possibly silly question

new_rory

New member
I have the feeling the answer will be "no" but I'm going to ask anyway.

Our local humane society has 2 adult leopard geckos for adoption. They are bigger than any I've ever had but look very healthy. They're also very hand tame. I'm looking for a gecko or two as a classroom pet. I'd love to go adopt these two, but it says they are both male (I checked, and to me, they kind of look male - I didn't have much time though so I'll probably go back today and spend some more time with them). I don't have room for two tanks but I'd love to have them both if they could get along. Based on size, I'm guessing they're definitely over 2 years old (I had 2-year-old's that were smaller than these). They were in the same tank and were doing fine. They were brought in together and I believe were housed together at their former home (I can ask but no guarantee the humane society will know for sure).

I've got a "tank" I can borrow from my sister that's an old-school wooden TV frame (with the tv taken out and glass, heaters, lamps, etc. put in it). It's got two levels they can climb around on and I'd have lots of different hides. Is trying to keep the two males in it together even an option? If they did start fighting, I'd definitely rehome one of them.

I know you aren't supposed to be able to keep 2 male bearded dragons together but I have a friend who got two as little babies, they grew up together, and recently died of old age just a few months apart (and they never fought and the one got very lonely when the other died). I was wondering if these two geckos were a similar situation and would be ok with each other their whole lives.
 

new_rory

New member
I would just adopt a single gecko. problem solved.

I would, but they want them adopted together (but the second one is half price). I might ask anyway (they don't get geckos in very often and don't really have a reptile person there I think).
 

JessJohnson87

New member
Keeping 2 males together is always a no. They will fight each other, not every day but it does happen. Plastic storage bins are a cheaper way to be able to house them until you can find space for 2 tanks.

For the health and well-being of the animals, it's best to keep them separate unless they are both female. Even then, females will still fight each other.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
I have the feeling the answer will be "no" but I'm going to ask anyway.

Our local humane society has 2 adult leopard geckos for adoption. They are bigger than any I've ever had but look very healthy. They're also very hand tame. I'm looking for a gecko or two as a classroom pet. I'd love to go adopt these two, but it says they are both male (I checked, and to me, they kind of look male - I didn't have much time though so I'll probably go back today and spend some more time with them). I don't have room for two tanks but I'd love to have them both if they could get along. Based on size, I'm guessing they're definitely over 2 years old (I had 2-year-old's that were smaller than these). They were in the same tank and were doing fine. They were brought in together and I believe were housed together at their former home (I can ask but no guarantee the humane society will know for sure).

I've got a "tank" I can borrow from my sister that's an old-school wooden TV frame (with the tv taken out and glass, heaters, lamps, etc. put in it). It's got two levels they can climb around on and I'd have lots of different hides. Is trying to keep the two males in it together even an option? If they did start fighting, I'd definitely rehome one of them.

I know you aren't supposed to be able to keep 2 male bearded dragons together but I have a friend who got two as little babies, they grew up together, and recently died of old age just a few months apart (and they never fought and the one got very lonely when the other died). I was wondering if these two geckos were a similar situation and would be ok with each other their whole lives.

I don't recommend classrooms as good places for leopard geckos. Leopard geckos thrive on peace and solitude. Most classrooms are just too noisy.

Keeping 2 male leos together is just not worth the risk.
 

CWilson13

New member
I can attest that two males together, especially full grown ones is most definitely not good. I have my male because the idiot pet store housed him in a tiny little 10 gallon with another male. The first photo below shows the scar he still has from being attacked by the other male. The second photo is of the other male.
I applaud that you want to rescue these guys, but like Jess and Elizabeth said, 2 males is always bad and a classroom is very active and not great for animals that love their privacy. Maybe you could keep them at home and once in a while bring them in so the kids can see and learn about them? Typically craigslist has people selling aquariums for decent prices, that and many pet stores have $1 per gallon sales. Hopefully you find a way to make it all work, since I can't imagine the humane society will be able to do much with these guys. If you do find a way please let us know, and if possible we would all be happy to help out with advice, and any questions you might have :)
IMG_20150909_171843265-crop.jpg

IMG_20150903_171541391.jpg
 

CWilson13

New member
It is still there but much more faint than the picture shows, that photo is mostly just to show how bad it originally was. Apollo is doing wonderful now, mostly because he has a big 20 gallon long all to himself :D
 

muffin_song

New member
I don't recommend classrooms as good places for leopard geckos. Leopard geckos thrive on peace and solitude. Most classrooms are just too noisy.

Keeping 2 male leos together is just not worth the risk.

My leo is a "retired" classroom lizard (she originally lived in my mom's classroom back on the east coast). Scooter did okay with the experience, but they're definitely crepuscular animals - she's usually is in her hide until it gets dark out.

The other issue is feeding. My mom usually left by 5:30ish, often while the sun was still out (depending on the time of year). She would have to leave cricket or mealworms in the cage. This meant any uneaten insects could bite or annoy Scooter, plus it was hard to observe whether she was actually eating.

Anyway, she survived the experience, but they're not ideal pets for the classroom.
 
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