Feeding refusing BP females

[SnakeAngel]

I have two females who are definitely pregnant. One just went through her prelay shed while the other one is bowl wrapping. Both females have been refusing food since December. One of them is a live eater while the other eats F/T small/medium rats. I am not worried about wasting rats at all, but with the live eating female, she isn't usually aggressive but after 20 minutes of her not eating, I have to remove the live ASF, and ever since she started building, she has become slightly aggressive towards me. I can still hold her, its not super bad, I just think with the ASF crawling all over her she gets irritated and she does move around quickly trying to get away from the ASF.

With the F/T feeder, when I offer her the rat, she literally freaks out and I am worried I am causing her more stress then just being pregnant.

So, should I continue offering them both food. I have started only offering once every 10 days instead of 7, just trying to lessen stress, if I am causing any. I just really worry about causing them unnecessary stress.

BONUS QUESTION: Is it actually called snake pregnancy, or something else? The only other word I have been able to find is Gravid but I am not sure if that is even the right word for a pregnant snake with eggs.

[Galaxygirl]

I have two females who are definitely pregnant. One just went through her prelay shed while the other one is bowl wrapping. Both females have been refusing food since December. One of them is a live eater while the other eats F/T small/medium rats. I am not worried about wasting rats at all, but with the live eating female, she isn't usually aggressive but after 20 minutes of her not eating, I have to remove the live ASF, and ever since she started building, she has become slightly aggressive towards me. I can still hold her, its not super bad, I just think with the ASF crawling all over her she gets irritated and she does move around quickly trying to get away from the ASF.

With the F/T feeder, when I offer her the rat, she literally freaks out and I am worried I am causing her more stress then just being pregnant.

So, should I continue offering them both food. I have started only offering once every 10 days instead of 7, just trying to lessen stress, if I am causing any. I just really worry about causing them unnecessary stress.

BONUS QUESTION: Is it actually called snake pregnancy, or something else? The only other word I have been able to find is Gravid but I am not sure if that is even the right word for a pregnant snake with eggs.

Gravid means they have ovulated and fertilized their follicles, meaning they will lay eggs. So yeah, you could say a snake being gravid is equivalent to pregnant in a way.

I'd continue to offer maybe once every two weeks.

[StillBP]

Gravid means they have ovulated and fertilized their follicles, meaning they will lay eggs. So yeah, you could say a snake being gravid is equivalent to pregnant in a way.

I'd continue to offer maybe once every two weeks.

right there could not have said it any better myself

[SnakeAngel]

So saying "pregnant" is not technically wrong then? lol.

Okay, I will start offering every two weeks. Thank you!

[StillBP]

yea not wrong but not truly right tho gravid is the correct term for a snake with eggs

2 weeks would be fine I got lucky all my gravid girls ate this week yay me

[NIGRO51]

I would offer them smaller meals than normal.

[Reinz]

So saying "pregnant" is not technically wrong then? lol.

Okay, I will start offering every two weeks. Thank you!

Maybe this will make the terms more clear in your mind:

In humans the baby is birthed AFTER it has developed. The baby develops inside the mother within the uterus.

In oviparous snakes, the eggs are layed AND THEN the main developing begins and continues for two months roughly (BP's). The babies are NOT developed inside the mother.