Is she retaining fluid or . . .?

[JimNAZ]

Adult female
Last ate 1/22/09 (Md rat - F/T) - has not defecated
* I forgot to check the last time she DID defecate
Last shed 1/21/09

She is a breeding female and has locked up 4-5 times. When I feel the mass it seems soft and goes all the way down to the tail. I cannot feel whether she has anything (fecal/urates) inside her. Have not been able to feel follicles and have not observed an OV. She has been paired up since early Nov. (off & on) and started getting big in January. At first I thought maybe she was "building" since this is my first breeding season but now it looks like this.
Husbandry: tub/aspen/low 90's - mid 80's/ night drop on flexwatt (12am-6am)/ room constant 80-81
Before her eating the last time she had not eaten since Nov. Thought this as normal since it was the start of the season.


Thoughts?

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Thanks

Jim

[Toronto Python Gurus]

it looks like you missed the ovulation IMO . . . keep your eyes out for the pre-lay shed

[Toronto Python Gurus]

this was taken from Mark Mandics breeding page ( http://www.ballpython.ca/gallery/breeding.html )

"Tail Suck!

When they ovulate, their tail looks like all the fat is being sucked out of it. It looks very scrunched. Sometimes they will have a scrunched tail prior to ovulation without the body swell. This is just part of the building process."

IMO thats what it looks like you got there, the "tail suck" comes after ovulation and before the pre-lay shed

[Slim]

If she's not gravid, she's gonna crap a volkswagon!

[JimNAZ]

All that extra size at the tail is soft/fluid like when I apply pressure.

[JimNAZ]

Any other comments will be appreciated. I cannot find any info that states the snake body will be soft and fluid-like while building/follicles/OV.

I'd rather have egg on my face than let a health problem go without doing anything.

Thanks

Jim

[hoo-t]

I'm betting you'll have eggs any day now.

Steve

[JimNAZ]

So after the OV the body is very soft (mooshy)? I realize that the eggs will be soft & flexible but this seems too soft. Only reason why I felt the need to ask.

I always felt she was the farthest along of all my females.

Thanks

Jim

[JimNAZ]

** I just realized that it has been 36 days since her last shed.

[dr del]

Hi,

This may sound an odd question - when you are handling her does the mass ever seem to move about - or even gurgle?

One of my females got blocked once and swelled up at the back end - though to be honest that was quite a quick change.

But as that mass was mainly comprised of held in pee it actually seemed to slosh about slightly when she was handled and never felt "firm".

Hope everything works out ok for you.


dr del