ugh...stupid questions

Ok, so this is my first breeding season and they are both cooled and I have been pairing them up since late November. I have not actually seen a lock yet, but I think I have noticed some of her follicles start to develop as she is mighty lumpy off of very small meals. I have been putting them together for 3 days on 3 days off for almost 2 months now and have never actually witnessed a lock. Today I noticed that she looks like she is starting to get pink belly, you know,before a shed. I'm freaking out thinking this is her pre-lay shed, but how could I have missed all the locks AND ovulation? any pointers or techniques I should be aware of? Please help as this is my first breeding project ever and would love to hatch some spinners this spring.

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Originally Posted by joshthaxton

Ok, so this is my first breeding season and they are both cooled and I have been pairing them up since late November. I have not actually seen a lock yet, but I think I have noticed some of her follicles start to develop as she is mighty lumpy off of very small meals. I have been putting them together for 3 days on 3 days off for almost 2 months now and have never actually witnessed a lock. Today I noticed that she looks like she is starting to get pink belly, you know,before a shed. I'm freaking out thinking this is her pre-lay shed, but how could I have missed all the locks AND ovulation? any pointers or techniques I should be aware of? Please help as this is my first breeding project ever and would love to hatch some spinners this spring.

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Well if she looks like she is going to bust at the seams then yes, But if your still feeling bumps i would say no you would feel something like the size of a water ballon. But im not the best person to answer im in the same boat you are haha. Best of luck!

That's the thing, she doesn't look half as lumpy as I see the gravids on here. She won't eat FT or rats, so I WAS having to feed her around 5-7 mice/week. Since I have been pairing them up she won't eat more than 2-3/week. I thought she was building, but then she just started looking less and less lumpy. She has been doing A LOT more thermoregulation the past few weeks, but as far as her and my male locking up, I have yet to see it, and I am one nosy daddy. They just like cuddle together, but no "riding dirrty." Anything I could be doing different? Temps/humidity/etc are all good. Does anyones BPs NOT mate in the winter, but later like late Feb?

Just cause you haven't seen a lock doesn't mean it hasn't happened. If you haven't seen any locks and you haven't seen her ovulate then my guess is shes just going in to shed. I had a female last year that shed every 3 -4 weeks for months while breeding. I think the shedding has to do with the hormones that their body produces while breeding.

I'd say keep pairing them up till you see her OVY! then watch for a shed. Thats the PLS (prelay shed)

Thanks, I'm not trying to sound extra-new here, but is ovulation really that hard to miss?

NAAAA.. she'll grow and GROW and GROW!...

Then it'll look like she ate a foot ball for 24 hours. then it goes down.

LOL
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