Male Crested Breeding, Is Weight or Age More Important?

HerpAddict · 10-16-05, 05:49 PM

Hi,

I have been searching around all my favorite herp sites, and seem to not be able to find an answer to the one question I have!

I am wondering what the critical age and/or weight for males is for the green light to breed? My personal experience with my first breeder male was that I put him with a female at about 12 monthes (she was 18 monthes). He weighed about 30g at the time, and had levelled off in his growth rate. In the last 8 monthes, he has gone up to an average weight of 36g. I wasn't sure if putting him in with a female that early would possibly negatively affected his growth, but he hadn't gained in a while, so I thought that he was just going to be small. He stayed in the 30-32g range for the first 6 monthes with her, and now, in the last 2 monthes has gone up to that 36g area.

The reason I am pondering at what point it is safe to put a male in with a female is that I now have another male that is in just about the same situation as that first one, he's sitting at about 29g, and has only gained 2g in the last two monthes, which is considerably less than previous monthes. I don't want to rush into anything with him, but at the same time, if mating isn't going to slow down his slow growth rate, then I don't see the harm in it, unless someone can point that out (which I would appreciate!).

Has anybody else noticed if breeding has hindered or helped a male in such a situation? Any insight would be great!

Here are a couple pics of Kaz, he's the male that is next up in line for a lady!

Cheers!

Brock · 10-17-05, 06:53 PM

Males are generally smaller at sexual maturity because they don't need to supply the nutrition to two developing eggs every few weeks out of the majority of the year. I have a yearling male that is fully developed in the gigolo bulge region, and he is considerably smaller in girth than my female. At first I thought he was malnourished, and then I thought he was just too young, but he has stayed the same for a good while and is breeding and eating and is very very active, so there is no problem with him.

As long as there are no physical signs of malnutrition, deformity, poor growth, dehydration, disease or extreme lethargy, then I don't think the generic bulked up mom image we apply to females really applies to males as far as geckos go. If he hit puberty and is into the ladies, and has a good appetite, good diet, good hydration and is active, then I wouldn't worry.

I've heard of males ejaculating on the hands of their keepers when they are picked up, just out of excitement and/or stimulation, and I'm sure a few of them could tell you this themselves if they read this, so therefor I would have to say that breeding does not stunt their growth, it's natural even from an early age FOR MALES, which is who your question was pointed at, breeding with females, as we all know, takes a bigger toll, but the only toll for males is some sweeeeeet satisfaction.

And your male seems to have a nice package, so I wouldn't worry about him, I'd worry about the ladies :med2teeth

-Brock

clint545 · 10-17-05, 07:20 PM

Ditto what Brock said...

little_dragon_ · 10-18-05, 12:54 PM

I agree but I also believe your male should have some more weight because he'll choose the ladies over food if you are keeping them together for a long period of time. I put a male in with a female at 29 grams and he hasn't grown as rapidly as the lones.

I regret this...because he's my nicest gecko but hopefully he will pack on 10 grams in the off season as he only weighs 35 now

danyarp · 11-12-05, 10:30 PM

Hey I'm glad somebody has the same question as me. My male is around the age of a year, but is smaller. I was worried because he was so smally, however he is quite active and has not been ignoring the female I've heard them for the past week or so at night. I'm not to sure of his weight, going to go out and get one tomorrow. Yet another thing on my shopping list. Any ways I'm going to try this recipe that Hilde posted and see how that goes over and maybe that will put some more weight on him. Any ways Brock thanks for answering the original posting because it helped me aswell.