Early breeding season!

[Sirus Uno]

In an attempt to kickstart my big Harlequin girl on food, I ended up getting a lock!
I bought her early July at Repticon Kissimmee. 1431g. She hasn't eaten for me but hasn't lost but maybe a few grams and put it back. Shed just fine. I gave her a hide which she pushed away. Moved her place on my rack. Offered different prey which she either ignored or shied away from. Rats, asf, mice, live, thawed... Nothing. So this passed Thursday I gave her a bath/ soak. Put her back after 15 min and felt her up as she slid into the tub through my hands. In doing so I felt some marble sized lumps in her. So I thought it could be possible she missed this breeding season and she's been readying herself by cooling down and getting follicles developed. So out of curiosity I figured my pastel male may be down for the task of courting her and maybe it would kick start a feeding response. So I put Ace in the tub with her.
At first they were both curiously checking each other out. Then some contact. He laid on top of her and after a while I could see he was lining up. So I left them alone for the night. The next afternoon I check on them and sure as hell they were locked up! I came home from work that night and he was done and waiting for me to put him back home.
Ace is over 2 years old and just over 550g. I brought him up to size fairly quickly. He eats like a beast! He's a foster I'm taking care of for a friend who was pretty much maintenance feeding him and a few others I now have. This is his first.
Harleen was a breeder which apparently didn't go this season but it seems she was looking for a male and that's why she wasn't interested in any food I offered.
I wasn't really expecting the lock honestly but boom... And it makes sense now.
I'll be feeding this Thursday to see if she takes a meal finally.
Thoughts...? Questions? Ideas?
I'm kind of excited at the possibility of my first clutch but its super early to breed... Or so I thought.

[Hannahshissyfix]

They'll lock any time of year and there isnt really a set season. Ive had eggs laid proba ly every month of the year, my next clutch should be here in a few weeks. Just because they lock doesnt mean she'll be laying any time soon so you could still have months of waiting but it you palpated her and those were nice big follicles then it could be sooner than later. Good luck!

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[Sirus Uno]

I felt some marble sized lumps so maybe 10-12mm or so. And yea I've done plenty of research in preparation for this coming season and continue to do so. I'm just excited. So many things I've been worried or concerned about are starting to work themselves out. And now this.
I'll be putting him in on off feed weeks. So this Thursday I'll feed the crew and next Thursday I'll put him back in. Giving him a couple weeks rest, a good meal and a week to digest before I put some Marvin Gaye back on and light some candles lol.
Hopeful results being her putting good weight on and dropping a good size clutch of some pastels, harlequins, pastelequins, and of course some classics

[Stewart_Reptiles]

You can breed year round however personally considering her weight and the fact that she does not eat I would not breed her whether there are follicles or not.

Sure it can be done and she probably would in the wild but in captivity we owe them to breed them when they are at their best considering the toll it takes on their body even on a female that feeds.

You want your female to be plump and eating so she can prepare for eggs.

[Sirus Uno]

She is definitely not thin. But that was the whole point of introducing him. If in fact she doesn't eat I will not continue.

[Sirus Uno]

And it worked! She finally ate! Its been a full day and happy to say everyone ate. My Tili broke her feed strike last feed and now Harleen! So excited!

[Ronniex2]

Congrats on the lock! And good luck in with the rest of the work ahead... I can’t wait to see some pics when you have them.. your friend doesn’t have to know you used his male either .. it can be y'all lil secret lmfao!! (jk.. give him the normal Hets lol)

[Sirus Uno]

Lol nah I'll give her either a baby pastel to replace hers or I'll keep a male pastel to replace him, a male Harlequin and a female Pastelequin... Maybe a female normal just to have a gene pool splitter. She can have whatever is left if she wants. I'm preparing to lose him if she finds the space. Next year I'll have a bunch more grown and ready so I won't really need the pastel until the following season.

[Sirus Uno]

This is Ace, the male Pastel

This is my big girl, Harleen.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Thats a nice Pastel