Gravid?

[kueluck]

Just curious about your opinions on if Zena could be gravid or not. On another thread Marnie suggested that it may be possible she is gravid, and to start a thread on this for help. Here are some stats and pics:

She was in the wild and someone brought her from Southern VA 4-14-12 to the reptile rescue, because end of tail chopped off.

At reptile rescue for 2 weeks.

I brought her home 4-28-12, 19 inches 62 grams

Today still 19 inches but 67 grams, but I hope it's the 2 pinkies she ate last night, waiting for her to poop so I can weigh her again. She acts like she hungry all the time.

She eats Mon, 2 pinkies, Wed 2 earth worms, Fri 2 pinkie size tilapia pieces.

I bring her out each night and she runs through my fingers, or I take her into the hall way for "walks". She then settles down in my lap and sucks up body heat. I think she goes to sleep, but since she doesn't have eye lids I can't tell.

She's had 3 doses of Panacur for worms and the second round of doses starts May 20. If gravid, would this cause harm to the babies? Or do I need to focus strictly on Zena's health.

I tried to get the pics when she exhaled so she looks more true to size.

CIMG0010.jpgZena 5-8-12.jpg
CIMG0008.jpgCIMG0011.jpg
CIMG0006.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

I don't think at this point she looks gravid to me.
Also I think I read somewhere that panacur could have a negative effect on the babies.
I'll see if I can find that article.
Keep good track of he weight(weekly). That may be your best indicator at this point.
Best of luck with her. She's beautiful.

[ConcinusMan]

From the web: "Toxic shock due to system overload from dead parasite bodies is common in drugs such as Droncit and Ivermectin. Panacur is the drug of choice for gravid females."

"Panacur blocks metabolism of carbohydrates in nematodes. Essentially, the nematode can eat food, but cannot absorb the nutrients. Though it is eating, the worm starves to death. Panacur does not have the same effect on birds or mammals and as far as is known, does not block the metabolism of carbohydrates in reptiles"

Honestly, I don't think she's gravid. You would have seen far more weight gain in a shorter time period.

Whom ever brought her in should have let her be. A cut off tail isn't serious and heals quickly.

[ssssnakeluvr]

doesn't look gravid to me either....

[kueluck]

Thanks guys for your input on this. I don't want to go through the whole baby thing, not even once. As for adopting her, I had thought about letter her go, but then I held her and she is so incredibly sweet it's crazy. I can feed her from my fingers and she doesn't lunge or grab, she ever so gently takes the food. When she hears voices she comes out of her cave knowing she gets some “running” time in. She moves through my fingers then curls up on my lap while I rub the top of her head between my thumb and index finger. I knew they were nice snakes, but she is just so crazy sweet for a wild adult. She entertains my cats and has no fear of them Plus I think she also enjoys watching them as they go about their business through out the day. She is my Zena and my goal is to keep her healthy and happy.

[guidofatherof5]

Snakes + cats = injured or dead snakes.

I doubt she enjoys anything to do with the cat

I hope you and Zena have a great time.

[kueluck]

Steve, the cats in no way can get to Zena, she is very secure. But watching them watch each other through the glass is very interesting. They are nose to nose on the glass. The cats walk away and she follows. That is until she reaches the end of her tank.

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Steve, the cats in no way can get to Zena, she is very secure. But watching them watch each other through the glass is very interesting. They are nose to nose on the glass. The cats walk away and she follows. That is until she reaches the end of her tank.

My snakes watch my cats too. Their food bowl is on a table that is directly next to the snakes aquarium. The cats have long since lost interest in my snakes though. The cats know they can't get to them anyway

[kueluck]

Well the question was answered some time over the past few days while I was out of town for a family funeral. My neighbor and husband took care of the critters while I was gone the past 6 days. Came home yesterday, went through the viv and found a dead baby in her hide. It was curled up, still flexible so I don't know how long it was there and if it was a stillborn or not. I'm keeping an eye out for any movement in the tank and checking the whole tank daily.

[kueluck]

She just passed another stillborn. It's fully developed and looked normal, but I wonder if the stress of captivity and the panacur could cause this. It's time for her 3rd session of doses to start again also. Headed out for work, we'll see what 5 pm brings.