Testing temperament?

[Shijadi]

So I know there are a lot of opinions about keeping more than one leo in the same tank; some have no problems, some say one gecko may end up being picked on or killed, etc.

Anyways, long story short I really want to get another leo, specifically a female since the one I have right now is also female. I know never to keep two males together, and I don't have the equipment or time to worry about breeding (possible health hazards aside). But I think would really like to try and have two little girls together. I admit it, I'm getting addicted to leos, I want them all. :lol:

The big worry I have is if I were to bring home a new gecko, what if my first completely freaks out and starts being dangerously aggressive? Having two tanks is not an option for me at this time, and I have no idea who would take the little gecko if I couldn't keep her. As far as I know the leo I currently have doesn't have a history of being overly aggressive with me--she does get a little excited and snappy when it comes to feeding her, but otherwise she sleeps most of the time, and out of all the times I've handled her, she's only nipped me once (although arguably that was my fault since that was when I first took her out of the tank).

Is there any way to test the true temperament of a leopard gecko in a way that is not traumatic/cruel/harmful? The baby I have I care about a great deal and I don't want to do anything wrong, but I want to be as informed as much as possible before possibly bringing another gecko into the picture.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Anyways, long story short I really want to get another leo, specifically a female since the one I have right now is also female. I know never to keep two males together, and I don't have the equipment or time to worry about breeding (possible health hazards aside). But I think would really like to try and have two little girls together. I admit it, I'm getting addicted to leos, I want them all.

The big worry I have is if I were to bring home a new gecko, what if my first completely freaks out and starts being dangerously aggressive? Having two tanks is not an option for me at this time, and I have no idea who would take the little gecko if I couldn't keep her. As far as I know the leo I currently have doesn't have a history of being overly aggressive with me--she does get a little excited and snappy when it comes to feeding her, but otherwise she sleeps most of the time, and out of all the times I've handled her, she's only nipped me once (although arguably that was my fault since that was when I first took her out of the tank).

Is there any way to test the true temperament of a leopard gecko in a way that is not traumatic/cruel/harmful? The baby I have I care about a great deal and I don't want to do anything wrong, but I want to be as informed as much as possible before possibly bringing another gecko into the picture.

Your worry is completely justified. You are quite wise to ask now rather than coming home to an injured leopard gecko. Geckos may or may not get along. Kinda like people in that respect. Hard to tell for sure ahead of time.

Any new leo should be quarantined from a leo you already have for 60-90 days. That alone requires a separate vivarium.

Unfortunately there is no way to tell whether even 2 similarly sized females will get along. They might appear to be chummy and all that. And then one fine day disaster could happen. More subtle evidence of bullying will be not eating and bites. The less dominant leo will fail to thrive.

How about providing the best environment you can for the leo you already have?

There are other geckos, even pairs of them, that will be happy in a 10 gallon vivarium. Perhaps that is an option for you.

 

[Completeleopard]

- you can't really test the temperament of geckos as Elizabeth said, its a gamble when you house geckos together, some people think when they sleep in the same hide together its cute, when really if you look inside the hide usually the biggest is on top of the smaller one, this is another sign of bullying, because the big one is just being dominant.

- I would recommend not buying another Leo if you don't have space for the Leo if the two leos don't get along, as Elizabeth has said also, the new Leo will need to be quarentined.

- if you don't have time for breeding, will you have time for another Leo , there are many things to consider, cost of food, needing more food, bigger vivarium, vet bills, ECT!