Shedding during breeding season

[Jay_Bunny]

I'm just wondering what other breeders do. I have not paired up my normal to my pastel for a while because for a while I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue breeding this season. Now I've got the go ahead and wanted to pair them up last week but both the pastel and the normal were in deep shed. I left them alone and just a few days ago, several of my snakes shed. (They are all shedding and going into shed at the same time! Ahhh! ) The pastel shed but I'm still waiting on my female normal. She's gone clear now so its only a matter of days till she sheds. She is still eating and is currently hanging out on the warm side almost constantly.

[FIREball]

I won't use a male who is in shed but females I do

[WingedWolfPsion]

Males love females that are in shed--they love females that have JUST shed even more. I always put a boy in with a female that's about to shed, and leave him there until she's finished the shed. It's a good way to ensure a lock.

I also separate males that are in shed and give them a rest until they're done. They aren't interested in breeding while they're opaque, and don't need the added stress.

[bones93]

I actually just had this happen this week. One of my female pastels in "in the blue" but I have yet to witness my spider lock up with her. I just took him out after 3 days.
Should I wait not until she shed to introduce him again or should I stay on the 3 on 3 off rotation? I didnt really wanna stress her even more during her shed.

[WingedWolfPsion]

If she's in good health, she'll be just fine, but it's up to you. If he's not interested yet, you can wait, but watch closely--you want to introduce him the moment that shed is off her.

Don't remove the shed skin from her bin. Leave it in there, to scent the place up good.

[Jay_Bunny]

Well I introduced my pastel to my normal while she was still in shed. She had gone clear so I put him in there. Got nothing on the first day, but she did shed. On the 2nd day, I saw an almost lock and today they are just curled up next to each other again. Should I go ahead and separate and attempt to feed? Do you think they locked later? Their tails were in the right position I just don't think they were in a real lock.