Sexual development in crested gecko hatchlings

Geckogeek · #1 (**permalink**) 07-28-2009, 02:18 PM

All right, what I need here is specific information. In All the books I have it just says that crested gecko hatchlings are 'difficult to sex under four months of age' or something to that effect, but then it just goes on to describe the differences between males and females. However it doesn't say anything more about specific time frames for sexual development

. My first hatchling just reached four months old yesterday

. So I was wondering- a) what is the 'cut off date' for sexual development (i.e. when can I say 'it hasn't developed male characteristics, it's a girl!') b) i know that there are other male characteristics besides the tail bulges, the femoral pores. But I can never seem to see them, even on my mature male. could someone maybe post a picture that really shows them well, Any other differences between males and females would also be welcome. c) when do cresties become sexually active, how long after the males and females can be told apart (right now I'm housing about 3-4 hatchlings per tank.

P.S. watch out for pictures of my geckos, I'll post them up as soon as I figure out how to attach pictures.

rhatfield · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 04:00 AM

at 20 grams you are absoluty safe to say it is female or male. 99 persent of the time you will know by 15 grams. As to the babies, when you see a buldge, pull him. As to age, and maturity.. It is reall wierd, but it seems to actually be size when they start showing. Because of diet and temperature, geckos can be the same age, but very different sizes. My babies are usually about 35 grams at a year, and a friend's were not even 15grams.

Geckogeek · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 09:42 AM

Really, totally size/weight oriented? Hmmmm..... Looks like it's time to break out the kitchen scale, well, if I can find it that is- Thanks for the info got to go (it's probably in the top drawers some where)

zohariels · #4 (**permalink**) 08-04-2009, 05:53 PM

By 8 months I've had no problem sexing them, it's a little bit longer to wait but there's never any doubt. I always say if you can't tell the sex by 9 months it's a female. Then again maybe all my males are freaks of nature with unusually large marbles!

goReptiles · #5 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 08:41 PM

4 months is generally pretty early to be able to 100% tell the sex of the hatchling. sometiems you can tell at 10 grams with the pores, but even then, it's not guaranteed. At one time, I had 4 geckos all that showed pores, and a few months later only 2 were really males. The females just has large pores (no dot in the middle though).15-20 grams is definitely a good time to accurately sex, but that can be 6-9 months depending on the gecko's growth.

Debbie · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009, 02:08 AM

We sold a female a few months ago, 8 months old and ABSOLUTELY no pores!!!!
We heard back from the new owners 3 months later, that HE dropped a bulge...
So it's a male, but no pores.... We never saw anything like this before.
So we would go on weight, cause that one weight 25 grams when turned out to be male. At that weight you can be 100% sure.
We have sexed animals before at the age of 4 months and never were wrong, accept with that male....

Chazdude43 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 05:23 AM

There is a lot of talk about these pores but where actually are they...

Both of my geckos have a little wite dot on either side of their tail and was wondering if this was what i am looking for...

They are approx 1-2 months old (i havent weighed them yet and am not sure about age) they are both about 4 inches (with the flame shorter than the plain)

Debbie · #8 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 05:45 AM

No, you are looking for the wrong thing. Here is a good sexing guide.

Sexing crested geckos: HOW TO - Gecko Resource Forums

Chazdude43 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 05:52 AM

I couldnt really tell from the picures of the female but, in the first picture, the male has the white spots on his tail, do the females have these too?

Also, the one about the pores i cant actually see what he is talking about... the green rectangle is around a reglar patch of skin to me...

Debbie · #10 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 11:53 AM

Females have those too.
You should look for little black dents in the scales.
The green rectangular marks an area with pores, females don't have them....
I'ts a pretty clear picture..... I don't know how else to explain it to you, the pictures speak for them self...