I think my Sternfeldi is pregnant.

[lisa h]

I've been noticing some behavioural changes in one of my female Sternfeldi. A bit of history: I got two females on August 15. Both WC. The seller said that it's possible that one of them was pregnant because she had been in with a male. Can't remember if the woman saw an actual breeding take place. So far, both girls doing really well. They are housed together in a huge enclosure and they show no signs of "discomfort" with one another. In fact, they used to sleep together, bask together and eat from the same cup. There is ample space that they can do all of this seperately. Anyways, I've noticed that Frac (possible gravid one) has been acting differently lately. She's always under the basking light, and I don't see her come to any of the feeding cups for food. She and the other one used to wait at the cups every morning. She isn't coming to the "drip spot", but I mist her about 5 times a day. She is drinking. Also, she's fat. Doesn't look like a tennis ball like some of the pics I've seen, but she's on the chub side and her front legs are chubby. I don't want to stress her out by taking a picture, but I wonder if these could also be a sign of old age, since I know they don't live very long, and she is wc. Oh, and also, she rarely changes colour anymore (always a vibrant green), and hasn't had a shed lately.
Thanks for any feedback!

 

[lisa h]

Oh, stupid me should have also asked if I have to seperate the two.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Lisa,

Live bearing females such as T. sternfeldi will bask a lot when gravid. They usually will do this for quite some time before they give birth so this being a new trend on the one hand makes me think she isn't that close. On the other side, females often go off food shortly before having babies and gestation for T. sternfeldi is approximately 6 months. How fat she is could be misleading if she has a small clutch. The safest thing to do would be ready for babies if she does have them soon. Have an enclosure ready for the babies and get some Fruit Fly cultures (32oz cultures) going.

Also, there are reports of some live bearing species eating babies of the same species (even their own babies) so you might consider relocating your second female into her own cage.

Chris

 

[lisa h]

Thanks Chris. She is confirmed pregnant (by someone who knows more than me), so I'll vbe removing her room mate, and waiting for babies. I'm very excited, of course, but also apprehensive. I will be getting someone else to look after the babies until they are shipped (assuming all goes well). I have an enclosure ready, and I always have fruit flies, so now for the waiting game.