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Newbie breeding Q

MiaShadows

MiaShadows

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Hi, I am breeding for the first time this spring. I have one male who was hatched last april and is quite fat and has been trying his darndest to get to the girls most of the winter. And two females, one hatched last may, and one who is about 3-4 years old, but never mated. All have looked interested in each other through the glass, and have smelled each other on my hands, but have never lived together. (they where all three very different sizes when I bought the two new ones, and the older girl is still bulkier than the male, but the same length now)

Anyway, my question is, should I leave the male in with each female for a week or so strait? (they are all in separate 10 gallons) Or just every other night or so? I put him in with the older female, and they followed each other around and he did lots of tail wagging, but I didnt actually see a mating. I left him in all night with her and took him out this morning. Tonight I put him in with the younger female. She acted frightened of him at first, freaking out and running the other direction when he got close. But he slowly followed her, checking out everything in her cage and tail wagging, and she settled down. Then she gave a little tail wag back and I saw them mate! (I didnt know that he would nip at her and was worried at first, but she showed no signs of distress, and I know other animals do that.) When they were done, she went into her hide and closed her eyes like she was tired, so I took him out. Should I have left him in? Do they often do it multiple times in one night? Or is it better for her not to be harassed? She is still smaller than him, but nice and fat.

Just want to do all this right, thanks for listening!
~Mia
 
Well, it sounds like they didn't need a long introduction! The only thing I would have recommended would be to wait until the younger female is at least a year old before allowing her to breed and lay eggs. If she is not fully grown, the calcium she needs for her bones to develop stronger will go to her developing eggs. I have found that when females are bred too early, they have more infertile eggs and don't seem to bounce back as well between clutches. Make sure she has plenty of calcium supplementation.
 
I agree with Marcia, wait until that younger female is at LEAST a year old, some people wait until 18 months even. However if the damage is done, make sure you powder all her insects with lots of calcium to help her through.
 
I think Marcia is right on this one. Another thing that you should watch for now is her being egg bound. Which can happen at any age but females that are not old enough yet are more prone to it. Some say 10 months is old enough also so I think you are probally right on the bubble. Just keep a close eye on that young one.

Sometimes patience is the hardest part of breeding.

Has far as how long to leave the male in. Alot depends on the animal in question. I for the most part leave my males in over night then wait a couple of days and do it again. Once I notice eggs in the females belly I do not reintroduce the male. As stress can cause the female to reabsorb their eggs. Once she has laid after a few days if I do not notice eggs right away but see she is still ovulating I reintroduce the male.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions or problems just ask we would be happy to help.
 
Thankyou for the comments, I guess I will wait on the younger one, but keep an eye on her. I was told she would be ok to breed now, but I dont want to push her too early. She always has vitamines and I recently got those phoenix worms, both females love them, but the boy has been pretty indifferent to food this last month, he's fat, so Im not worried, he's just out for love!

I will keep introducing him overnight with the older female. Thanks again!
~Mia
 
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