Don't think she's gravid...

**Xuniet** · 05-22-2012, 12:11 PM

I've had my male crestie and female together for six weeks and I have only witnessed the male TRYING to breed with my female, not actually getting the job done. My female is 41 grams with no change for the past six weeks and my male is 29 grams, though he eats a fair amount and is active and bright-eyed. I don't think my female's gravid, ad I've just started checking for eggs. I'm worried that maybe the male hasn't had his "chance" to copulate, but they've been together for six weeks. Is there anything I can do to make it easier for him or to tell for sure if my female is gravid?

**Jackulwulf** · 05-22-2012, 01:05 PM

I'm no expert but I'm thinking your male is too small perhaps? At 29g he isn't even at his adult weight yet which I'm thinking is why he hasn't been able to breed your female yet. He is probably still a juvenile. I think you'd best either wait until he is at least the size of your female or get another male that is around 40g. But like I said, I'm no expert when it comes to breeding cresties, so perhaps more experienced members will chime in here.

**Xuniet** · 05-22-2012, 01:06 PM

My male is at least 3 years old.

**Spyral** · 05-22-2012, 01:23 PM

You can try separating them and reintroducing them in two weeks. The female may be rebuffing the male if she thinks he is weak/undersized. Many females are more accepting of young/small breeders, but others not so much. In the end all you can wait and make sure you're not stressing the animals out if they aren't interested in breeding.

**Xuniet** · 05-22-2012, 01:34 PM

Okay I'll try that. Thanks!

**Jackulwulf** · 05-22-2012, 01:35 PM

Yes, but with crested geckos, weight carries more importance then age. Some cresties grow very slowly and some grow more quickly. Even if he is a mature male, that doesn't mean he can get the job done. Perhaps the larger female may be pushing him away or bullying him because he is smaller. However to eliminate that as being the case, perhaps you may want to post what your temperatures are and humidity levels, what you are feeding them, what their enclosure is like and such. More information may be able to help us figure out the problem.

**Xuniet** · 05-22-2012, 04:23 PM

Okay...
Temperature was 74 ish in the first 5 weeks of them breeding, but due to construction they were moved into my basement, which is 69 degrees.
I mist all my geckos every night up to 80% humidity.
I feed them all CGD and the occasional mealworms/waxworms.
They are currently together in a 20 gallon tank with leaves and hides, etc. Repti carpet is on the bottom.

**Jackulwulf** · 05-22-2012, 06:09 PM

While lower temps usually do cause a halt in breeding and egg laying, but I don't think the short time that they have been exposed to a lower temp would really affect anything. And everything else seems to be in order. Perhaps if you wish to try raising the temps in the breeding pair's tank a bit to see if it may help but I guess try out what Spyral mentioned to see if that works.