Timelines on Gravid females?

[d_virginiana]

Just out of curiosity, what is the general timeline for gravid females from fertilization to birth? (like, how long) Also, how long until you can generally definitively tell they are gravid?

Mainly I ask because the scar tissue from Harley's surgery last year causes a long section of her abdomen to look like it constantly has scale spread (and will probably look like that till she sheds... It's been awhile since she shed, but her skin still looks good) so I'm thinking it'll be difficult for me to tell she's gravid for sure until near the end. We don't have a gram scale, so I can't weigh her.

[guidofatherof5]

Most of the births on the Ranch were between 60-70 days.

[d_virginiana]

I feel like she is gravid based on the way both her and the male have been acting over the past couple days; he was ALL over her constantly, and she would spend most of her time out and not hiding. Then a few days ago, his interest seemed to drop off a lot and she started hiding more again (also, she is very pissy and wants to flatten out if you mess with her too much). I'm leaving them together till I'm 100% sure though.

Also, I noticed a fair amount of clear greenish discharge (kind of looked like mixing snake poo with an egg yolk) from her today... She is not acting sick at all though. Is that normal after mating?

[gregmonsta]

My average is in the mid-seventies (days from witnessed/presumed copulation). As far as the discharge is concerned - did you brumate these snakes? I usually expect some greenish bowel movements somewhere post brumation.

[d_virginiana]

My average is in the mid-seventies (days from witnessed/presumed copulation). As far as the discharge is concerned - did you brumate these snakes? I usually expect some greenish bowel movements somewhere post brumation.

I haven't brumated any of mine. They usually slow down a bit during winter, but they don't really stop eating or anything... The discharge is probably nothing to worry about, since she's not acting sick but I was just curious.

[ConcinusMan]

Just out of curiosity, what is the general timeline for gravid females from fertilization to birth?

60-90 days. But it's worth mentioning that fertilization doesn't always occur the moment they lock up. Females will sometimes mate, store the sperm, and ovulate weeks, months or even a year later and that's when the actual gestation starts. Most of the time though, they give birth 60-90 days after mating in spring.


Mainly I ask because the scar tissue from Harley's surgery last year causes a long section of her abdomen to look like it constantly has scale spread (and will probably look like that till she sheds

Actually, it will probably always look like that.


I'm thinking it'll be difficult for me to tell she's gravid for sure until near the end

Which is nothing unusual. It's not usually obvious until the last 2-3 weeks.



We don't have a gram scale, so I can't weigh her.

Then there really is no way for you to know if she's gravid for sure. The only way I've ever been able to tell for sure before 2-3 weeks from birth, is by weighing them once a week after I observe mating behavior or a lockup.

As Greg said, green stuff is normal post-brumation or when they been off food or in a winter slow-down period.

I would think that if they mated, the male would have no interest in her at all, it wouldn't taper off. At least that is what has always happened with mine. Sometimes post brumation shedding cycle will attract the male even when the female is not receptive. In that case it would go like you described.

If you have a friendly vet nearby they will usually let you use their small animal scale without charging or seeing the snake. You can put her in a pillow case and just weigh her, case and all in Kg or grams on an empty stomach. Come back a week or two later also on an empty stomach, using the same pillow case and weigh her again. If she's gained significantly (several grams) she's probably gravid.


(also, she is very pissy and wants to flatten out if you mess with her too much)

Yeah, they'll do that when they're not receptive and the male has been harassing her for days. You would probably be grouch too if you couldn't even take a dump without someone trying to hump your leg lol

[slipknot711]

You would probably be grouch too if you couldn't even take a dump without someone trying to hump your leg lol


HAHAHA! thats great.