VET APPROVED
REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY
Dr. Luqman Javed
Veterinarian, DVM
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn more »
Click to Skip Ahead
Signs of a Pregnant Snake
How Long Are Snakes Pregnant
Care Tips
Can Snakes Breed Without a Male
Breeding snakes at home is an exciting and rewarding process, but even experts can have difficulty telling whether a snake is pregnant. Simply noticing that your female has gained weight after mating is not enough to confirm that she’s pregnant, as she may just be digesting her most recent meal!
The only way to be certain that your female is pregnant is to take her to your local vet for an X-ray or ultrasound, though other signs may give you hints beforehand. Let’s take a look.
Pregnancy & Snakes
Though it sounds absurd to some, it is indeed true that some snakes can be considered “pregnant” (a trait often associated with mammals) because they give birth to live young. Such snakes are also known as viviparous (live-bearers) instead of oviparous (egg-layers). Boas and pit vipers are among the most well-known snakes that are viviparous.
This article will attempt to cover the fundamentals of both types of snakes. However, for specific information about your snake, it’s best to seek guidance from your veterinarian, as species-specific differences with regard to reproduction do exist in snakes.
The 8 Signs of a Pregnant Snake
Here are a few of the most revealing signs that your snake may be pregnant.
Signs of typical snake behavior:
- Contact with a male. A sexually mature, healthy female snake that comes into contact with a healthy adult male during their mating season is often assumed to be pregnant. The odds of them mating in such a scenario are considered to be well over 90%
- Lack of appetite. One of the first signs of possible pregnancy is that your snake will stop eating or eat far less, which may continue for several weeks. This depends on the species; some snakes eat ravenously after copulation but eventually go off their feeding schedule 2-3 weeks before they lay eggs or give birth.
- Temperature Preference Change. A pregnant female may sometimes avoid a heat lamp or the warmest part of her tank in an attempt to keep her body cool. Conversely, the opposite is true as well—some snakes may prefer to stay extra warm while pregnant.
- Lying on her back (or side). A pregnant female may lie on her back or on a side with her belly exposed when pregnant or bathing in her water bowl, possibly in an effort to stay cool.
- Pregnant females will be less receptive to handling and may even become aggressive at times. They do this to protect their clutch once the eggs are laid, too, so it’s best to keep away from her until the eggs are hatched and relatively independent, no matter the species.
- Color change. Some snakes, like Pythons, may change color while pregnant, which is also common during shedding. This is often referred to as “pregnancy glow,” and your female’s scales may get lighter in color, with more contrast between light and dark patterns.
- Lumpy mid-section. Although this will be most noticeable toward the end of the pregnancy, your female will have small lumps on her body, indicating the presence of eggs. This is called “lumping up.”
- Shedding. Most snakes will shed 2-3 weeks before they give birth or lay their eggs. However, shedding is a very normal process in all snakes, regardless of their reproductive state.
How Long Are Snakes Pregnant?
All snake species are different, and the time that they are pregnant, or “gravid,” is different too. Most snakes that are commonly kept as pets are typically pregnant for anywhere from 30 to 60 days.
Here are the gestation periods for common pet snakes:
| Species | Gestation Period |
| Ball Python | 44–54 days |
| Burmese Python | 60–90 days |
| Green Tree Python | 45–50 days |
| King Snake | 55–60 days |
| Milk Snake | 28–39 days |
| Corn Snake | 30–45 days |
| Rosy Boa | 100–140 days |
| Gopher Snake | 65–70 days |
| Boa Constrictor | 5–8 months |
How to Take Care of a Pregnant Snake
Once you’ve confirmed that your snake is indeed pregnant, she’ll need special care during her gestation period. Keeping the correct temperature consistent is vital, and although she may naturally seek out cooler parts of her tank, she may still want to lay under a heat lamp occasionally, too. For egg layers, you’ll need to prepare an adequate nest box to ensure that the eggs stay protected and at a consistent temperature and humidity. Although the size of the nest box will depend on the species of snake, it should typically be a relatively small space.
Your pregnant female will eat little or not at all during the later stages of gestation, and this is nothing to worry about and perfectly normal. It’s best to avoid handling during this time, not only to prevent causing her unnecessary stress, but your snake will also likely become more aggressive while pregnant.
Can Snakes Breed Without a Male?
Depending on the species of snake, your female may be pregnant even though she hasn’t mated with a male. This process is called parthenogenesis, or asexual reproduction, and while it’s rare, it’s possible in some snakes and has been observed in the Brahminy Blind Snake, or Flowerpot Snake.
Some snakes may also lay a clutch of eggs years after being adopted, leading many owners to believe that she produced eggs asexually. It’s more likely that the female mated before you adopted her, as some female snakes have the unique ability to store viable sperm for up to 6 years!
Even if your female has not mated a male recently, some of these signs could mean she’s pregnant!
Final Thoughts
The only way to tell with absolute certainty whether your snake is pregnant is to take her to a vet for a scan, though several tell-tale signs can give you a few hints beforehand. Your female may stop eating, become more aggressive, change color, and prefer the cooler area of her tank suddenly, all of which could be potential signs of pregnancy.
Related Read:
- Snakes That Give Live Birth Like Mammals
Featured Image Credit: Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock
