So I housed my 1.1 Dipsadoboa together during QT and they both have eaten like pigs. about a week ago, the female stopped eating and began to do this....

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/janeothejungle/Dipsadoboa/antupside.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/janeothejungle/Dipsadoboa/belly.jpg

She hangs out in the hottest corner and exposes various parts of her belly to the heat lamp. Sometimes its her upper third, sometimes its the middle third.

She's otherwise perfectly healthy, but neither of them have ever shown any tendency to hang like this. Anybody else here have arboreal colubrids?? If so, ever see this?? I hope it is only my paranoia and not an impending warning. I'm still trying to figure these guys out.

Cheers,
Kat

How old/big are they? Could she be gravid?

I hope not. But my references all list adult size of this species as being roughly 18-33 inches. She is around 20 and he is 23.5, so theoretically yes. And she's just going into shed. I can't even begin to imagine how freaking small eggs from her would be.


~Kat

Have you palpatated her? If she is gravid, you should be able to feel eggs....

Here's the thing. This girl is roughly half the diameter of your pinky, a bit delicate, and not inclined to chill out when you hold her. I worry about doing some damage so I usually touch her very gently where she can see me coming and if she's feeling mellow, she'll let me hold her for a brief period of time. If she's not, she goes into viper mode. Being that this species is still a big unknown, I prefer not to stress her any more than necessary. So, short answer, no. Haven't had a touchy feely moment from her recently.


~Kat

I would say she is growing some folicals, got a few corns that used to do that when they would lay monster clutches or first timers full of eggs, just flat out uncomfortable....apples to oranges though with cats, I know nothing about them.

I would watch for a few eggs if nothing else.

I hope everything works out for you Kat.

No worries. That's the joy of flying blind, I suppose. I had tentative plans to treat any eggs like house snake eggs and incubate them at 84 in damp vermi. Guess I'll have to wait and see.


Cheers,
Kat

Keep us updated and good luck!

Not sure what you're hoping for but I think they're great looking snakes and I hope she lays eggs and they hatch out for you.

Funky.....

I hope that if it is eggs, things go well for you, and her. She dosnt look unhealthy... maybe its just a quirk of the species? TAKE NOTES! :D

well i hope its eggs that would be cool good luck