Gravid Jacksons Xantholophus Question

[kaity]

I wanted to know signs of telling 'how pregnant' she is or a guess of when I can expect delivery or any hints.

So, this would be my first Gravid Female. I am 99.9999% certian she is Gravid. She has a very large and very obvious lump on her belly that actualy hangs down a little, and is showing a few other signs. (clumbys but just a LITTLE, she is eating more than normal, so I know she is not going to give birth in the next couple days, and wants to be closer to the lights than before) I know there Gestation period is 5-10 month... I am not certian how long she has been pregnant though.

I am just curious, so I can have the extra cage ready when they come and plan there arival. I also seperated her from her cage mate, but I think it might have been to early.

 

[skeeta]

You were keeping them together? (not a common practice for many reasons)
How old is she? has she dropped infertile slugs before this?

Lpts of questions, but first let's see a couple of pics!

 

[kaity]

I had two girls together.... I have not even though about introducing her to the boy yet I wanted her to get a little bigger. No, I have not had her for long, I am not certian if she came to me Gravid.

 

[Debmonster]

If the cage is big enough some female Xantholophus tolerate being housed together. It's the only species I know of that will tolerate though. It's an individual thing... some females don't tolerate no matter what and it's easy to see when they don't get along. I had 2 girls in a 4'L X 2'W X 5'H for 3 years and they did great. I would separate them when one would get close to dropping membranes (babies).

 

[kaity]

oh yeah the cage is huge. 5 feet high and about 3 feet deep and 3 feet wide. Its a hand made cage. I have the girl I believe is Gravid in a seprate Reptarium... I have them together because the breeder I got them from said they had always been housed together.

 

[opihiman]

The only way to surely tell is to just wait it out...Although there are occ things that you can do like trying to introduce the female in question to your male. If she does the "no no" dance the evidence would go towards being gravid. It isn't concrete though as your female needs to be receptive too.

since you also know where the cham came from you can also call and ask to see what your chams living arrangements where prior to your purchase. From what I read jacksons can also store the semen from one copulation which may result in two separate births. (I don't know how true this is). over the course of about 2 to 3 weeks should give a fair idea if she is gravid.

One more way to tell is start weighing her. rapid wt gain would also be a pretty good indication of being gravid. (this one is more reliable).

Hope that helps

OPI

 

[kaity]

Pictures

I just took some pictures, she seemed really hesitant of my camera.

 

[kaity]

One more way to tell is start weighing her. rapid wt gain would also be a pretty good indication of being gravid. (this one is more reliable).

Hope that helps

OPI

Thanks OPI, I have been noticeing weight gain, but I have not actualy weighed her... at first I thought she was just gaining weight because I had jus brought her home and she was growing, or getting healthier. I really hope she is not pregnant because I don't think she is ready to have babies... but it would not be a bad suprise