How old should they be?

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

How old do leos have to be before they breed? I have a male leo (almost 2) and another leo, im not quite sure of the gender (almost 1). If my other leo turns out to be a girl, at what age do I need to watch out for pregnancy?:roll:

 

[acpart]

Minimum age is 9 months (older is better) and weight at least 50 grams. If your geckos are together and you don't know the sex of one of them, I advise you to separate them so there will be no fighting or eggs coming before the female is big enough. Once she is a good size you can put them together and in a few weeks check to see if you see eggs in her belly.

Aliza

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

Thanks Im pretty sure my leos are both male, but im not 100% because one of them is still young, so the privates are too small to be certain. Is 9 months just the minimum age for breeding? Im not trying to breed, but if one lays eggs just once then that's okay and I can separate them after that. Whats the youngest age physically possible for them to reproduce?

 

[Aimless]

are you housing them together? it's really not a good idea. they can breed when they are not yet fully developed physically. this can have bad consequences for the female and also for the offspring.

 

[Tokaybyt]

Some (most) breeders can have both males and females larger enough, by weight, to potentially be breeding at 8 months of age, possibly even 6 months for males. I do not recommend it. In the wild these guys would mostly like not being large enough to reproduce until about a year of age or older. I've been keeping leos since '96 and breeding them off and on since '97. My first season breeding them I was young and impatient, breeding my male (who I still have) at 7 months of age. From 5 females that season I got a combined 90 eggs, with 89 hatched and 1 stillborn - all geckos first time breeders. Again, this is not recommended. Reproduction, even in captivity, puts a lot of stress on both males and females and especially so nutritionally. I've had males over the years completely go into full breeding mode and refuse food for months and lose a ton of weight.

My lesson learned from that 1997 first year of breeding leos was that 1) where's a freshman in high school going to sell or even keep that many baby leopard geckos and 2) I always give 2 seasons before breeding leos. 2 seasons equal as follows: initial season = hatching, season 1 = 1 year of age, season 2 = 2nd spring or approximately 18 months of age.

The moral and ethical questions you have to ask yourself:

1. Why do I feel the need to breed my leopard geckos when the market is already beyond saturated?
2. If I choose to breed my leos, where or how will I sell them?
3. Am I prepared to properly house all the potential babies until they are at least 1 month of age and well established?
4. Am I prepared to properly house all the potential babies should I NOT be able to sell, give away, or adopt them out?
5. Will I be able to afford (= properly house) to feed all the babies?
6. Will I be able to properly feed my female(s) breeder so that she maintains a healthy weight and proper nutrition?
7. And a VERY real and sensitive question....Am I prepared to have to potentially cull any babies due to life-threatening deformities?

 

[Conched]

If you are unclear of the gender of your Leo's you should separate them asap.

If the animals are over 5-6 months old it should not be difficult to identify the gender. Perhaps you could post some pics and somebody can help you make the determination.

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

Some (most) breeders can have both males and females larger enough, by weight, to potentially be breeding at 8 months of age, possibly even 6 months for males. I do not recommend it. In the wild these guys would mostly like not being large enough to reproduce until about a year of age or older. I've been keeping leos since '96 and breeding them off and on since '97. My first season breeding them I was young and impatient, breeding my male (who I still have) at 7 months of age. From 5 females that season I got a combined 90 eggs, with 89 hatched and 1 stillborn - all geckos first time breeders. Again, this is not recommended. Reproduction, even in captivity, puts a lot of stress on both males and females and especially so nutritionally. I've had males over the years completely go into full breeding mode and refuse food for months and lose a ton of weight.

My lesson learned from that 1997 first year of breeding leos was that 1) where's a freshman in high school going to sell or even keep that many baby leopard geckos and 2) I always give 2 seasons before breeding leos. 2 seasons equal as follows: initial season = hatching, season 1 = 1 year of age, season 2 = 2nd spring or approximately 18 months of age.

The moral and ethical questions you have to ask yourself:

1. Why do I feel the need to breed my leopard geckos when the market is already beyond saturated?
2. If I choose to breed my leos, where or how will I sell them?
3. Am I prepared to properly house all the potential babies until they are at least 1 month of age and well established?
4. Am I prepared to properly house all the potential babies should I NOT be able to sell, give away, or adopt them out?
5. Will I be able to afford (= properly house) to feed all the babies?
6. Will I be able to properly feed my female(s) breeder so that she maintains a healthy weight and proper nutrition?
7. And a VERY real and sensitive question....Am I prepared to have to potentially cull any babies due to life-threatening deformities?

I have plenty of space for any babies who may or may not be born, and I do not intend to breed, it just may happen. I have plenty of free time to babysit and help and possible deformed babies no matter how severe. I do not believe in "culling" based on physical or mental deformities.