Boa Breeding Angst

(n) angst (an acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety; usually reserved for philosophical anxiety about the world or about personal freedom)

angst–noun, plural Pronunciation [engk-stuh] a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

We are (hopefully) three and a half weeks away from our very first boa litter. This may be the perfect time to talk about boa breeding angst. This post is not a complaint by any means, just the outlet to the anxiety built up in the desire to succeed in breeding boas, or breeding anything for that matter. If you have had a successful litter before, or hatched out your Nth leopard gecko or ball python egg, then you may have to take your mind back to your first litter or clutch.

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night to go check the temperature in the boa room. For some reason my brain thought the thermostat had malfunctioned, or the whole rack had been unplugged somehow. When I flung open the cage, one touch with my bare hand confirmed (in my incoherent mind) that it was way too cool and now I was at risk of loosing this litter. Then I heard a click. It was the thermostat turning on the heat. I grabbed the temp gun to check for sure. 89 degrees. Big sigh of relief and a realization that this "hobby" has been stressful for the last few weeks. This is not the first time I have bolted out of bed in the middle of the night, worried that I left her cage open, or that the thermostat malfunctioned and figured my boa is now medium rare. I purchased a fetal doppler to try to put my mind at ease. If I can hear the little babies then I won't worry right? Wrong. I heard heartbeats, but I'm worried it was the mother I was hearing. So I sold the doppler and have a nicer (more expensive of course) one on the way. What if she's not even gravid? What if she had the ovulation and then reabsorbed the ova? What if she has been sitting at 88 degrees and in the HCP (heat conservation position) just to mess with me. What if she's full of slugs? What if she passes her due date and nothing happens? She doesn't look big enough to me. She's not sitting in the "cinnibon" position, or is she?

All this may make me look like a stress case, and have you wondering why I'm in this hobby to begin with. The truth is, if I didn't care enough to worry like this, I WOULD get out of this hobby. It sounds masochistic to say, but this is the fun of it. Not to say that I don't need to sit back, take a deep breath, and remind myself that this IS a hobby, and there is always next year.

Gravid Albino Boa (I think?)

But in the back of your mind you really want to see that first litter. Or the first live leopard geckos hatching out of the egg.

There is also financial anticipation. I'm not expecting to pay my mortgage with a litter (or 10) of boas, but I would like to recoup some of my costs. Maybe pay for my rats this coming year? If someone tells you that financial gain has nothing to do with their breeding projects, then they are either not being completely honest, or they are purist's that are way too cool for me to hangout with. The truth is, I would love to slowly grow this into a full time endeavor. If I didn't love the boas then I wouldn't do it for the money alone, but who says they love something so much, they wouldn't want to make a living from it? Check the classifieds or their websites and you will likely find these purists' boas up for sale at 10% off (if you buy today!).

I may be more high-strung than most, but this first season has been a mixture of excitement, joy, and angst. I'm psyched to be where we are right now, and can't wait till April 18th either way. We also have a dozen leopard gecko eggs, and a few of them should start popping in a few weeks.

At the end of the day, you need to pull out your favorite (non-gravid) boa and just enjoy it. Breeding boas is a lot like life, full of planning, hope, frustration, excitement, friendship, and most of all learning. Take it a day at a time and enjoy the anticipation. If you can, then your a better person than I.
<end rant>

Thanks for letting me share everyone. I had to have an outlet for my anxiety while I wait. Boa Breeding Angst

[RTB_luver]

dont worry everyone is like that it i think there first litters

[tech24]

Exactly why I will never breed....I couldn't handle it. Its also the reason I am afraid to have human children....I would never sleep! Good luck and maybe you'll get some sleep in a month or two...lol

[beastie]

i'm like that with every litter!! except instead of spending the last month jittery, i start about 3 months out!!! i can't take it!!!

(that girl looks great, btw! should be beautiful babies!)

[tech24]

I guess thats why they brew ice cold malt beverages

[Boa Amarali]

Great post Sid.You'll come to find that you get this way for every litter every breeding season.
I get up all the time,I don't sleep well anyway and I check the Boas constantly even in off season.
Now that its breeding season,I only slept 2 hours last night,LOL
I'm all worked up,that's part of what makes it so fun,
and then of course those cute little gooey Boas

[cian300]

Great post Sid. I am a few years off from breeding, but I am excited for you, so much I might lose some sleep over it! Good luck to you man.

[Iceman2197]

I would love to be in your position, i'm a year or two from my attempt

[az-gunner]

I know where you're coming from brotha.
I'm gonna get me two of the craftsman mechanic stools. One for the garage and another one, to park my happy tail in front of the cages.

[Sidviciouser]

Originally Posted by Iceman2197

I would love to be in your position, I'm a year or two from my attempt

I know I need to just be thankfull and enjoy it. I am, and I do. Just getting super anxious.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm getting a nice doppler on Thursday that MIGHT put me at ease a bit. And it might depress me.