Is she gravid or ovulating?

[Lolo76]

I thought my girl Mona was about to pop, but since I never saw an ovulation, I'll need some second opinions! She did give me 6 eggs last summer, but I saw an obvious ovulation that time - so there was NO question when she'd be laying.

Her last shed was on 4/17, so if that was her pre-lay shed, I should be expecting eggs any day... and if it was a pre-ov shed, the timing would also work out for today/tomorrow. Anyway, whaddya think based on these photos from tonight? Should I get an incubator fired up, or is the swelling actually her ov?







P.S. She's acting pretty grumpy and nervous, while she's usually a fairly mellow snake.

[RichsBallPythons]

Hard to tell, her lower section does show the bulge and spine protrusion which is a sign of a female that is ready to lay in about 2 weeks.

Id say just keep checking in on her and if you notice some very odd positions where shes folding in half, then you know shes gravid.

[aalomon]

Sorry, I dont see a gravid snake or an ovulation. That doesnt mean she is going to go, she just doesnt look ready yet.

Another thing, if I were you I wouldnt base much on a preovulation shed. In my experience they are very inaccurate. More often than not, my females dont even have a preovy shed.

[PghBall]

To be honest, She looks alot like my girl that gave me 7 good eggs back on May 10th did back in March/Apr when I posted a pic of her on 3/31. Here is the link to my thread and I got alot of "doesn't look gravid" responses as well:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...highlight=Calm

I'd say get your incubator ready, but that is just me

[Nektu]

Even though in the second picture she looks to have the bulge and spine protrusion it seems very minor. Has she gone through her pre lay shed? Do you find her wrapped around her water dish ever? Even still, keep an eye on her. Not saying she won't go, but maybe she will.

[aalomon]

To be honest, She looks alot like my girl that gave me 7 good eggs back on May 10th did back in March/Apr when I posted a pic of her on 3/31. Here is the link to my thread and I got alot of "doesn't look gravid" responses as well:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...highlight=Calm

I'd say get your incubator ready, but that is just me

The only difference is with yours, she still had over 30 days to develop before laying. According to the OP, if this girl is gravid she should be laying any day. Now I could still be wrong, but she doesnt look like she could lay tomorrow.

[PghBall]

The only difference is with yours, she still had over 30 days to develop before laying. According to the OP, if this girl is gravid she should be laying any day. Now I could still be wrong, but she doesnt look like she could lay tomorrow.

I see your point, I just think the pics look eerily similar is all. I'm thinking that the OP will be seeing eggs, but more like a few weeks out. I'd still keep the incubator ready regardless. Just my op.

[aalomon]

I definitely agree to keep an incubator running. Though I swear my girls know when something is up with the incubator. I I bet if I turned mine off and packed it away they would all lay the next day

[Lolo76]

Thanks for the input, even though I'm just as confused as ever! I actually don't have an incubator, since I tossed my homemade one when I moved in March... but a local reptile shop said they can order one for $120, so I'll place an order this week. Since she's not the only girl I bred this season (also have a Spotted & two other BPs who might go), it will probably be needed regardless. Wish me luck!

[Lolo76]

P.S. I haven't noticed any bowl-wrapping from Mona, but she didn't do that last year either... she basically acted normal until the final week, when she got restless and started contorting herself. I also noticed her appetite slowed down this month - from chowing 4-5 mice weekly to barely taking one. Hmmmmmm.

But speaking of bowl-wrapping, one of my other girls (Nerissa) has been wrapping for the last few weeks... not sure if she's gravid either, but I guess it's a good sign.





And this is how she looked yesterday... IMO, still not gravid.