Second Gecko questions

[Erlichjr]

Hello,
I own a Male Leopard gecko, he's about two years old, 20 gallon tank. I just got a new baby leo at Petco, they said about 7-8 months old. From the looks of it, the baby will be a girl the guy said but I understand its hard to tell at so young. Right now the baby is in its own 10 gallon. I would really like to have them together in the future.
How do I introduce them to one another?
What are starting steps I can take?
Lets say the baby ends up male, will they ever get along?

Another note, the baby is horrified of me. When I got my boy (from llreptile) he didn't mind me as much.
How do I help her get used to me?
Is she always going to be jumpy?

 

[JessJohnson87]

If you decide to put them together, which I do not recommend if she is in fact female (babies), they would need to be in a 40 gallon breeder aquarium with 2 hides each, so a total of 6 hides in one tank. Generally leopard geckos do best if housed alone, 2 males will fight each other to the death and even a male female pair will fight on occasion.

I would wait about 2 weeks before you try to handle her. When you get them from big box stores, they tend to not get any human interaction outside of feeding, watering and cleaning the enclosure. Sometimes they're jumpy and it could take a while before they get out of that phase. Best thing is to lay your hand down in the tank and let her investigate, it will take quite a few tries before she will probably consider coming to your hand.

 

[Erlichjr]

I was planning on waiting for a while before even attempting anything, I just wanted to know for future reference. How do I grab her if I need to clean, she runs the second she sees my hand.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Erlichjr ~

Welcome aboard!

How about sharing some pictures of your leos?

Rather than "coming down" upon her from above (like an eagle), gently scoot your fingers underneath her stomach and then lift her up.

 

[Erlichjr]

my Boy, Bello ^






the new baby, Tangelo ^

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

You have some handsome leos! :banana: I love Tangelo's color!

I'm guessing that you'd like them to stay healthy.

May I make some suggestions?

• I'd place some paper towels on the floor of Tangelo's enclosure so it's not slippery.
• What type turquoise substrate is Bello on? Sometimes leos eat substrates like that. Then they become impacted and could die.

 

[Erlichjr]

Bellos tank has the calcium sand, I wanted a natural color but they didn't have. When I do feedings I take him out into a different enclosure have for bow until I change the sand. Tangelos was not in her actual tank in those photos, she has reptile carpet

 

[CWilson13]

Both are very pretty Leos If Tangelo is in fact 7-8 months chances are good you can tell "her" sex. She looks similar in size, and even her markings a little, to my female in fact. Maybe this photo can help you out?


Jess is very correct in housing a pair together. My male was sadly housed with another male before I adopted him. Part of why I did was the large wound on his head. Since he came home and got his own space, he has done wonderfully though. Mostly because of this I have not let them "meet" face to face yet. It really is not worth the risk in my opinion.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Bellos tank has the calcium sand, I wanted a natural color but they didn't have. When I do feedings I take him out into a different enclosure have for bow until I change the sand. Tangelos was not in her actual tank in those photos, she has reptile carpet

Calcium sand is not good at all, even if you feed Bello in a separate enclosure. Sometimes a leo will lick the sand just to get some calcium. That's dangerous because leos can get impacted no matter why they eat sand.

Reptile carpet is a better substrate. Roughly textured ceramic or slate tiles are risk-free. There are soooooooo many tile patterns to chose from. Sometimes I've heard of leos eating paper towels, but much less so than sand.

Many of us believe that sand (calcium sand too) is simply not worth the risk.

 

[Erlichjr]

I will change his substrate when I have the opportunity, promising to be sooner then later