Leopard gecko breeding | how to successfully breed leopard geckos

How to breed your Geckos

Leopard Gecko breeding

Breeding leopard geckos is not a difficult task. It is not uncommon for a new breeder to have success on the first attempt. You often only need a healthy male and female leopard gecko to get fertile eggs.


Breeding age

Leopard Geckos grows quickly and are mature at about one year old. Males will be ready to breed much sooner than females. Female Geckos should be about two years old to breed. The eggs are quite large and laying them can be difficult for a young female. Breeding a female too young can hurt its growth.


Mating and egg laying

Most mating and egg laying is in late winter or early spring. The male will bite her on the back of the neck, line up their vents and will mate with the female. The leopard gecko eggs will develop in pairs. As the eggs grow, you will notice her gain weight and can see them through the belly skin. When the female is ready for egg laying, she will dig a hole, lay her eggs, and bury them. Scattered substrate is a good sign the gecko has laid her eggs. You will want to remove them soon after to prevent them from drying out. Do not change the position of the eggs when you remove them.


Egg container

Leopard Gecko eggs are not rigid or hard. The eggs will expand and grow. You will need to provide the right incubation and moisture for this to occur. Place the eggs in a container with 2 to 3 inches of medium. The eggs should be buried about halfway. The container can be any clear plastic container with a few holes for circulation. The medium can be vermiculite, sand, or peat moss. Vermiculite works best for controlling moisture. The medium should be damp, not wet. You should not be able to squeeze any water out of the medium. Moisture content is important. Too much and the eggs develop fungus. Too little and they dry out. If the medium dries out during incubation, you may need to add water one drop at a time.

Incubating the eggs

Incubating the Leopard Gecko eggs in an incubator is the most reliable. An incubator will keep the temperature at a consistent level. Styrofoam incubators are inexpensive and worth the money. They can hold many eggs in deli cups and usually come with a large window. This allows you to check on the gecko eggs without opening it and disturbing the heat level. Temperature is import during incubation. The sex of the gecko is determined by the temperature. Eggs incubated warmer produce more males. 78 to 80 F. will produce mostly females. 88 to 92 F. will produce mostly males. Below 75 and above 95 F. can kill the eggs. Eggs will hatch within 6 to 12 weeks depending on temperature. Warmer gecko eggs will hatch sooner.