Male excessively mating

[Glass_]

I've tried pairing one of my males with 2 females in a 29 gallon tank turned on its side for more surface area. He just won't quit having sex with the females. As of late he has been with both females at least 2 times each. Obviously this is a bit more excessive than normal, as I've heard that other co-ed pairings go well fine on a regular basis. I have since separated them so that the females are alone in their own home. Is there any way to get him to stop making sexual advances toward his female tank mates? I am aware that the females are supposed to push him away if he keeps trying, but this is not happening. I believe that the issue arises in the female geckos' lack of experience. At about 3 years old, they've been paired with only each other throughout their whole lives. They don't do anything to stop him from trying to procreate with them.

 

[acpart]

If they find it aversive they will try to stop it. If he won't quit when they try to stop him they could get hurt. Under the circumstances, separating them seems to be a good idea.

Aliza

 

[Glass_]

Thank you. Would you agree that more than once per female is generally regarded as grounds for trying to stop the male? If so, it's probably the fault of my female geckos for not trying to stop him. I have since separated the male from females.

When you agreed with separating them, did you mean forever and ever? Is there any way at all to stop this problem of excessive mating from occurring? Or can it not be stopped, is it just another case of 'gecko boys will be boys.'

 

[acpart]

It's worth putting them together again in a few weeks to see what happens. In my opinion, as long as the female isn't biting the male to reject him, isn't getting bitten herself and continues to eat well and shed well, whatever they do is fine. I keep my breeding groups together in 1.3 the entire breeding season. During the past few years I've had to remove a female twice, once because the other female was nipping at her and once because a female wasn't laying fertile eggs and was obviously stressed about the male's advances --losing weight and shedding poorly. With my breeding groups, I find that by this time of the year (they've been together since mid-Jan) the frequency of mating behavior is way down, almost zero.

Aliza

 

[Glass_]

Ok, I'll continue doing this every few weeks to see if it dies down like you described.