Pacific Boa Constrictor Snakes (Candoia bibroni bibroni)

Well, Thomasina continues to grow wider and wider, and now I am finally beginning to hope. It's over 5 months since she was originally mated to Rifraf, and as the normal gestation period for this species is quoted as 7-9 months, we may have baby Fiji Boas anytime between mid May and mid August. Last time this snake gave birth she had somewhere between 20 and 30 live babies, so although there are no guarantees, I look forward to a busy time ahead! Here are a few snaps taken as I cleaned her tank - she is pretty grouchy at the moment, so I am minimising the amount of handling she gets, and trying not to flash the camera in her face too much, but it's pretty clear how thick her body now is, and how the scales on her sides are stretched apart. These photos were taken 4 days after her last feed and after she had defecated the night before, so it can't ALL be food.... Stretched scales on her side

It's now 4 months since Thomasina was mated to Rifraf (and still he hasn't called....) but I'm still not sure whether she's gravid (pregnant) or just putting on weight. She has a very hearty appetite and eats at least weekly, so she's quite likely to be just a little hefty, but she does feel very firm when handled. Here are a few pics - see if you can work it out! October 2009, the blushing bride before mating January 2010, 2 month after separation February 2010, 3 months after separation Early March 2010, 3.5 months after separation Late March 2010, 4 months after separation (and just fed) And here is Lilith - a smaller female, unmated, also having just fed, for comparison. Any opinions can be left in comments - guess we'll know for sure about June or July.