Leopard geckos: Breeding attempts with "overly aggressive" male?

J

Jonnyinga

New member
I have a male and a female that I am trying to breed, and the male is overly aggressive towards the female. Instead of a nip on the tale, he bites down and doesn't let go. He's interested... vibrates his tail really fast and approaches slowly puffing up and everything.
The male has always been a bit skittish with me. When I pick him up, he clings on, as if he is scared of falling even if he's only inches off the ground. He's a little jumpy when I touch him too.
Is there anything I can do to get him to ease up a bit? The last attempt left the female with some scratches on her tail, and they're separated again.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Jonnyinga said:
I have a male and a female that I am trying to breed, and the male is overly aggressive towards the female. Instead of a nip on the tale, he bites down and doesn't let go. He's interested... vibrates his tail really fast and approaches slowly puffing up and everything.
The male has always been a bit skittish with me. When I pick him up, he clings on, as if he is scared of falling even if he's only inches off the ground. He's a little jumpy when I touch him too.
Is there anything I can do to get him to ease up a bit? The last attempt left the female with some scratches on her tail, and they're separated again.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Sometimes pairs just don't get along.

Do you hold him much? Perhaps he would be tameable and that might help with the breeding issues?

Moved your post to the leo subforum for better visability and hopefully comments from those really experienced with leos.
 
J

Jonnyinga

New member
Ah, thanks for moving it :) I hold them all pretty often, at least once a day for at least 15 minutes each and also time with them during feeding and weighing.
 
Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
That's not particularly "overly" aggressive IMO. It's not uncommon for females to get scratches or bite wounds during breeding. Sometimes you just have to let them go at it if you really want that particular pair to breed. You didn't say how you introduced them either. I'd suggest putting them in a neutral enclosure so that one animal doesn't feel territorial about the other animal being there.
 
J

Jonnyinga

New member
I'll get a pic up asap. Let me just hunt down my camera, wherever it may be. I did set up a brand new tub for them though. Maybe i'll just have to try again and not be so protective. My wife calls me the helicopter because I hover so much when anyone is handling my babies lol.
 
thehotchik1000

thehotchik1000

New member
That does sound like normal breeding behavior. When they mate the male grabs on to the female while also shaking her a bit at times and holds her in place he then mounts her. It looks scary I know. But that is natures way. An overly aggressive male would be actually taking chunks out of her, or not taking no for an answer. The whole routine is violent really. But it sounds pretty normal. I can tell most of the girls have been bred by the bite marks on their necks. But it's nothing That will hurt them. If you notice large lacerations then you might have a very aggressive male.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com
 
D

Debbie7054

New member
Its great to find another worrier like me just wait til you have gravid females, eggs and then hatchlings I'm suprised I'm not grey lol. If I had a pound for everytime Col says they're fine stop worrying I'd be rich. :biggrin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top