emperors mating

do emperors mate in the burrow or out of it?? they were doing something very odd to eachother lastnight with ones tail straight out kinda funny but weird i dont no.. thanxx.

Um . . . could you be more specific please?

they were just moving alot back and forth i think they were holding on to eachother and one hade its tail streight back most of the time. thats all i really saw.

That's pretty much mating right there. Did you see a spermatophore?

yeah that's the dance. Make sure you have a flat surface if you don't already. The male will deposit the spermatophore on it.

I'd say that a solid surface is more important than a flat one.

yeah by flat I meant something like a rock. Mine were able to deposit the spermatophore on a strip of bark, but it was pretty sturdy.

i cant really see the hole inside of the burrow but i lift up one of the rocks and it was pretty mutch solid and flat they were just doing it on the cocoa fibre ground as far as seing any liquids of anything come out, or out on the platform there was nothing.. so how lond till i should be looking for signs of pregggoooo.. thanxxx guys..

If you didn't see a spermatophore (it looks like a little white stick-thing, probably a little less than half an inch or so), then it may not have been successful. Keep an eye out for something weird stuck to a rock.

As far as signs of gravid, gestation can range up to 18 months in this species, so it'll be a while.

ok will do thanxxx..