Happy, but a tiny bit hesitant...

[Bruce Whitehead]

I have my male fire... just coming up on 400g. He came out of QT (60 days).

He is a great snake, and a snake that just takes my breath away, very hot boy.

I popped him the other day and he did have a plug.

I put him in with one of my unproven females. I rubbed a sperm plug (from another male) on her back, and came home tonight and they are locked. I was stunned. I really expected nothing to happen, and if they hadn't locked he would not have gone back in until the new year.

It was more of a "check and see" situation.

I know the stress of breeding a younger male can cause RIs, etc. So I am going to be very attentive to him.

Should I keep him on a lesser schedule than my adult males? I do not plan on giving him the same rotation, and he is eating like a dream on FT right now.

Even my adults are usually in two weeks, out one...

Any words of caution or advice appreciated.

Because he is only 60 days out of QT should I QT the females he is pairing with as well? That certainly would not be a problem. Or should I just keep her with him only to be safe? Not cohabbing... just only pairing her with him.

He came from a reputable breeder and I am confident in this person's husbandry.

Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

He was not cooled drastically... his hot spot is 85-86.

Bruce

[MDB]

I would say that you are good to go on the qt, but I would keep him on a different schedule than your adult males, little bit more time off than the others.

[roosterman2173]

I'm breeding a 400 gram pastel male this year and I leave him in for 2 days and out for 5. He has lock twice that i've seen. I have him in with a Granite female thats over 1800 grams.

[Morphie]

my 500g fire was the first snake to make a lock happen for me. I was amazed - i figured fires were a pipe dream for me this year but this little dude is really trying to make it happen for me. <3

I can't imagine what you need to be told that you don't already know. As long as you're observing him closely, you should be able to spot any problems before they take hold.

[Morphie]

also just curious - where did you get your fire? pics??

[rabernet]

Bruce,

How many females do you plan to breed him to? A confirmed lock, once a month per female should be plenty.

Did you say you keep yours paired two weeks and out one? Or was that a typo?

I generally do three days in, four days (or longer - depending on if I'm waiting for a weather system to arrive) out. While I was breeding darn near weekly last year, I'm giving the boys more of a rest this year, and at the MOST frequent, the girls are only breed once every 2 to 3 weeks.

[Drew87]

Very cool man, Looks like the sperm on the females back helped. congrats man

[Bruce Whitehead]

also just curious - where did you get your fire? pics??

Ash came from Capital City Gheckos in Ottawa Ontario, same time as I got my Enchis. Figured he would go very late season. I didn't expect a first time lock from him at all.

Bruce,

How many females do you plan to breed him to? A confirmed lock, once a month per female should be plenty.

Did you say you keep yours paired two weeks and out one? Or was that a typo?

I generally do three days in, four days (or longer - depending on if I'm waiting for a weather system to arrive) out. While I was breeding darn near weekly last year, I'm giving the boys more of a rest this year, and at the MOST frequent, the girls are only breed once every 2 to 3 weeks.

I go by one week schedules...

Feed on day 1, pair on day 3, if no lock remove on 5, rest for two days.
Start over, then 1 week off. That would be most I would breed any of them.

He is getting one girl exclusively, but I may run him through the odd extra girl as well. Probably the odd lock with each of the Pastel and YB males' mates. If he is doing well and being consistent. That would give him 3 total. The other girls, if they go really late and he is still up to task, I would pop him in as well.

Last year, both my girls laid end of summer... all the snakes had their temps back up but were still breeding.

Very cool man, Looks like the sperm on the females back helped. congrats man

I owe you a fire for that one... I figured it was a trick I would not use, but it did work like a charm.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I do appreciate it.

Bruce

[MDB]

very good looking bloke you have there!