Retained sperm?/ Possible surprise clutch coming...

[Sirus Uno]

Alright so last month I bought a breeder female Harlequin, 1431g., at repticon Kissimmee. Some banter and haggling with the breeder... Chalked it up to a pretty looking normal and coughed up 50$ out of sheer curiosity and figured a cool dinker project to work.
She hasn't eaten yet. 42qt tub in rack with belly heat at 89-90°. She's been on the cool side for the first couple weeks. Lost about 25 grams last weigh in 2 Thursdays ago. So yesterday I weigh her again and she gained it back plus a few. Shes in blue now. Still won't eat. She's plump so I'm not worried about a few skipped meals. My question:
Could she be gravid? Possibly pre-lay shed? They told me she didn't go this year and they were getting rid of their Harlequin YB project. But is it possible she put some retained sperm to use from a previous pairing season?
Thoughts...?

[dr del]

It's possible but the only way to know is to keep an eye on her.

Have you palapated for follicles?

[Hannahshissyfix]

I agree to feel for follicles. It would be pretty odd for an established breeder to have missed her ovulation just a couple weeks ago but it is possible. Not eating while shedding and adjusting to a new home is pretty normal. It wouldnt be considered retained sperm if she was paired earlier this year but if you do a search I have a post on a female that laid for me roughly 1.5 years after her last pairing and laying a previous years clutch.

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[Sirus Uno]

Thanks for the replies.
Im not worried so much about not eating. I know the older ones have a harder time adjusting to a new environment. Also the 1000g. wall... I have another @ about 800g. on strike.
Have not palpated yet but I will when she sheds out. I have seen a few videos from Gavin @ balls2u stating that a female may retain sperm and reabsorb follicles if she feels unsuitable to continue and then showing up the next season gravid without being paired.
Would there be another reason she's gaining weight without any food intake?

[Hannahshissyfix]

Drinking water. She'll drop more weight than youd think after shedding too.

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[Stewart_Reptiles]

If she is on the cool side she is not gravid, she may be building up but not gravid, grqvid females (which means they have ovulated already) delicate on the warm side.


To add a note yes it is possible for an established breeder to miss anivy, rare but it happen, some females don't show that much and or for very long I missed 1 here and there over the last decade.

[Sirus Uno]

If she is on the cool side she is not gravid, she may be building up but not gravid, grqvid females (which means they have ovulated already) delicate on the warm side.

She was only on the cooler side for the first week and a half. She's been rocking the hot spot ever since.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

She was only on the cooler side for the first week and a half. She's been rocking the hot spot ever since.

If gravid your timeline will be as followed.

Ovulation / Moving to the hot spot

Pre-lay shed 14 days after

Eggs 45 days later

As she will be further along she will do the following, lay inverted, form a perfect coil. You will also be able to see the eggs when holding her stretch out in front of you (heads up tail down) and see them move if you flip her tail up and head down (be gently when manipulating your animal)

Understand that not seeing the animal in person or owning the animal it's very hard to read a behavior based on description.

[Sirus Uno]

Ok. So she gave me a perfect shed and I checked her out. I don't believe she is gravid. She did lose a few grams but nothing even close to drastic.
She hollows out when I rub her belly so there's no way she can fit eggs in there.
Either way, hopefully she starts eating again soon. Giving her time to adjust. Patience and some trial and error.
Thank you everyone for responding.
I don't know how to post pictures but I have pics on Instagram. @sirusuno.