To rebreed or not...

[paulnj]

what is your opinion? I have been asked this question twice today, so thought I would poll the forum....

Please explain your choice if you so choose.

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

Well, breeding puts a lot of stress on the female (and even the male). If you have already bred them and fertile eggs have been produced, why even bother going back and rebreeding? I guess if you want a lot of fertile eggs, you could go back and rebreed... But I personally think you should breed once and give the female and male a break.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Ok before I vote on this, how long is the sperm good for after they mate that will produce fertile eggs? Thats about the only thing I never researched yet lol

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

Ok before I vote on this, how long is the sperm good for after they mate that will produce fertile eggs? Thats about the only thing I never researched yet lol

3-4 clutches, but it varies from female to female.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I guess it all depends on how many clutches you want for your females. It has been my experience that no more than 3-4 clutches are viable for each coupling (on average).

 

[Ccrashca069]

ok cool TY Marcia and Hannah. The answer is now easy. If you plan on having the female to lay eggs they yes you need to rebreed. If you let them breed and didn't like the results you got or it was a fluke then the answer is No. Since you are a breeder the obvious answer is YES lol

 

[paulnj]

Last season I mated every female once and one laid 13 viable eggs as a 1st year breeder. But as stated 3-5 clutches was my average for viability.

I guess some of mine will be rebred and some won't, as I don't need 1200 hatchlings .

 

[malt_geckos]

Well, breeding puts a lot of stress on the female (and even the male). If you have already bred them and fertile eggs have been produced, why even bother going back and rebreeding? I guess if you want a lot of fertile eggs, you could go back and rebreed... But I personally think you should breed once and give the female and male a break.

I don't think breeding is stressful for them; it's what they are made to do...I do however think that overbreeding is stressful to the female if she has already been bred and the male keeps trying her. I do think it is necessary to breed maybe twice in a season..

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

No worries! I'm not disagreeing with that. But I am referring to overbreeding like you mentioned. That's what I meant when I said the female needs a break.

 

[paulnj]

I don't think breeding is stressful for them; it's what they are made to do...

NOW those are words to live by :main_lipsrsealed:

But seriously,

I can see rebreeding once mid season in certain cases ,and in rare cases a third breeding on a prolific seasoned female, but that's about it.

 

[malt_geckos]

Paul- everyone should live by those words.... lol. oops...off topic. hehehe

 

[acpart]

Here's another approach: I keep my males and females together Jan-Oct largely because the males' cages double as hatchling cages in the spring and summer. Of course, if a male was getting too aggressive with a female I'd separate him, but so far that hasn't happened. I find that by July or so the males get bored with the whole thing and stop trying to mate which means my season ends naturally by Aug./Sept.

Aliza

 

[eyelids]

I do every third clutch...

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Just a question:

So when you say "rebreed", you're saying to the same male correct? Or would you introduce a second male? I only ask because you may not know what the exact outcome is if you introduce male #2, assuming sperm retention. Thanks!

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Thanks for the multitude of responses to my question. :main_thumbsup:

 

[GeckoJunkie]

I rebreed after every third clutch. Seems to work out pretty good.

 

[lil_katiedan]

Yes, we're talking about breeding to the same male

We rebreed after every third clutch.

 

[Inland Geckos]

allot of female animals feel comfortable breeding if another female is around. for example rhinos, if housed with another female they will more likely breed. so my opinion is if shes not alone i dont think it would be as stressful on her. i could be wrong but thats just a thought... maybe she would be fine even after several seasons. oops i think i went off subject lol oh well.

 

[bro paul]

I'm trying something new this year that kind of relates to this thread.
This is the first year I'm doing a lot of "breeding groups"...where the females (4-5) stay with the same male through breeding season. I talked with a few other breeders who have had good success with this. So far the females seem to be doing better through the egg laying season (keeping higher weights...laying more clutches, etc...) than the females I keep individually and pair with a male once or twice. Oddly, the males seem to be doing better also. One of my fears was that the male would be stressed from trying to breed too much...and that the females would stress also. I saw a bit of fighting over "hiearchry" at first...but all in all I'm very pleased. The geckos actually seem less stressed

 

[paulnj]

Oddly, that seams to hold true for 2 - 1.4's of geckos I am housing together too. From one group I pulled the largest female out because I felt bad, and she is now laying slower and stopped eating for the most part. The other.3 are staying on food and laying like machines:main_thumbsup: