Hibernating Crested Geckos????

[pjamers]

Has anyone heard of "hibernating" your crested geckos to give females a break from breeding? Longer/shorter day?

[CrestieCool]

I don't think it's really hibernation...but some breeders do cool off their females for a bit. This consists of lowering the temps and reducing the duration of their lighting. This is supposed to slow egg production and laying I believe.
I personally don't think it's good for ANY animal to be overbred...so I think it's a great idea.
It also helps the females to restore calcium to optimum levels so that they are able to lay properly calcified eggs the next season.

[bulmaa]

From about October/November - January/February, my females are all separated from the males to give them a break and replenish their nutrients and calcium. They are given dusted crickets 2x a week & fresh CGD every day. I don't keep lights on them ever-- so any indication that it is a "winter month" based on lighting is from the light that comes in from my window.

Sometimes, if I have a female that is laying under calcified eggs before I "close" my breeding season, I will separate that female before the rest of them, to get her on the right track. It's good to give them a break