40 gallon-How many can I put in it?

[IggysMomma16]

I have a 40 gallon tank measuring 36x18x18 and I currently have 5 females, soon to be 6 in there as soon as Jewel puts on some weight. I have 6 hides and cork bark, grapevine and driftwood for them to climb on. So is that as many as I should have in there or am I safe to add a few more?Thanks.

Oh also I have a little Bell albino she's about 5 months old and I was wondering what the normal weight is for that age? She seems small, she weighs in at 16 grams. I was just wondering. Thanks again!:?

 

[sarahjane85]

I have a 45BR that I have 6 females in. I added two more "layers" using gecko hammocks in one of the corners as well as a 2qt. rubbermaid beverage container turned sideways that I painted dark green using non-toxic paint and then attached to the back of the tank using super strength velcro. They utilize both the inside (up to 4 Tremper giant females in it at one time) as well as the upper surface to sleep/hang out. I did add a piece of black faux suede material (faux fur on the other side) to the inside and behaviorally, they seem to love it.
Also note that they will need a much larger surface area for heat exchange. I ended up having to rip off a large (10X11) exoterra heatwave to replace with their x-large (11X17) heatwave. There just weren't enough areas to lay comfortably after I added the 5th female. They've been in this tank for 5 years now.
16 grams seems a little small but she might just be a slow starter. I've had females and males alike bulk up and put on 15-20 grams even after the one year mark. Just like people or anything else, weight varies. Average weight from my records is 24grams for 4-5 mo.

Sarah.

 

[DecoGeckos]

I personally am not a fan of housing leopard geckos together like that, because these animals are not pack animals (unlike other species of lizards). I also like housing separately to determine which geckos are eating properly, which are having correct BMs, etc.

It is completely up to you however. In the past, I have housed geckos together, the most being 4 in a 55gallon aquarium. Even that was pushing it for space. I think even 5 is too many for 40 gallons. The general rules are 10 gallons per gecko, and 2 hides per gecko. You want them ALL to be able to have their very own hide...both warm and cool. The most I would put in a 40 gallon tank, would be 4. Any more and you're just asking for territorial spats, and/or fights.

 

[IggysMomma16]

I would do the whole seperate tank thing but my room is not very big, they acually have more room in my room than I do,lol! I'm also home all day and can watch their behaviors through out the day. Not one of them has shown any territory issues and if they ever do I will seperate them. I also have the luxury of feeding them and actually watching each eat because I work from home. They each have at least 1 hide and 2 of them don't even use them, they prefer lounging out in the open, probably because my room is kept dark. I have tinted windows so the light can not get in and I only use my lights when I'm in the room, when I leave they go off. So it is dark in there 90% of the day, since I started doing that they seem much happier and eat better. Plus I use heat emitters not lights so the glare of the lights doesn't effect them. I tried turning my workshop in my barn into a reptile room but the temps fluctuate too much and I didn't feel comfortable with that. Thank you for your guys advice.