Frustrated first timer

[Ben.L]

Hi guys, another impatient first time breeder here. Have been pairing my pastel het pied male with my spider female every week since late November and getting slightly frustrated with the lack of locks, or atleast from what I have seen. I don't really get much chance throughout the day to check (probably once in the morning and once at night) and have observed signs - they seem to often urinate soon after putting them together, and are usually cuddled up together on top of the heat mat.

I popped the male over the weekend and saw what I understand to be dried sperm plugs (no sure if that is positive or not!). The male is a 2010 around 850g, the female is also a 2010 though is around 1750g (always been a very good feeder and has grown rapidly, not what I would call overweight at all) I have felt what to me feels like follicles in the lower half of her body, 5 or 6 small lumps, but I am inexperienced so cannot be sure - I've not seen her hugging her water bowl or hanging out in the cooler end of her tub however.

So I guess my question is, could it simply be a matter of being unlucky and missing the locks, or is it more likely that they arent ready or not interested in one another?

[Kylegep]

I had that problem early this season, up until the last month or so. My best advice is keep pairing them. They may have locked and you weren't there too see. What I think helps is get an ultrasonic humidifier from target and make a fogger from it. This helped promote breeding for me! Good luck

[Kinra]

You might just be missing the locks. I check on mine at random times and I thought for a while that one of my males wasn't locking with the female. It turns out he doesn't have that much stamina because he locks in the middle of the night for like 4 hours at a time.

This is also my first season and I've learned that breeding takes an incredible amount of patience. Just keep pairing them up, and if you have a storm moving through that is the perfect time to pair them.

[JTrott]

You could be missing the locks, or the male is not interested in that female.....I have a 2100 gram female ghost that my pastel ghost male REFUSES to breed, but he will breed my 2100 gram female spiders, yes, that is spiders, everytime I put them together.........good luck, and keep on pairing.

Jason

[West Coast Jungle]

I agree that you may be missing them. In my experience first time males don't stay locked for very long(sound familiar?). One way to know if they locked is to put them on newspaper and then although you may not see them lock you may see little blood trials (like someone did it with a small brush). That is a good sign that they were locking. The other thing maybe if your female is not cycling then the male may not be very interested BUT continue pairing because introducing a male may get her to start cycling.

Hope this was helpful.

[Ben.L]

first time males don't stay locked for very long(sound familiar?)

Hahaha...

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys! I know it's just a waiting game, its just so annoying not knowing if I'm wasting my time or not!

Has anyone else tried the humidifier trick? I didnt think humidy was that important - I just have it at normal levels currently.

[mr.spooky]

i usually mist the females, and then put the males in.. dont know if it makes a diference or not, but i havent had any refusals.
spooky

[Ben.L]

Will give it a try next week, thanks

[SApythons]

I have also found that misting helps. Also, if your female sheds, leave the shed in when you introduce the male. I've had that jump start uninterested males too.

[SlitherinSisters]

You could just be missing them. I've been trying to breed my mojave male this year and I haven't seen him lock once, but I would put money on it that he has. I just have that gut feeling!