Do G.smithi eat thier young?

[billewicz]

Hello to all the Gekko smithi breeders, especially across the pond!

This question is for anyone who has actual experience with these guys. I'm wondering if pairs can be kept together with their hatchling like Tokay.

Unlike a lot of gecko, Tokay will not eat their own young. This is good for about 120 days or just before the young boys start to mature. Even then, Tokay will nip the tail several times first before pops actually kills the young male.

I would love to know if anyone has left eggs in the enclosures to hatch and how did the prodigy fair?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Send Ingo a PM. I think he has experience with them.

 

[Ingo]

My smithii do care the same way for their offspring as tokays do. However, I have to remove the youngsters at the age of 5 months latest, otherwise, they are at risk to be killed. Never seen such dramatic things in tokays.

Best

Ingo

 

[billewicz]

My smithii do care the same way for their offspring as tokays do. However, I have to remove the youngsters at the age of 5 months latest, otherwise, they are at risk to be killed. Never seen such dramatic things in tokays.

Best

Ingo

Thanks so much. Tokay will start to 'push' the oldest out at about 5 months as well. Some will tolerate them up to about 8 months but I'm afraid someone will quote me on this right after they've lost a young male to the adult male.

The larger the enclosure and the more areas to hide in would increase the survival rate of the young offspring over time as well.

 

[MauricesExoticPets]

White-lines also guard eggs and to a lesser extent the hatchlings.

I know this is slightly off topic but I figured the imput might be found useful in a search.

Maurice Pudlo

 

[Ingo]

Yes, tokays start chasing around youngsters at about the same age. But normally it starts with half hearty chasing, maybe some bruises.
My smithii in contrast have killed several youngsgters out of a sudden.
May be an individual trait, but I had to experience this already for two pairs.
And yes.....quite some of the larger Gekko species do care for their offspring. In detail, its all the members of the Gekko gecko group and the G. vittatus group (which after revision will be more than one species as well)

 

[billewicz]

Yes, tokays start chasing around youngsters at about the same age. But normally it starts with half hearty chasing, maybe some bruises.
My smithii in contrast have killed several youngsgters out of a sudden.
May be an individual trait, but I had to experience this already for two pairs.
And yes.....quite some of the larger Gekko species do care for their offspring. In detail, its all the members of the Gekko gecko group and the G. vittatus group (which after revision will be more than one species as well)

Did they kill them right at hatching, or after some time had passed?
Thanks,

Michael

 

[Ingo]

As I said, they care very well for the hatchlings but out of a sudden may kill youngsters of 5 months and older.
So I try to remove offspring at the age of around 4 months.
May be better in larger tanks, but although this tank is not too big (100 x 120 x 50 cm), it is densely structured with lots of hides.
And still....

BTW: This is the tank:

 

[kirak]

Very nice tank. You have a treefrog too in there

 

[Ingo]

Yes, two "leftover"single male frogs (Leptopelis vermicluatus and Litoria aurea). The geckos do not care.

Best

Ingo

 

[billewicz]

Thanks. I missed the connection between posts and wanted to be sure of your experience since it only took me two years to get a group of G smithi State Side.

I do not want to risk any offspring. I usually pull my Tokay prodigy by 4 months, or pull the male to rest the female. Any young males may be pulled as well unless I'm line breeding them.

Thanks again,

Michael

 

[tombo46]

I have some G. Smithii eggs at about 70 days now. The female is about to drop another clutch too. I'll be pulling the offspring as soon as they hatch as I want to keep a close eye on these guys!

Good luck Michael. Looking forward to seeing some pictures soon.

 

[billewicz]

I have some G. Smithii eggs at about 70 days now. The female is about to drop another clutch too. I'll be pulling the offspring as soon as they hatch as I want to keep a close eye on these guys!

Good luck Michael. Looking forward to seeing some pictures soon.

Happy New Year!

we'll be pairing the 'Blue' & Green Eyed soon so we should have hatchling by June.