Pre-lay/pre-ovulation shed?

[Theodore Tibbitts]

So this is my first season attempting to breed ball pythons. I've been pairing my only adult female with a couple different adult males since October. She has locked multiple times with all three males she was exposed to. About six weeks ago she went into a shed and since then she has refused to eat, yet looks like she has a decent sized rat in her. She has't lost a gram in that time. Now she has just entered another shed despite not eating. How likely is it that she is gravid? If so is this the pre-lay or pre-ovulation shed?

She's not generally shown any other obvious signs of being gravid; although plump , she does not seem HUGE or uncomfortable, she has not bowl wrapped or laid upside down, she had been on both sides of her enclosure (although slightly favoring the cooler side) and up until two weeks ago was still locking with males; I gave her a week off and this week just prior to entering the new shed she seemed to be trying her best to keep the male off of her, blockading herself in the hide. She might have the ridgeback, not sure, buy does not have the shrunken tail.

I can upload pics if necessary.

[fatSNAKEs]

First one is always an adventure. But sounds like you've done all you can, and if she's gonna go, she will. The Ovy's are sometimes hard to catch, so this could very well be the pre-lay shed. I would mark the calendar, track her carefully and light the incubator around day 25. And yeah, a pic might help. Also what's her weight now vs prior? Good luck.

[Theodore Tibbitts]

She was 1950 six weeks ago and 1952 a week ago, which I attributed to human error or maybe drinking water, since she hasn't eaten.

I'll see if I can get pics tomorrow.

[joebad976]

Have you seen the glow? If not I would think this is her Pre Ovy shed and once she sheds out she should be in glow. If she has been in glow then this is her Pre Lay Shed and you can expect eggs in a month or so after shedding.

Remember, They Glow before they Go.

[Coopers Constrictors]

Ovulations are indeed hard to catch sometimes, and the glow is definitely noticeable. If she is refusing males, then she may have ovulated. Watch for the 'coil' on the heat tape. Meaning once they ovulate, they tend to coil up, right on top of the heat tape and will typically not move around a whole lot until the nesting phase.