First breeding lock of the season!

[Spindown]

HOORAY! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO! I've apparently been pairing too early in the day, we have witnessed our first copulation! I"M SO HAPPY!!
Thank god I never leave them alone, because he really wasnt getting it at first. Tried to grab at her side several times, then tried her tail and her leg for the grab! Shes fine, I was less than a foot away and broke THAT up, and then he finally figured it out. I'm hoping it goes more quickly next time because shes going to have some mad bruises
I am SO GLAD I'm not a skink!

Also, is it supposed to be messy afterwards or did he miss his mark? *blush*

Also, I have some pics and a video of it, but I dont know where to post for interested parties. I also took a video of the head bobbing activity pre-mating, and I am hoping to get a vid of the tail "wagging", as its very interesting!

[Spindown]

Am I ok to clean his cage, or should I wait for their breeding windows to close? I know that sounds gross but I know scent can be important for some species.

[StaceyLeigh]

Congrats!
My male had some issues during mating also, grabbed on the lower sides many times, and I had to break it up, tried once for the tail, but I put my gloved hand in the way before that happened I was a nervous wreck for most of it, so afraid one or both would get hurt! As for the mess, we only had 1 session that was messy, and I assumed that some or all of the sperm didn't get where it was supposed to go, the other 3 sessions I didn't see any "mess". Good luck with future matings! My pair mated back mid-December, so if Calypso is Gravid we should have babies the beginning of April?

Don't have any answers about cleaning the cage because I used a big plastic kiddy pool for mating sessions. My tanks are just the 40 gallon breeder tanks and I didn't think that was big enough? Calypso is 23 1/2" so I just didn't see how that was going to work. One of my goal this summer is to upgrade all 3 tanks to 4' by 2' tanks!

[Richard.C]

Sounds like typical way my main male breeder northern does the deed,lots of stuffing round first

[Spindown]

I'm so thrilled, had my second lock today and it looked successful. I see what was meant by the males attitude would change...they still started at each other for about 10 minutes, but after that he went into intense breeding mode. Pretty cool, I must say! I hope he can keep it up!

[Spindown]

Aaaaand a third successful looking lock! He's not wasting time anymore, paired and done in about 15 minutes! I promise I wont be overly obsessed and update constantly next year

[StaceyLeigh]

Aaaaand a third successful looking lock! He's not wasting time anymore, paired and done in about 15 minutes! I promise I wont be overly obsessed and update constantly next year

I totally understand, back in December I was posting about every mating session my 2 had! It is exciting, so don't worry about posting, I'll read them.

[Spindown]

lol thanks

[Jeff]

Congratulations. It is still just as exciting for me. I am up to 43 successful copulations so far this year, and still going pretty strong. Even though I don't post about everyone anymore, I still get just as excited about it.

[Spindown]

I think my guys might be done already. I've had 4 locks total, 3 successful looking ones. The male is now ignoring my female, and it could just be my imagination but she looks extra plump today...

[StaceyLeigh]

From reading other posts on here it sounds like the plumpness may be ovulating. I remember Calypso looking plumper 3-4 days after the last mating session! Here's hoping we both see baby skinks this year!