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how do you tell if a F Uro is gravid?

22 14:33:47

Question
gravid or just fat?
gravid or just fat?  
QUESTION: Ive had my female Uro now for about 5 or 6 years and just recently got a male and house them together. Ive had him now for about a month now and haven't noticed any hankypanky but my female is really starting to get fat..looks like she could explode.Is she going to lay eggs?Do they have to mate for her to lay eggs?could something else be wrong?Please help.

ANSWER: Hello Erika,

I could not view the picture.  Can you feel the abdomen area & if so, if she is fairly far along you should be able to feel eggs if they are hard & almost ready to be laid.
She most likely is gravid.  Unless you have drastically changed the diet & giving excess food, she should not be gaining weight like that unless she was gravid.
Are you giving extra calcium & do you have a good quality & up to date UVB light?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie, actually..she is very timid and i cant really pick her up, she will sometimes walk over my hand but when i go to pick her up she runs away. She wasnt always this big..just in the last few days. I have good UV and expose them to natural sunlight for a few hours a day. I feed everyday and i dont see any change in her intake.Like i said,I havent seen them do anything...do they have to mate in order for her to lay eggs? If she is gravid..what do i do? thank you for answering my question so fast!

ANSWER: Hello Erika,

What brand of UVB do you have?  GREAT they get natural sun daily that helps alot.  
She is most likely gravid then if she has not been eating anymore than usual.  No, they don't have to actually mate to lay eggs.  They can lay infertile eggs, just by being in the presence of a male but not actually breed with him.  It can stimulate ovulation.
If she is gravid you will need to increase the calcium intake, & you can increase the food intake to make sure she gets enough food.

Tracie


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi.I just have a fluorescent bulb..not quite sure but i do have to buy another one soon...any suggestions?She looks ok today...i think it might have something to do with the male...he is a lot bigger then she is...maybe she is just trying to intimidate him. but she is back to her normal size. I did pick her up the other day and didnt feel anything in her belly.I am going to try to find a vet and take some x rays just to be sure.

Answer
Hello Erika,

That is funny.  She may have been trying to intimidate him.  Is he trying to dominate her possibly that you have noticed?  
How old is your flourescent tube?  If you can't remember then it is time for a new one.  The 2 best ones are the Reptisun 10 or the Reptiglo 8.  Stay away from any ESU/Zilla lights or the Reptiglo 10 right now, they are bad bulbs.  
Yeah, well, maybe an x-ray wouldn't hurt though.

Tracie