Not breeding??

[Lances486]

So Im trying to breed my beardies (yes, I know all of the responsibilities involved). I have owned my male (Sandfire, 19" 461g.) for a little over 2 years, and the female (white/pink colored "normal", 17" 385g.) for about 6 months, but she is about 2 years old. This is my first attempt at breeding and Im mainly doing it for the experience of doing it. The problem I am having is that my male will head bob, blacken his beard, run toward her, bite the fold of her neck, mount her, then just sit there for a sec and let go. Then she will just run out from under him and start waving at him and doing a very slow head bob (and before you ask, yes, I am 100% sure of their sexes lol). It really seems like she "wants" to mate with him, because she waves, walks back and forth in front of him almost taunting him, licks him, and basically gets into position so he doesn't even have to do anything lol. It seems like he really just doesn't know how to get the job done... is that possible? My male has never brumated, which Ive heard from some people is a must before breeding, and from others that they will breed either way most of the time. If I do need to do this, I guess I will have to wait and let him brumate this winter, then try again. Has anyone else had this same experience, or know what I can do to encourage him to actually mate with her? I started putting them together under very close supervision to make sure he wasn't overly aggressive with her, and once I saw that they were fine together, I left them together all day, then for 3 days, then separated them for 2 weeks, and are now back together as of about 4 hours ago... and he just keeps doing the same thing over and over. Thanks for reading all of this... I know its a lot lol.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

This is my first attempt at breeding and Im mainly doing it for the experience of doing it. The problem I am having is that my male will head bob, blacken his beard, run toward her, bite the fold of her neck, mount her, then just sit there for a sec and let go.




I would say he got the job done!!!! It only takes 10 seconds- 1 minute to do it for them!!! Hope this helps!!!!

 

[Lances486]

Yea, thats what I though too. I thought I just missed it while they were in the enclosure alone. I separated them for 2 weeks though after the last 3 days they were together and I didn't feel any eggs. You are normally able to start feeling eggs at about 10 days right? Its now been 16 days since I put them together, and I feel nothing at all. I put them together for about 4 hours last night, but I then separated them in case I wasn't doing something right... I don't want to stress them out any more than is absolutely necessary. Its like he just doesn't know how to do it lol.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Some females wont become gravid rite away! One of my females wait for about 2 months before she even produces an egg!! She makes me go crazy!!! They can retain the sperm up to one year! So if indeed she did get it :lol: you wont just have 1 clutch!!!

 

[crazymum]

i thought they can retain the sperm for only 6 months???

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Thats what we all thought!!! But leave it to me to defy all odds!! :lol: My one female laid her last clutch at 11 and a half months later!! No joke!! And now I have a mommy on her 8th clutch!!!!!!

 

[crazymum]

ya i read about ur one girl on her 8th clutch... thats insane

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Yep but what can I do!!! :wink:

 

[EclpsPrinc]

Hey Lance... did your female become gravid 2 months after her last breeding or did you continue to breed her until she was gravid? I have a female that's been bred ( I witnessed) about 3 times.. still no eggs yet so I'm wondering. She was a very willing participant too! I tried breeding her a fourth time and she behaved like a male, chasing & mounting the male and biting the back of his neck. It was too wierd so I removed her. LOL!

Melanie

 

[Lances486]

Thanks for the responses. I know that they can retain sperm, but I thought that was just for producing many clutches. I didn't know that it could take that long for them to actually produce their FIRST clutch!! Well, they love to keep us on edge don't they lol.

8 clutches!? Wow, thats a lot! Were all the eggs in the later clutches still healthy?

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Hey Lance... did your female become gravid 2 months after her last breeding or did you continue to breed her until she was gravid? I have a female that's been bred ( I witnessed) about 3 times.. still no eggs yet so I'm wondering. She was a very willing participant too! I tried breeding her a fourth time and she behaved like a male, chasing & mounting the male and biting the back of his neck. It was too wierd so I removed her. LOL!

Melanie

As soon as I seen them mate I new that was it, so I waited until she layed! Then 2 months later my first clutch. I only mate my females once and separate them, then after they are done laying they don't get bread until the following year! I give my females a year off..

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Thanks for the responses. I know that they can retain sperm, but I thought that was just for producing many clutches. I didn't know that it could take that long for them to actually produce their FIRST clutch!! Well, they love to keep us on edge don't they lol.

8 clutches!? Wow, thats a lot! Were all the eggs in the later clutches still healthy?

Yes I thought that as well!! But turns out two months later I had a clutch!!! So I'm guessing it all depends on the female.. Well so far we have them in the incubator but unfortunately we lost like 30 now And I have a feeling she is going to cycle down now and throw infertiles!!! So I hope for her health!!!

 

[EclpsPrinc]

Oh good! Then there is hope. I don't keep mine together either once I witness the breeding. I guess I'll hold off putting her back with him and hope for eggs to come

Thank you!

 

[spyder79]

To original poster

The time frame varies on when your female becomes gravid. I would wager that given the amount of time they were together she has probably been fertilized. now just begins the waiting game. Your male has "done the deed" with her again as she may be being passive but she may also not be reacting to his advances the same way. There are suptle signs that you have to have an eye for on the differences on how she positions her body and what not to either say yes or say no. She probably knows she is carrying (eggs developing) and therefore no longer has any interest in your males advances. Just a thought. I know with my big female after the first 5 days were up i gave her a week and then put her back in with him. She wanted none of it. She was pressed as hard as possible agains the glass to try and get away lol. Then another week went by and poof eggs. So yours is probably gravid.