a little worried re: female

[Ginevive]

Here's a shot of Bela. She is gravid and had what I think was her prelay shed in May. I am concerned because she seems small. She was over 1800g when I bred her last year.. she was fat and plump. She was on a great feeding schedule and so I deemed her ready to breed. She is an '03 and not hat lengthly of a snake, but she was healthy and had great tone and mass. I know that egg forming takes a lot out of them, but I just don't see the massive bulking that my other girls had. I can definately feel the eggs in her though; was unable to get a definite count though.
Is there reason to be concerned? There really is not anything I can do now I guess.

[Sputnik]

She could be carrying a higher number of smaller eggs, rather then a small number of huge eggs.

Otherwise, I don't know.

[tigerlily]

I wish I could say. She looks ok to me, but that's not saying much.

[muddoc]

Jen, the best way I have come up with to describe a "carrying female" is as follows. Think of the space shuttle with the big fuel tank below. When they are 14+ days into gravidity( I hope that is a word), they have a very defined ridge back, with what looks like a very round payload below. I hope that makes sense. It can be funny looking at times, but they are perfectly fine. You have to remember tha they use up the grand majority of their fat stores while wrapping eggs, and filling them with the nutrition that they babies will need for the next 60 days. This is the reason that breeding id so taxing on a female. Hope that helps to calm your nerves.

[Ginevive]

I definately understand about the ridgy back and wide payload. She feels like that. I am not so worried now

[jkobylka]

I think you'll be fine. Unfortunately with many questions like that the answer doesn't come until you see eggs. it doesn't matter how many females you breed you find that they all carry the eggs differently.

[Alice]

I think you'll be fine. Unfortunately with many questions like that the answer doesn't come until you see eggs. it doesn't matter how many females you breed you find that they all carry the eggs differently.

That is so true! Some of my females carry their eggs so "hidden" it is hard to tell they're gravid while others look like they're going to pop for weeks. Reminds me of pregnant ladies . . . .

[Ginevive]

Well, I feel better about things now I raised this girl from a little snakelet to breeding age (She was cbb. frrom Alex Hue) and it is awesome to see her as a mom now.

[sharilynn]

So is it normal then for a female to look skinny on the tail end after laying?