Tips for getting first time breeders to lock

Hi all,

With the breeding season fast approaching, I've got 3 females that I'm planning on breeding this year, they're all feeding well! Better than usual in fact, with 2 females smashing 2 100g rats at each feeding, I can't open their tubs without them coming at me [emoji23]

I've 2 males around 8-900g that I'll be pairing with the females, one of the males will be going to two females.

I started pairing early, last week I put my pastel het pied in with my het female, she showed signs of courting, tail wagging and musking the tub but the male didn't really take notice.
Now I know that a female won't lock with every male

Would anyone have any tips for me? This is my first season so I don't have any experience in helping promote locks

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Some people recommend putting a different males shed into the enclosure with the pair. Supposedly this will help stimulate the stubborn male and push him to breed. I've never personally needed to try that, so I can't speak with experience.

One thing that has worked incredibly well for me has been to pair up during storms and the accompanying pressure changes. Unsure on the science behind it, but this absolutely seems to help get some breeding kick started.

Good luck!

Talking of storms, I did pair a male with my pastel hypo when there was a storm front coming in and it did look like they locked but I wasn't 100% sure so I'm not counting it cause I couldn't get a proper look without disturbing them, thanks for your reply!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Put a pair together with a storm coming and they have been locked for 36 hrs now. I don't remember seeing locks that long, although the last breeding I did was 20+ years ago. How long do they stay locked