Male big enough - but too young?

[Lolo76]

I have three '09 males (mojave, het albino & spider), all born in early/mid July of this year - putting them at around 5 months old right now. Two of them are still pretty small, but Julius the mojave is growing seriously fast... from 93 to 437g in the three months I've had him.

When I started breeding Toby, he was just at 500g @ around 6-7 months old, and started locking with the girls immediately. So should I give Julius a go this season? Both of my adult females are probably building follicles as we speak (one is looking suspiciously pre-ovulation), so it's now or never! Whaddya think? Does age matter with the males, or is size enough? And how young/small have you all bred your males?

[Elise.m]

I've heard you can breed them as soon as they start producing sperm plugs.

[Lolo76]

I've heard you can breed them as soon as they start producing sperm plugs.

Yeah, but unfortunately I don't know how to check for that... it's the same process as popping them, if I remember correctly, which I haven't attempted yet.

[muddoc]

For lack of a more scientific explanation, it is a crap shoot. I have had males that were 450 grams breed numerous females and not produce an egg. My original Spider male bred at 5 months old, sired 5 clutches that year, and had his first baby actually pip and hatch before he was 1 year old. I have also had 1000 plus gram 2 year old males not breed, but breed their third year. There really isn't any harm in putting a young small male in with 1 or 2 females (too much breeding at a young age and when small could have some negative consequences). If he wants to breed he will. Wether or not he can successfully fertilize eggs is up to the gods.

Good luck,

[OhhWatALoser]

Yeah, but unfortunately I don't know how to check for that... it's the same process as popping them, if I remember correctly, which I haven't attempted yet.

eigher pop em or sometimes you can see it on their shed. my 1 and only male started breeding at 550 grams and im sure he would of went sooner. i put him in at 550 and 2 days later he was locked up.

[Lolo76]

Thanks all! I guess I'll just let him have a go, and see what happens.. then if I see a lock, we can play "who's the daddy" with the resulting clutches.