Leo gecko

GD88 · 11-19-12, 08:39 PM

Hi, guys I have had a male gecko for 3 years now and I want to get him a female for him to live with. Are there any precautions I should take before added her? One more thing, do leopard geckos breed naturally or do they certain requirements? Thanks GD88

BarelyBreathing · 11-19-12, 09:19 PM

Make sure you have enough hides, including a humid hide. Also, have calcium available 24/7.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-19-12, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GD88

Hi, guys I have had a male gecko for 3 years now and I want to get him a female for him to live with. Are there any precautions I should take before added her? One more thing, do leopard geckos breed naturally or do they certain requirements? Thanks GD88

1) It's not generally a good idea to keep a male and female together all the time. It can result in serious injuries if they end up fighting.
2) If you're deadset on doing it, make sure it's a large enclosure. 40 gallon breeder is ideal.
3) Leos will breed on their own, though I wouldn't recommend that either. Do you even know the genetics of your leo? And what about the female you're going to get? And how familiar are you with leo genetics? If you don't know their genetics, you really can't sell them.
4) What do you plan to do with the babies? Anyone who breeds will tell you that the market is horrendously oversaturated right now. Even some very beautiful, genetically well put together leos aren't selling.
5) It's out of season for leos to breed anyway.

~Maggot

BarelyBreathing · 11-19-12, 10:31 PM

I keep my geckos in groups year round. I don't have a problem with it. Then again, I keep mine in relatively large enclosures, too.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-19-12, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

I keep my geckos in groups year round. I don't have a problem with it. Then again, I keep mine in relatively large enclosures, too.

I'm not saying it can't be made to work. I know some people do it. But I'd personally advise against it, especially if it's a male and female and not two females because, if the male tries to breed and the female isn't ready to, a fight can break out. Plus I think it's safe to say this person isn't very experienced - if he/she was, I wouldn't have such reservations about it.

~Maggot

BarelyBreathing · 11-19-12, 10:47 PM

Yeah, I definitely agree that this shouldn't be attempted by beginners.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-19-12, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

Yeah, I definitely agree that this shouldn't be attempted by beginners.

Especially out of season for them.

~Maggot

Falconeer999 · 11-20-12, 08:02 AM

I've never bred any animal, but I'm curious - when you keep reptiles, do they really have a sense of 'seasons'? If I were kept in a rectangular room at a constant heating and lighting cycle with no windows to look out of, I would have no idea what season it was.

If they still do have a sense of seasons, can't that be manipulated by changing heating and lighting whenever you want to initiate a breeding season?

Again, I've never bred and have no desire to, but I'm still curious about this.

BarelyBreathing · 11-20-12, 09:19 AM

My leopard geckos tend to. I've only had one breeding and one egg laying outside of season. I don't cycle my leopard geckos, either.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-20-12, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falconeer999

I've never bred any animal, but I'm curious - when you keep reptiles, do they really have a sense of 'seasons'? If I were kept in a rectangular room at a constant heating and lighting cycle with no windows to look out of, I would have no idea what season it was.

If they still do have a sense of seasons, can't that be manipulated by changing heating and lighting whenever you want to initiate a breeding season?

Again, I've never bred and have no desire to, but I'm still curious about this.

Yeah, they do. They still have an internal clock, especially when it comes to females and when their bodies are ready to breed. Brumation runs on this clock too.

~Maggot

**Aaron_S** · 11-20-12, 04:15 PM

Reptiles generally pick up on the barometric pressures outside. It changes from season to season so yes they do have "seasons".

Falconeer999 · 11-21-12, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the info. I've always wondered about that. Kind of a Schrodinger Cat type thing. Thanks for the info (and sorry to steal the thread a little).