P grandis pairing for breeding

[Nathanb]

Hi,
I have 3 x P grandis, 1 x proven breeding pair and a third female (which my wife has called Geraldine and we've had quite a while longer) - they're in 2 separate enclosures. They were all together but the one female turned on Geraldine and I had to separate them (I posted about this on this forum when she was first attacked and got some great advice!)

Geraldine has much prettier markings plus is a much more vibrant green and she's the one I really want to breed - is it likely to cause a problem if I swap the females over? If so any suggestions about how to do it - the breeding pair are in a much bigger enclosure than Geraldine (she's only in a 45x45x60) which is no way near big enough for a pair

Assuming this will all work ok I may look to sell the other female to another breeder to release the enclosure for a different species.
Thanks
Nathan

 

[mkschaefer]

No, I would just move some branches around, spray the enclosure heavily, and either introduce the male and female at the same time or introduce the male after the female. I would introduce at the beginning of the season so they are more likely to take to each other, but you could also do it now. Just watch them, but you shouldn't have significant issues with this species.

 

[Nathanb]

Thanks for the reply.

When I separated the 3 of them back in November I didn't decrease the temp for the single female as she was injured and I wanted to keep her metabolism up so she healed quicker (which she now has).

Would I be best to take the male out and put him in with the female I want him to breed with in the 18"x18"x24" enclosure that she's already in and just keep a close eye on them?

How long would you say I need to watch them for, assuming they get on ok I will then look to move the other female on to someone else so I end up with just the 1 breeding pair and move them together back into the bigger enclosure, freeing up the 18"x18"x24" (which is what I want so I can put a group of klemmeri in there ;-)

Thanks
Nathan