My pair have hooking up again and again for over a month. Somedays they don't have anything to do with each other then somedays they can't get enough. I'm not sure about palpating. Monday night while in the shower she got real fat in the middle and stayed that way for a while I thought maybe it was ovulation. They stay in a 50 gallon breeder tank. If I'm doing something wrong let me know I don't want to hurt them!!!