Observing Locks & Feeding Day

[Eric Alan]

I have a question about my weekly schedule during breeding season. To set the stage, my job is typically Monday-Friday and I am home on the weekends.

Currently, my feeding day (for my once/week animals) is on Saturday. My original plan was to start pairings on Wednesdays and separate on Fridays (or earlier if a lock is observed), then stay on course to feed on my normal Saturdays. Tonight, I had the thought that I'll probably end up being a Peeping Tom/stalker and may want to be around more (vs being at work most of the day) when they're paired together. Does anyone think it'd be a good idea to start pairings on Fridays and separate on Sundays instead (and change my feeding day up to Monday)? That way I'd be more likely to be home on the weekends while they're paired up.

I know it doesn't matter in the larger scheme of things as far as feedings go, but how beneficial would it be for me to be around to observe the pairings?

Thank you for your comments/questions/concerns/smart remarks in advance!

Best regards,
Eric

[Dave Green]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, they typically lock for a long period of time. I used to check pairs in the morning and late in the evening; however, it didn't take long to realize that if they were locked at night they were still locked in the morning. So now I just check them in the morning unless I'm super anxious about a pairing.

[bcr229]

If I feed on Saturday, I pair Tue-Thu, or into Friday if I see them locked Thu night. If I caught a lock earlier and see them separate earlier, I'll return the male to his tub before Thu.

[Eric Alan]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, they typically lock for a long period of time.

I think my snakes convinced you of this. There's a few beggars this afternoon looking forward to feeding day tomorrow that might be upset if I pushed back to Monday starting this week.

...unless I'm super anxious about a pairing.

That's going to be every pairing for me for my first season!

[Eric Alan]

If I feed on Saturday, I pair Tue-Thu, or into Friday if I see them locked Thu night. If I caught a lock earlier and see them separate earlier, I'll return the male to his tub before Thu.

Two questions:

• 1) How often do you see that Thursday night lock when starting pairings on on Tuesday?
• 2) Do you keep feeding on Saturday for everyone? By this I mean do you feed early separated animals any earlier once you split them up, or still wait until Saturday?

[bcr229]

Two questions:

• 1) How often do you see that Thursday night lock when starting pairings on on Tuesday?
• 2) Do you keep feeding on Saturday for everyone? By this I mean do you feed early separated animals any earlier once you split them up, or still wait until Saturday?

1) Not often, my ladies are little hussies actually... if they're gonna go they're usually locked up by the following morning.
2) They all get fed Saturday for my convenience.

[Kibbleswhites]

My females will not eat the day of or the day after I pull the male out of the tub. Weird, I think they are still in breed mode. If you want to feed on Saturday. I would pair on Monday and pull on Wednesday.

[treachery]

Just my two cents for what it's worth!

I know everyone has their own style of doing things that works for them, as for me I start in December. I put the males with the females for two days and then give two days rest, so if I started on a Sunday this week next week would start on Monday. I check locks once or twice a day, but TRY not to worry to much about it. I stop feeding mine all together around February/March, if you have had them on a good steady diet during the year they'll be fine, (most males and females starting to ovulate have stopped long before now anyway). I keep pairing them till I know for sure she's ovulated and started her post ovulation shed(Marked by the lack of lock ups and the building of the female). We (THIS INCLUDES MYSELF!!!) tend to worry to much about everything being perfect, when mother nature is good at what she does. In the end as long as you pair them enough they will do their thing!

1:0 Mojave
1:2 Pastels
1:0 BEL
0:1 Lesser Bee
0:1 Super Pastel
1:0 Orange Ghost
0:1 Honey Bee
1:0 Spider
1:0 Pinstripe
0:1 Green Pastel(lace black back)
1:0 Black Pastel
0:1 Weird looking normal

[Darkbird]

Even though I didn't start this thread, thanks to all that responded. This was a question I kinda needed answered but hadn't thought to ask, so thanks to the OP too.