To lift or not to lift....that is the question...?

[MontyP2016]

Ok, let's back this up about a week or so... I have a Lemonblast/Fire (who is still a bit small 500g) that I put in with a 2500g normal proven female. They did some cuddling, not like 'lovers' cuddling, but more like a 'hey buddy let's watch a movie' cuddle. That went on for 2 1/2 days, it was obvious that nothing was gonna happen so I put him back in his home and gave them both a meal. 3 days later (last night) I put him in with my doll baby Pinstripe. She is only about 1500g (4 years old). I just got her a few months ago, shes a sweetheart! So I put him with her last night right before 'lights out' in my reptile room, nothing happening in the 5 minutes that I stayed down there, I cut the lights and went to bed. When the lights came on this morning they are both under the newspaper, apparently in the same spot as I can only see one giant heap under the paper. As the day went on, no movement from them whatsoever. We went to a late dinner tonight so I shut their lights off a bit earlier than normal, came back about an hour and a half later to check on them, they STILL haven't moved an inch. As curious as I am to check if a lock has been made, I don't want to bother them into separating prematurely and completely wrecking this project. So I guess what I'm asking is, if they are in fact locked up under there and I lift the newspaper, do you think I will spook them-stressing them out and ruining what they could be doing? Should I just be patient and wait, maybe fix the paper for the next time he goes in there so they cant hide again?

[piedlover79]

Is the tub clear? You might be able to look up from under.

[MontyP2016]

It's in another fx cage, solid white :-( Came downstairs this morning and they still appear to be in the same spot under the paper so I'm gonna take that as a good sign. The pinstripe specifically is very active at night EVERY night so I'm going to assume there was some good reason for her not to be up and around last night... :-)

[Juicebøx]

Lifting the paper shouldn't bother them. Kevin, from Balls2You (on YouTube) has a video where he is showing different stages of courting I think the video is almost 10 months old, but he does a lot more than lift the paper in his video.

i wouldn't bother them "too much", but just lifting the paper to check shouldn't be an issue at all.

[Mangiapane85]

Lifting the paper shouldn't bother them. Kevin, from Balls2You (on YouTube) has a video where he is showing different stages of courting I think the video is almost 10 months old, but he does a lot more than lift the paper in his video.

i wouldn't bother them "too much", but just lifting the paper to check shouldn't be an issue at all.

"Gavin." ... but yes, a quick peek under the paper shouldn't make them break a lock if there is one... how'd it go? What'd you find out?


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[redshepherd]

If you know your balls aren't extremely skittish ones, it should be just fine. It looks like it takes quite a bit of fear and stress to make them unlock, if that's even possible. I've bothered my pairs quite a bit while they were locked, and they just sat around and lifted their heads to stare at me.

[MontyP2016]

When I lifted the paper on day 4 they were laying next to each other barely touching. I am breeding one male to 2 females and so far have had no luck with either. My male is still a bit on the small side (550g-575g, 2015) but according to everything I've read and watched I believe he should be ok, maybe it's still too early in the season? I put the male with a female for 3 days, then give him 3 days to rest and eat, then put him with the other female and start over. Any ideas or advise to add would be greatly appreciated, thank you