<p>Naked mole-rats (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) are cooperatively-breeding rodents that exhibit strong reproductive suppression within their natal colonies but can sexually mature once separated from the colony’s dominant breeders. We removed subordinate animals from their natal colony and examined hormonal and behavioral changes during sexual maturation, their variation, and their association with reproductive success. We present the results from two small-cohort, year-long studies: 1) Changes in fecal hormone metabolites in newly introduced pairs of naked mole-rats (<i>n</i> = 9 pairs), the individual hormonal variation during reproductive maturation, and association with subsequent reproductive success; 2) Social behavior of paired animals (<i>n</i> = 26 pairs) upon meeting and the association with subsequent reproductive success. Within Study 1, we found that only half of the paired subordinates successfully reproduced over the course of one year. Reproductively successful females had higher estradiol metabolite concentrations while they were still in their natal colonies, before they were removed and paired. This suggests that pre-pubertal (within colony) conditions may be related to ultimate reproductive success. While progesterone metabolite concentrations significantly increased in removed females, the magnitude and patterns of change suggest that only one female ovulated during the first three weeks of pairing. In Study 2, 10 out of 26 pairs successfully reproduced within the first year. Upon meeting, there were no overall differences in durations of social behavior between pairs that would go on to be reproductively successful or unsuccessful. Our work indicates that there is clear individual variation in the onset of reproduction and ultimate reproductive success of these social subordinates.</p>