Is it safe to transport gravid females?

[RideRed12]

Just wondering if anyone has any information on this subject. We may be planning on moving about 60 miles away in the next month and I've got several females going through their pre-lay shed. Obviously we will take all proper safety precautions with our snakes but what worries me is the stress the females will be under. All info is appreciated, good or bad! Thanks!

[4theSNAKElady]

Ugh. I suppose it is. I had a female absorb her follicles one time during a transport, but ive heard others transport gravid females that were just fine.

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[FireStorm]

It's not ideal, but its possible. I have not done it, but I know that people have shipped gravid females and still gotten healthy eggs. Once they are gravid, there isn't a risk of reabsorbtion, so I would suggest packing them as carefully as possible in insulated containers, and maintaining temps well as possible. Heat packs would probably be fine. Again, I've never tried it but that's what I would do if I had to.

[zues]

Once they ovulate you don't have to worry about reabsorbtion. Gravid females are imported from Africa every year. Most go on to lay healthy clutches. A 60 mile move will be nothing compared to that. Our snakes are a lot heartier than we give them credit for.

[MarkS]

They ship them over from Africa while gravid all the time. It's not ideal but they're tougher then what we give them credit for.

[MisterKyte]

Just make sure she has all the heat and comfort she needs. I know it's pretty much summer for us but there was another member on here to talked about moving a long way with some gravid females and they unfortunately perished due to lack of heating. They are tough ass snakes but you can never be too careful.

[hops523]

This is my first year breeding and Im in the same boat. When you all say gravid, does this mean the female has already ovulated?

[MarkS]

This is my first year breeding and Im in the same boat. When you all say gravid, does this mean the female has already ovulated?

That IS the meaning of gravid. Just because a snake has folicles does not mean she's gravid.

[hops523]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm hoping one of my females will ovulate soon, she laid the beginning of July last year.

[RideRed12]

Thanks everyone for clearing that up!

Now, what about eggs that I already have in the incubator?