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.
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