I've read in various places different info on breeding so I figured I'd ask and see if you guys could help me out with some questions (some may sound pretty stupid to you more experienced breeders ):

1. 2 out of the 3 males that I was going to breed this season went off feed several weeks before I actually paired them with any females. I was wondering if this is normal?
2. I read (and was told) that males naturally go off feed for breeding but I've also read to take the males out for a break and to feed. If they are off feed for breeding, how do you get them to eat?
3. If they aren't eating, is it ok to still pair them? I ask because someone told me to just go ahead and pair them.
4. I have seen visual locks with all of my females and after I see the lock and I catch them separated, I take the males out and put them back in their tubs but should I be leaving them the full 3 days even if I've seen a lock?
5. How often do you pair your males if you're spotting visual locks? I've been told on here to pair every 3-4 days but I'm not sure if that is if you aren't actually seeing the locks. I've read anywhere from once a week and others say try to get a lock once a month. I don't want to over do it since my males are having no issues locking within the first hour of being paired. They lock so much that I actually have a hard time getting them when they're unlocked to put them back in their tubs!

This is my first season actually breeding them myself so I just want to make sure I do everything right and my males are going to be ok. I'm ok with the females since I've gotten females that were previously bred and ovulated in my care so I think I've got the eggs and baby raising down pat but the breeding process is still a new thing for me.