To successfully breed leopard geckos, it’s important to have a good understanding of this species. Breeding these geckos can be challenging, so it’s crucial to be knowledgeable about the necessary facts before starting.
When it comes to the breeding process itself, it’s not too difficult as long as you have a male and female gecko to house together. However, it’s essential to avoid housing the two geckos together as it can cause stress to the female gecko, leading to health problems.
It’s also important to keep two geckos of the same gender separate since they may fight, resulting in the death of one or both lizards. Determining the gender of a leopard gecko can be challenging, and it’s recommended to wait until they are around six months old before trying to do so. It’s not wise to determine the gender based solely on the size of their heads.
One way to identify the gender of your geckos is by checking the temperature at which they were incubated. Additionally, you can check the vent at the base of the animal’s tail; male and female leopard geckos both have femoral pores arranged in a V shape. However, the pores of a female gecko are much fainter than those of a male, and male geckos also have two hemipenal bulges underneath their vent.
Before breeding leopard geckos, they need to be fully mature, which usually takes about a year. Female geckos should be at least one year old and in good health.
While you may not witness the mating process, you can tell that it has been successful by observing bite marks on the female. It’s best to keep the pair together for a few days to a week to ensure a successful mating.
Once the eggs begin to develop, the female will gain noticeable weight and lay her eggs within one to one and a half months. While a leopard gecko can lay up to ten eggs at once, the first clutch laid by the female will likely be only one or two.
To provide a suitable environment for your female gecko to lay her eggs, create a small humid hiding spot known as a laying box. You can maintain humidity by placing one to two inches of dampened vermiculite or perlite (available at garden stores) in the box. This will prevent the eggs from dehydrating. If your gecko lays her eggs elsewhere, they may dehydrate and become infertile. If you happen to find them before they dry out, you can try incubating the eggs on your own.
To ensure healthy development, you will need an incubator that maintains a constant temperature. The eggs need to incubate for one to two months, depending on the temperature.
Considerations When Breeding Leopard Geckos 