Virgin Female ovulating?

[staceyleigh]

I have a female who is 59g and I can see an ovulation or eggs? She has not been with a male- I have been waiting till she is a little bigger (wanted her to get to 65g) to mate her. Will she likely just reabsorb the eggs?

 

[DrCarrotTail]

She will probably reabsorb the eggs if she is not introduced to a male but she may also produce infertile eggs. Many of my females didn't hit 65g until they were 2 years old or more. Some will never hit it. If they are still growing 65g should be okay but if they are just getting super fat they may not breed well. It's a bit of a judgement call based on condition and growth rate when the right time to breed is. Usually once they start ovulating they stop eating and lose a bit of weight rather than gain. They start gaining again once the breeding season is over. Good luck!

 

[staceyleigh]

In your opinion, would it be safer to put her with a male now- rather than have her possibly lay infertile eggs? I had heard laying infertile eggs is actually harder on the female?

 

[DrCarrotTail]

If they are healthy and of size, you have owned them for two months or more, quarantined them properly, done your homework about their husbandry and genetics and are prepared for the eggs and babies I don't see any reason to wait. If you are not 100% prepared I don't see any reason to rush it either. Females can ovulate for several months and don't tend to become receptive until the ovulates are around 1/2 inch in size. You'll know in a few seconds of introducing them if they are both willing partners or not!

 

[staceyleigh]

If they are healthy and of size, you have owned them for two months or more, quarantined them properly, done your homework about their husbandry and genetics and are prepared for the eggs and babies I don't see any reason to wait. If you are not 100% prepared I don't see any reason to rush it either. Females can ovulate for several months and don't tend to become receptive until the ovulates are around 1/2 inch in size. You'll know in a few seconds of introducing them if they are both willing partners or not!

Oh yes- already found that out the hard way- one of my females was less the happy about the male trying to mate with her and she attacked him, no injuries as I got him out quick. Thanks for the help. I have everything all ready- incubator, hatchling rack, etc... as I was planning to breed this season.