Calypso, very heavy breathing?

[StaceyLeigh]

Sorry for all the worried questions, but this is the 1st breeding season for me and my skinks, so I am a "nervous nelly"! Calypso is breathing very heavy (moves her whole body) and doing a little body skirm like she can't get comfortable? She is only at day 87 from last mating day, so I thought this was too early. I was thinking 100+ days? Is it common for them to do this 2 weeks or so, or could she give birth sooner?

[Spindown]

OOOOOOOOHHHHH sounds like you are getting some signs she is for sure gravid, I'm so jealous...a few more months for me to even know unless my girl gains massive weight ;D
I'd love to see the responses to this, for when its *hopefully* my time to be a nervous skink grandma!

[Richard.C]

very normal,they can do that for quite a few weeks prior to birthing,including the squirming,with so many bubs the squirming maybe to try moving them a bit to attempt to be more comfy with filling out of being gravid

[StaceyLeigh]

very normal,they can do that for quite a few weeks prior to birthing,including the squirming,with so many bubs the squirming maybe to try moving them a bit to attempt to be more comfy with filling out of being gravid

Good to know, I will try to relax a little

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Has she shed recently?

[StaceyLeigh]

About 5 weeks ago, why?

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

From what I have read they usually shed about a month or two before birth.

[StaceyLeigh]

Changed her tank over to paper towels, just to be prepared! To say she is waddling is an understatement! My hubby said to me," that looks familiar"

[StaceyLeigh]

From what I have read they usually shed about a month or two before birth.

Oh, good to know.

[Richard.C]

shedding isnt a reliable indicator for when northerns will drop,one of mine drops just after shedding,the other just drops when ever,usually sheds a month or more later,they are sisters from same litter and live together 24/7 so conditions dont vary to make them differ

[StaceyLeigh]

shedding isnt a reliable indicator for when northerns will drop,one of mine drops just after shedding,the other just drops when ever,usually sheds a month or more later,they are sisters from same litter and live together 24/7 so conditions dont vary to make them differ

Thanks Richard! It's just a waiting game now. Her tank is ready, all the baby totes are set up, all I can do now is pray!

[sarah]

Do they need to be changed over to paper towles before they give birth?

[Jeff]

Do they need to be changed over to paper towles before they give birth?

No, they don't have to be, but when the babies are born they and their yolk sacs are a gooey mess. Since the first thing they do after escaping the membrane wrapped around them is eat the yolk sac, it is good if it does not have a bunch of substrate stuck to it. In the wild they are probably born on all kinds of different surfaces and they do fine. It's just that it is easy to avoid having them ingest substrate by removing it. I put all of my females on carpet about 30 days before they are due.

[Richard.C]

my 2 drop on there washed playsand substrate with no issue,i pull them out as soon as i see them as theres 2 females and a rather large male that live in that cage and bubs are tiny in comparison