Gravid womas update

pythonman · 01-19-11, 01:17 PM

Both girls have completed their pre-lay sloughs,eggs due on the 5th of feb, the other girl a week later, so 26 days from each slough respectivly should be their laying dates. Its the first time for both these girls so we will see what happens.
Heres a pic of one of the girls in a typical gravid woma position

Will0W783 · 01-19-11, 01:21 PM

That's a beautiful soon-to-be-momma, pythonman! Best of luck and hope she gives you a nice big clutch.

pythonman · 01-19-11, 01:37 PM

Thanks for that Kim, as said my F2 girl is due to lay on 13-14 feb, my F1 girl a week earlier on 5-6 feb. Once the eggs are in the incubator its still another 52-56 days till any neonates enter the world.
Both the girls are in good health and although i have not handled them once gravid.(both have not eaten since october, so vivs stay pretty clean, with spot cleaning done as required) i still give there chins a tickle when they come to see me when i put in fresh water daily.
Their temprement is so admirable, that it would please me greatly to introduce more of this wonderful species to the hobby

Reptile_Reptile · 01-19-11, 02:12 PM

womas have always fascinated me. its their body shape i think. what do babies go for?

pythonman · 01-19-11, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptile_Reptile

womas have always fascinated me. its their body shape i think. what do babies go for?

Yes their shape is more in common with colubrid species, they lack that typical python head shape.Also they lack heat sensory pits on the lips, as does the related black headed python which i also have two pairs. However it is now well known that BHP,s have a heat sensory pit located under the rostral scale, and i believe the woma too might have this characteristic. Labial pits as found in typical pythons would soon get blocked by these sand burrowing animals so it makes sense for them to be located where they are. I dont beleive either the woma or the blackhead is as primative as once thought. Studies at the minute show they also have poorly developed venom glands but their dentition does not support this. Both facinating species.
I am loath to talk of snakes in monatery value as it is not as interesting as the animals themselves

Reptile_Reptile · 01-19-11, 02:57 PM

wow thanks i just leaned more about them. man i love this site

presspirate · 01-19-11, 03:03 PM

Congrats! No ultrasound needed to tell that girl is gravid.

Will this be your first test of your new incubators the?

pythonman · 01-20-11, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presspirate

Congrats! No ultrasound needed to tell that girl is gravid.

Will this be your first test of your new incubators the?

Hello presspirate, hope alls well with you. You are correct the womas will be the first to grace the new incubator. I am also changing the way i incubate my python eggs this year and resorting the no substrate method. of just a grid suspended over water.
I will need to set the incubator up this week, so as it has a week or two for me to make adjustments and tweaks to provide optimum conditions.
It,s funny how excited i still get when breeding my animals, it is a great reward and priverlidge to share these times with these animals. I see the captive propagation of reptiles as a sign i have provided my charges with an agreeable and comfortable life in captivity and strive to continue to do so, and to share my trails and tribulations with likeminded/knowledgable people on this forum

Reptile_Reptile · 01-20-11, 02:52 AM

well put i agree ^^^

presspirate · 01-20-11, 03:41 AM

It must be very rewarding. I hope to give it a go myself one day.

shaunyboy · 01-20-11, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pythonman

Hello presspirate, hope alls well with you. You are correct the womas will be the first to grace the new incubator. I am also changing the way i incubate my python eggs this year and resorting the no substrate method. of just a grid suspended over water.
I will need to set the incubator up this week, so as it has a week or two for me to make adjustments and tweaks to provide optimum conditions.
It,s funny how excited i still get when breeding my animals, it is a great reward and priverlidge to share these times with these animals. I see the captive propagation of reptiles as a sign i have provided my charges with an agreeable and comfortable life in captivity and strive to continue to do so, and to share my trails and tribulations with likeminded/knowledgable people on this forum

it will be good to compair notes on the method of incubation

i want to try the no substrate water method next year

it will give me peace of mind knowing you are but a phone call away mate

beautifull healthy woma's they are a credit to you john

i wish you the best of success in the coming months

and the sound of little tails swishing about of course

its an amazing proccess

thanks for sharing

all the best shaun

pythonman · 01-21-11, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presspirate

It must be very rewarding. I hope to give it a go myself one day.

And you will presspirate, it all takes patience and time, personal circumstance and space, but when you do breed any of your animals the rewards are great. To share the moment of egg-laying,the mother gathering the eggs with such care and precision(she will discard any slugs).To the removal for artificial incubation, carried out with a touch of sadness, but with extreme gentleness and respect for the mother concerned. Eggs in the incubator, mothers cage scrubbed to remove any trace of the smell of her eggs and seeing her eat again having gone up to 4-5 month,such is their dedication of these marvelous animals. Then after the long,long wait and the worry and the fussing the first slits appear and the first head pokes out into the world, is for me exciting and at times emotional(not all make it for whatever reason sometimes) And there they all are "brand new" flicking tongues and exploring. Little minitures of perfection...... Yes captive propagation of any snake,reptile is not just an acheivement but an education and a priverlidge to be able to share with our charges for any of us.
I am so lucky to have bred many species and i have and will have dissappointment on the way, but when you get it right, 100% right what a wonderful world we live in and what a fantastic animal snakes really are.

pythonman · 01-21-11, 01:05 AM

Thank you for your kind words Shaun, it is both girls first clutch so as i have found from past experience things sometime dont go to plan, and i may have to suffer a dissappointment. But i will be doing my best for the mothers and the eggs, but even in captivity nature takes a hand... and i can onlyhope she is on my side my friend.