leopard gecko info please

[Jamie87]

Alright..so i've been thinking about getting two leopard geckos..a male and a female.

I want to house em together. I know two males together is a major no..and two females would be best..right?..but I kinda wanna try breeding them!

I'm worried tho cause well..
1. I want to get two babies.
- would they try to mate too soon?
2. Would having a male and female together at all times stress out the female?



As far as caging goes.. I currently have a few extra 10g tanks laying around..would that work for two babies?? I'd end up getting a 20g long later on , is that a good size?
I don't think i'd want to babies in a 20g long tho.

When I say babies i'm thinking about two inches long..

substrate of choice? Of course for babies i'd go with carpet or paper towls or slate.

But as for when they get older..I really like the look of sand, but i'm too worried to use it.

So temps.. around 80s on the warm side 70s cool..? and an under tank heater? I think i've read the basking spot should be around 90..yes?




and yeah, I know I could spend hours searching the forums for all these answers and I hope no one complains bout that. I really like the more direct approach better.

[ThomasH.]

I doubt they would mate too soon and I know people successfully keep pairs and trios together year round. If you bought two babies than you can't sex them. They would be fine in a ten gallon for a few months but then go for a 20 long. Paper towls for babies but sand would work for adults. Go for bigger individual pieces of sand than the tiny grains. Don't use a basking spot 80 and 70 would work just make sure it doesn't get hotter than that. These are very fun animals. Good Luck!

[_Sam_]

unless you have definite plans to sell/give away all of the potential hatchlings, I wouldnt try breeding them. Leos are a very popular starter pet, and nearly every chain pet store always has them in, so they don't go for much. dont expect to make money on it. =]

warm side: 85-90
cool side: 70s


getting them at 2 inches, you wont be able to tell the sex of them. If they are old enough to sex, I still wouldnt keep them together because a male will try to breed with a female before she is not ready and that is bad.


20 gal is good for 2 adults. raise them up in seperate 10 gallons

stick with paper towels for now. I dont like sand, at all. But everyone has different experiences with it and many people have had no issues.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Jamie87]

Why raise em separate? I don't have much space at the moment. I'm not so much interested in the money..I think it'd be a really interesting experience.

But I am considering going with two females. And..I guess i'll get ones that I can tell the definite sex.

[_Sam_]

if you were going with male and female as youngin's you need to raise them seperate becuase the male will try to mate with the female before she's of breeding size, which can cause major problems.

if you were going with two random babies, there's a chance you start with 2 males, which, again, can lead to problems (that you already know about)

i'm only stressing raising them seperately if they are unsexed. If they are sexed, only raise two females together.
=]



and the whole breeding thing, yes, it's a wonderful experience. I considered breeding leos at one point, but my female is a mean one and she tries to kill my poor male, so I said nuh-uh. haha, now I breed my crested geckos. if you dont have much space, that's probably a good reason not to get into breeding as well. ;]

ummm.. i can't think of anything else to say, haha.

[Jamie87]

=] thanks. I think i'll go with two girls, then later on maybe get a male if it's what I decide I want to do. Would two be better or should I also take getting one into consideration.


Also..

How are they with other reptiles? Out of the cage? Like..i've got a beardie..would be okay to let them out at the same time..of course under extreme supervision..and a quarantine period.

I prolly wouldn't feel comfortable with them being near each other. I really actually dunno..lol..any thoughts on thoughts tho.

[_Sam_]

take one into consideration. I loved my first little guy and they are perfeclty fine solitary animals. plus, then you completely eliminate the risk of having ANY fighting between them becuase females can get moody too. I have a feeling my female would tear another one apart, that's just how she is.

I wouldn't reccomend letting a leo and a beardie out in the same area. My beardie is a juvi, and about the same size as my leos, but I still wouldnt let them out at the same time. I'm super paranoid about transmitting bacterias between them and since they dont come from the same parts of the world and I have no education on reptile biology, all I know is that each animal carries its own internal parasites that exist harmlessly in it's body, and I dont want to risk them not being compatable with one another. I wash my hands after handling each particular species. =/

Other than that, an adult beardie is much larger than an adult leo and I would be worried becuase beardies can get deffensive (especially males) and i wouldnt want the beardie to hurt the leo becuase he looks at it as prey.

[Jamie87]

My beardie is extremely passive. he's never even darkened his beard. He's used to my dogs, cats, even ferrets..(don't worry..I don't let them play together!!) But yeah..I guess there's a first for everything tho.