes, currently) and am pretty oblivious when it comes to it.

I got this girl January 30th at show. She has been in quarantine ever since and has been treated for mites. I recently moved her into a tub because she's been off of food (she was in a vision cage). She ate great for the first month that I had her - she'd eat f/t, live, anything that I'd throw at her. She's been off of food for about a month and a half as of now.

When I took her out today I noticed she looked extremely lumpy. I have not bred her, but she may have been bred before I got her. I am hoping that this is nothing bad :( she's really a sweet girl!

Here's some pictures.. should I be preparing for eggs or is it just ovulation? My main incubator is already up and running with leopard gecko eggs (set at 86F), but I have a back up hovabator in case that isn't a good temperature for BP eggs.. if that is indeed what this is. I'm a bit concerned because she isn't proper breeding weight. :(

Pictures:
This is her:
http://www.thelogicalchange.com/reptiles/mithril2.jpg
Another:
http://www.thelogicalchange.com/reptiles/mithril.jpg
Top of area in suspect:
http://www.thelogicalchange.com/reptiles/lumpTop.jpg
Side: :O
http://www.thelogicalchange.com/reptiles/lumpSide.jpg


Please and thank you :oops:

EDIT: I'd also like to say that when I gently felt around the masses they felt firm...I didn't want to squeeze too hard but there is definitely four or five of them. 8|

86 is too low for ball pythons, though only by a degree--their lower temp is 87, so I wouldn't risk it. Cook them at 88/89F. Their eggs do have a rather narrow safe range.

How much does this snake weigh?

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

86 is too low for ball pythons, though only by a degree--their lower temp is 87, so I wouldn't risk it. Cook them at 88/89F. Their eggs do have a rather narrow safe range.

How much does this snake weigh?

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She maxes out my scale, which only goes to 1000g. She feels like she's around 1.5 lb to 2 lbs. :( Does she appear gravid to you?

I'm a little confused, didn't you say you bought her in January and haven't been breeding her? How long does it take from when they lock up with a male till they ovulate?

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Originally Posted by Greez1986

I'm a little confused, didn't you say you bought her in January and haven't been breeding her? How long does it take from when they lock up with a male till they ovulate?

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Yes, and that is why I am also very confused.

I bought her January 30th and she has been in quarantine since. She has not been introduced to any of my other snakes, nor will she be. (I had no plans of breeding BPs within the next few years).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

Yes, and that is why I am also very confused.

I bought her January 30th and she has been in quarantine since. She has not been introduced to any of my other snakes, nor will she be. (I had no plans of breeding BPs within the next few years).

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That does not mean she was not bred before you got her or even last year. They can and sometimes do retain sperm. And yes she is gravid and going by the pics looks like 5 eggs.

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Originally Posted by briz

That does not mean she was not bred before you got her or even last year. They can and sometimes do retain sperm. And yes she is gravid and going by the pics looks like 5 eggs.

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That's what I was thinking.. I know I've had geckos retain sperm for a while and I know snakes can do it too. I just didn't want people to think that I bred her knowing she wasn't at the optimum breeding weight.

Well, if she is gravid, I'm going to hope for the best. She shed about two weeks ago and has been off food like I said.

I saw her laying inverted once or twice. Anyone have any idea when she might lay?

If she shed and you believe she is gravid then you can expect eggs around 27-30 days after shed. This is not exact but a good guidline. My Spider layed 33 days after shed this past Friday.

Gavin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

She maxes out my scale, which only goes to 1000g. She feels like she's around 1.5 lb to 2 lbs. :( Does she appear gravid to you?

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2lbs is only 908g so maybe you should buy or borrow some scales?

She appears to be quite triangulated from the top pic (triangular in cross section, spine ridge clearly showing) and until I saw the side pic, I would have said she wasn't gravid as she seems a little slim. Has she been feeding OK since you bought her?

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

... I recently moved her into a tub because she's been off of food (she was in a vision cage). She ate great for the first month that I had her - she'd eat f/t, live, anything that I'd throw at her. She's been off of food for about a month and a half as of now....

..I'm a bit concerned because she isn't proper breeding weight. :(..

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by RubbleUK

2lbs is only 908g so maybe you should buy or borrow some scales?

She appears to be quite triangulated from the top pic (triangular in cross section, spine ridge clearly showing) and until I saw the side pic, I would have said she wasn't gravid as she seems a little slim. Has she been feeding OK since you bought her?
Chris

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Chris,

As I quoted above, in my OP I mentioned she ate great for the first month or so I had her but went off food. She's been off for about a month and a half.

I was only judging by how she felt in my hands, but she does max out my 1000g scale. I will have to find someone with a larger scale to properly weigh her. I agree she's a bit slim but she has been refusing.

This is a hard call. IMO she is too thin. It almost looks like she is building for an ovulation. An OV would be higher up. If she is carrying anything there is the possibility that they are slugs. All you can do is continue offering her food and keep her away from males. Keep her temps stable with a warm side of at least 90. This will help bring her out of the breeding mode eventually if she refuses food. If by some chance she does lay any eggs that appear to be fertile then try to incubate them and seee what happens. At this point I would be more inclined to say its just a pre build. Let us know what happens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

This is a hard call. IMO she is too thin. It almost looks like she is building for an ovulation. An OV would be higher up. If she is carrying anything there is the possibility that they are slugs. All you can do is continue offering her food and keep her away from males. Keep her temps stable with a warm side of at least 90. This will help bring her out of the breeding mode eventually if she refuses food. If by some chance she does lay any eggs that appear to be fertile then try to incubate them and seee what happens. At this point I would be more inclined to say its just a pre build. Let us know what happens.

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I definitely will. I have been offering and offering every week, that is why I chose to move her into a tub versus her vision cage. I have offered live and f/t small rats. The most she ate since she's gone off food was a large f/t mouse. I tried offering more of those and she wanted nothing to do with them.

I'm hoping whoever had her before knew better than to breed her at that size. She will not be exposed to any of my other animals, so you don't need to worry about me breeding her..

She is building for ovulation. If you don't put a male in with her you'll probably get slugs. January is a long time ago and the stored sperm maybe good but it maybe not good either. If you have a male put him in with her. If not you'll get what you get.

There is no connection to when a female was bred to when she ovulates. I average about 50% of the females that breed produce eggs. So, if you want to produce 20 clutches a year it's a good idea to have in around 40 females to do that.

Corey

PS You are getting a clutch of eggs from her whether you like it or not..........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Corey Woods

She is building for ovulation. If you don't put a male in with her you'll probably get slugs. January is a long time ago and the stored sperm maybe good but it maybe not good either. If you have a male put him in with her. If not you'll get what you get.

There is no connection to when a female was bred to when she ovulates. I average about 50% of the females that breed produce eggs. So, if you want to produce 20 clutches a year it's a good idea to have in around 40 females to do that.

Corey

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Thank you for your input, Corey, I appreciate it.

Wish me luck and I'll keep everyone updated. :)