leo breeding

[Brion]

i've done a lot of research for leo breeding (incubator already set up)and i'm trying to breed the two leos i have now. i have a 3 year old female normal phase, and a blizzard male close to a year old. i'm certain the age difference is the problem, because they are raised separately and both healthy. the male still seems scared when i introduce them to each other. (commonly it's the female who refuses to breed). just wondering if anyone has any other ideas, or methods i can try to get them to breed, since they are both of breeding age and size.

[Ben54]

I have an idea you can sell me the blizard male! LOL

[Brion]

haha, not right now anyway. i might be goin away to school next year so if i need to sell, i'll let you know. i may also have blizzard/albino het babies by then as well.

[Nuclear]

Wait until breeding season. They are naturally more willing to breed in season. Season ended last month and starts up in January. That, aging (better if the males a little older) and the seperation amy be all they need.

Another way is to just keep them together until they breed. But take the male away if she shows aggression towards him. Also put the female in the males cage when breeding, not the other way around. The male wil be more comfortable there on his turf.

Good Luck! Hope you get some healthy normal phase hets next year!

[Brion]

Thanks a lot for the advice, i'll give it a try. i had tried placing them both in a completely different tank, but no luck.
About the breeding season, i've read a lot on temperature control to simulate winter, and i was wondering what is a safe low temperature because i'm worried that they will become sick, so i never took the heat lamp off. i already notice a temperature change in the tank, from the temperature in my house in combination with the heat lamp. The lowest my house will get in the winter is about 68 F, so i think if i took the heat off they would be fine, if recommended. Or if it's better to keep the heat on and not worry about differentiating the seasons, i could do that. I'm just not sure what's better. If i control the temperature of the tanks, should I lower the temperature for not only the female, but the male as well?

[Reptile Kings]

If this is your first time breeding leos, and it sounds like it is, I wouldn't get into the whole artificial season simulation thing.
Breeding season starts in a couple months, so it's best for you to wait until then.

Once you've got a handle on breeding the following year or two you can try simulating different seasons.

Gradually reducing their temps to as low as 65*F is fine for them. Make sure before you start the whole cooling phase to stop feeding them a few days prior, so that they would have digested their last meal fully in order for it to not rot inside them when you cool their temps. Offer them a big meal like a pinky or two.

Then gradually by a few degrees every day or two reduce the temps down to around 65*F. You can cool them down like this for about 4-6 weeks. Make sure to provide them with fresh water daily and to check on them to see how they're handling the cool down. If you're seeing problems, bring them out of it.

After the 4-6 week period, gradually increase their temps by a few degrees each day. Offer them food once temps are around 88*F+. The increase in temps as well as food being offered will set them up for breeding.

As a side note, leos don't need to go through a hibernation/cooling period to achieve a successful breeding season. You'll be fine if you just wait till January/December. Just place a female in with the male for a few days and then rotate more girls around for him (if you've got more).

Some breeders put their leos through a cool down period to get them to breed twice in one year.

Hope this helped and best of luck!
-Sam

[Brion]

Yes that did help a lot, thanks for the reply. I'll try the temperature variations when i'm more experienced, because this is my first time attempting to breed them.

Hopefully i will have more females before breeding season, i'm probably going to the reptile show in Mississauga on Nov.27. I might see you there if you have a display, and thanks again for the help.

[Reptile Kings]

Not a problem, glad it helped answer some of your questions.

Feel free to come by my table at the show if you've got any more questions.

-Sam