Guessing game?

[redexpress]

Well this is my first time trying to breed my boas, igot the pair from a home that did not take good care of them and she produced all slugs for the previous owners last year and she got very vicious. When i noticed there tank not being cleaned and them being underfed i did all i could to get them. Eventually i managed to adopt them and i spent a good time nurtering them back to health. before i seperated them they went at it like crazy, every day and night. i took them apart in late dec. and about a week ago she has had a second shed. She does look a bit thicker and i have followed all the advice of breeders and books, but she just doesnt look pregnant. Is it always just a guessing game , do i just wait and see?
Or is there any way to know for sure? I didnt want to feed her because of her shed and i was told shortly after the shed she will give birth.

[denny_rimes]

There is much information to be found on this forum by reading the previous posts of other breeders. Also, Jeff Ronne has a VERY good article on his website about breeding boas. I believe it was published in Reptiles magazine several years ago!

Good luck and welcome to "the tank".

[RTBoas]

Take a pic right above her when she is flat on the ground, make sure she has a warm place. Take picture first and we can go from there.........

[Panama_Red]

Get a temp gun and check her body temp, gravid females stay between 86-89. Non gravid females and males usualy stay about 80-82 unless thet have just eaten.

[Jon-e-Boy]

Panama, I like little trick. I've yet to try the temp thing when I'm unsure. Got to try that once day.....well got to get a temp gun first. lol.

Jon

[Panama_Red]

Jon,
I just recently tryed this after getting a temp gun and it works! After I got the new temp gun, I couldn't help but go around the room and check the temp of everything. LOL... As I was doing this I remembered that Jeff had said that about the gravid females. The 2 females that are definitly gravid were the warmest 2 in a room of 20 snakes they average 87 where the non gravid females and males were 82-80 and all of the tanks have the same temps in them. Even snakes that were basking over the heat were cooler, than the gravid ones.

[ratman]

There is always the sonogram! :'(

[RTBoas]

yeah the temp gun is a sweet investment :)

[ratman]

Like Jeff says in his video, "Don't you be stupid too. Get the stinkin gun!" :'(

[HerperCCC]

The temp gun is a must! I use mine every day to check hot-spots, snake temps, and females! The warmer temp trick also works on Burms, as I recently discovered w/ my gravid female! Good stuff!