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signs of pregnancy?
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by ianb on February 25, 2003
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I've never bred before but have now had my Gaboons for 5 years. I put them together in sept. but noticed no difference in behavoir. I put them together in mid Dec and the male immediately had more energy than ever before. After 24 hrs the female finally started moving a lot as well. Both of them, especially the male, costantly crawling over one another when normally they are quite lethargic. The behavoir finally stopped after a day or 2 and I seperated them. I never witnessed mating but am convinced its not unlikely that it occured. I have noticed a few changes in the female. While usually she would lay in a fairly stretched out position she is in a neatly curled position most of the time now. When she is not, she is still quite active at times. More so than before. Almost like she's searching for something. Also she is a pig normally, but hasn't eaten since the beginning of Dec althought she doesn't seem any smaller than normal. Of course she's a big fat snake anyway. What signs should I be looking for and how big should she get? When should I expect the young if she's pregnant?
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RE: signs of pregnancy?
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by TomT on February 25, 2003
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Let me preface my response with the fact that I've never bred Gaboon vipers....
Gravid snakes "tend" to either not eat or eat smaller meals than snakes that are not gravid of the same size and species. Gravid snakes "tend" to want to bask to "cook" the babies at whatever the appropriate "incubation" temperature for the species is, so your female may "tend" to position herself in a place that is optimum for cooking those babies.
If you have captive bred snakes (I can't remember) then they are less likely to be fasting as a result of learned behavior (seasonal temperature changes in their home range) or because of parasite load or other stressor, assuming the husbandry is good.
Do you soak, spray or otherwise maintain them in a well-hydrated state? Gaboons tend to be rather stupid when it comes to locating and using a water bowl... dehydration will cause a snake to stop feeding... If they are well hydrated, and there are no other signs of distress, then I'd say that there's a good chance that she may be gravid, based on your description of the "active" period you observed.
I bred Macklot's pythons for several years and never once witnessed copulations. I know they were taking place by the fertile eggs I got three years in a row...
I hope she has a pile of healthy babies for you!
Tom
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RE: signs of pregnancy?
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by Crotalus on February 28, 2003
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I bred the eastern gaboons once yet never saw them copulate. The only behavior difference I saw was the way she coiled up. Normaly she'd lay in an open 'arch' most of the time ... but during her pregnancy in the cooler evening she'd coil in a high, conical shaped coil like a python incubating eggs. I figured it was her way of retaining heat she absorbed during the day for the deveoping young. This was the only sign she gave throughout the pregnancy that had me thinking something was up. Her appetite was just as strong as always though I purposely fed much smaller meals during this time.
She gave birth in Sept. Best of luck with yours.
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RE: signs of pregnancy?
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by ianb on March 1, 2003
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I've had her for five years under the same husbandry conditions and she has never refused food like this. Plus she sits curled up under the light now where she use to lay stretched out where ever. It looks like she may be pregnant. If this happened around Dec 10th, when should I expect her to give birth? I must say that although the male is a bit dull, she is one of the most attractive W. gaboons I've seen.
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RE: signs of pregnancy?
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by Crotalus on March 1, 2003
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That's hard to say. With my Eastern Gaboons I didn't see any breeding activity at all - so I have no reference point to judge by.
With my rattlesnakes , both NA and Mexican/SA species breeding takes place in late summer and early fall with birth happening usually the following July. This includes a cool down period as part of their cycle from fall (Oct) to January.
Keep us posted on the outcome. I'll be looking for your babies in the classifieds !
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