breeding and eating

[Kalitta]

I'm all confused, everything i read tells me my female should go off feed while she is in breeding, gravid and what not. I've placed her with my male and witnessed lock up after lockup, I've cycled him in and out of her tank. BUT He's the one off his feed. She wolfs down a rat without hesitation every week, where he won't eat week after week. Could the person who probed them be wrong? They wouldn't lock up if they were the same gender right?

[kc261]

I'm sure people with more knowledge and first hand experience will chime in, but I know I've read about males going off feed for the breeding season. Not quite as sure about females, but it makes sense that it might be an individual thing. Just because most do doesn't mean every one will.

[PigsnPythons]

This was my first year breeding, so I don't have a lot of experience, but....My male started eating erratically as soon as he started breeding (like once a month...once every three weeks...when he was slamming rats every week), but my female didn't stop eating until she ovulated. So maybe ur girl hasn't ovulated yet?

[JD Constriction]

In my experience you are exactly right. After ovulation they stop feeding.

I would actually recommend that you stop feeding after their preovulation shed. Feeding, Handling, and/or high temps can cause premature ovulation (aka slugs) or folicle reabsorbtion.

Hope that helps