Breeding old ovulating female that is not eating

[gothra]

Will you breed a 10 years old virgin female if she is ovulating and stopped eating altogether? She is in perfect health and shape. My Bambi goes off food for several months every year when she ovulates; I really want to get at least one offspring of hers before she is another year older. But if there is extremely high risk then I won't do it. Or if she continues to eat I won't do it either.

 

[reps4life]

Will you breed a 10 years old virgin female if she is ovulating and stopped eating altogether? She is in perfect health and shape. My Bambi goes off food for several months every year when she ovulates; I really want to get at least one offspring of hers before she is another year older. But if there is extremely high risk then I won't do it. Or if she continues to eat I won't do it either.

I would not. There is always a risk even at a young age, so I would be afraid it would end her life. I have never bred geckos, but I am giving my opinion based on the health aspect.

 

[gothra]

Yes, I know there is a risk for breeding at any age. But how much worse is it if the female is older, but is already ovulating and stopped eating completely. I was thinking if she is ovulating, then her body is prepared to lay eggs. But with her age, plus being a first time female, is the risk significantly higher as in "she will most likely egg bound or die"? Or "the chance of getting egg bound is somewhat higher"?

 

[reps4life]

Yes, I know there is a risk for breeding at any age. But how much worse is it if the female is older, but is already ovulating and stopped eating completely. I was thinking if she is ovulating, then her body is prepared to lay eggs. But with her age, plus being a first time female, is the risk significantly higher as in "she will most likely egg bound or die"? Or "the chance of getting egg bound is somewhat higher"?

I was waiting to see if anyone with breeding experience would have any positive insight, but maybe not. Risk would be significantly higher to become egg bound and die. As you know breeding itself shortens their lifespan, so at the age of 10 she has but so many years left and putting her through that stress can end her life. She might look healthy overall but that does not mean she is completely. Just as in female humans the risk increases with age. We start losing calcium, bones begin to degenerate ect. The benefits we have as humans to be more successful is due to prenatal care, blood work and exams.
That doesn't entirely exist in reptiles. So I think the nice thing to do would be to let her live her golden years happily

 

[BrightReptiles]

Its definitely not worth the risk. The only way I could see it being a reasonable idea is if she was the last of a great bloodline or if she carried one of the last copies known of a special trait.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Bonnie, you might check with Marcia, Golden Gate Geckos, for some information on breeding older females. Since your girl has never been bred, under the right circumstances, it may still be possible even though she isn't in her peak years.