the waving and bowing is not just a breeding signal, it is the basic social interaction signs, they will do it to male and other females wheneer they see a new one or want to interact, not just breed.



The male will not breed them until they allow it, he knows he risks too much chance of serious damage (males can and have lost their sexual organs).



I am curious, you brumated them in the summer? This is very late in the season to start a breeding cycle, this is the time of year that most are starting to show signs of brumation if they sleep.



When they are ready, they will circle each other, and the female will have her tail raised, often flicking the end of it like a cat. IF it is down and they are swimming like in air, they are trying to get away and not ready yet, they may know that this is late season and statistically later season clutches do not thrive as well are early season ones.

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