Gravid? need opinions **pic**

[Matt]

ok, so i have some conflicting evidence

- she has NOT gone off of food at all
- in the past couple months had some regurg problems but I seemed to have patched that up for now
- she definitely isnt fat from eating alot, I feed her sparingly and small meals
- she seems to be getting larger (or maybe thats my imagination)

so, i would like a couple experienced opinions, i know they are fat bodied snakes, but Im wondering if shes gravid....I havent bred 'winders before, and it would be awesome if she was!

thanks guys

[BWSmith]

Ya got me. The thickness seems to be going pretty far up the body, but she is a chunker. I have not seen a gravid cerastes either. But I will say that if she is, be prepared for some TINY babies

[Gregg M]

I can only offer you my experiance with Bitis........ My females generally did not go totally off feed until right before a pre-birth shed but would not take food as readily as they usually did....... And when they were close to dropping the bulkyness seemed to drop down towards the lower 1/3 of the body...... That is pretty much all I can offer you....... I hope she has some babies for you....... If I remember correctly I think the babies will eat insects for alittle while.....

[jtpRUGGER]

That is one chubby cerastes..what do you mean by sparingly feeding? my experience with desert rattlers has shown that once a month feeding works fine...they fatten up fast if you aren't careful. she could be gravid, but I'm gonna agree with BW on that one, she looks large all the way up her body. If she does throw, though, they will be some little bitty suckers.

[Matt]

i was thinking the same thing, the thickness starts only a couple inches back of the head, she seems fine, but i just hope its not some sort of gastro problem to worry about :/

rugger, i feed the sidewinders about twice a month and the meals are hopper - subadult mice.

thanks for the advice guys, i think ive come to the conclusion that she probably isnt gravid, just a cubby girl.