Leopard gecko breeding

Reproduction of a Leopard Gecko

Leopard Geckos become sexually mature at the age of 10 to 15 months. Male Leopard Geckos are generally more larger and broader (bulkier) as opposed to female Leopard Geckos, Male Leopard Geckos also possess a V-shaped row of pre-anal pores in front of their cloacal that are distinguishably much darker and more prominent than a female, and a noticeable bulge at the base of its tail caused by the hemipenis. Also males are often more boldly colored than females, but this is not always true.

Leopard Geckos breeding period is from March through September, though it is common that the season may start as early as January and finish as late as October. When a male encounters a female, the male Gecko will shake its tail. While as a response, the female Gecko will silently sway its tail from side to side in the ground. Following this action, the male Gecko will lick the female Gecko to obtain its scent and will begin biting the female Gecko from its lower body upwards. If the female Gecko does not wish to mate with a certain male Gecko, she will bite back and the male Gecko will cease his activity. If the female Gecko accepts on the other hand, the male Gecko will continue up to her neck, making his body parallel to the female Gecko and placing his hind leg over her tail, inserting one of his hemipenis into her cloaca.

Thirty days after that, the female Gecko will lay one or more eggs with a leathery shell. Clutches of two eggs will then be laid every two weeks to monthly throughout the rest of the mating season varying from each Gecko according to their age, with older females gradually laying lesser eggs with each year. The eggs will need to be incubated.

Like other egg-laying reptiles the sex of Leopard Geckos are determined by incubation temperature. Eggs incubated at 79 °F which will result in a majority of female neonates, whereas eggs incubated at 85-87 °F which will result in a more even sex ratio and eggs incubated at 89-90 °F in the first four weeks will then result in more males. Females hatched from these eggs are generally more belligerent as opposed to other females, and they tend to reach sexual maturity later if at all. An incubation temperature lower than 77 °F or higher than 97 °F will usually cause deformities and usually death of the neonates incubated at these temperatures.