How to Breed Leopard Geckos

So you have decided to breed your leopard gecko. I have been breeding leopard geckos for a while now, and I'd love to share some breeding tips to help get you started. Before you start breeding your leopard gecko you should understand the risk involved in breeding. Most the common problem in breeding females is egg impaction which is a deadly concern. This typically happens in younger females, or under weight females, however it can occur at anytime to any breeding female. The second most common concern is stress. It is very easy to for a female leopard gecko to become stressed which can result in death. You must also be willing to risk the beauty of your leopard gecko. Fights do break out between male and female, which can result in scars, and tail loss.

Now that you know the most common risk factors lets talk about breeding. There are a few things you need before you even get started. You need an incubator, 16 ounce deli cups, vermiculite, powder free gloves, and of course a breeding pair of leopard geckos. You should make sure your female weighs at least 45 grams before breeding her. She should reach this weight around 1 year of age. If your planning on buying a breeding female look for a young one that hasn't been breed yet. Breeders will sell their old breeding stock that is no longer breeding or is producing a poor quality. Don't get fooled and buy a 4 year old female that has been a breeder for the past 3 years thinking that she's going to be a good breeder for you.

There are several ways to breed your leopard geckos. Some breeders use a rack system which works good for space, and for mass breeding, but isn't great to look at. You can also do selective breeding where you place the male with the female for short periods. This works out great if your making your own designer morphs. You may also choose to house your male and females together 24/7. I house 1 male and 3 females in a 29 gallon tank with no complications. Breeding this way allows you to not only breed, but to also have a nice tank to look at. It is best to place at least 2 females with the male. This will keep the male busy, and reduce the stress level for the females. Never put 2 males in the same tank, they will fight.

Female leopard geckos can lay up to 10 clutches a breeding year, with 2 eggs in each clutch. Young females might only lay 1 egg the first few times. A good breeding female can produce up to 20 eggs per year. Once the female, and male has mated, she should lay her clutch in 2 to 4 weeks. You will need to provide her a place to lay her eggs. You can buy little dens for them to lay in, or make your own using a disposable container. A 16 oz deli cup with a hole cut in the top of the lid will work, just make sure the hole is big enough for her to get in and out of. Fill the cup a little over half way with a mixture of moist moss, and vermiculite. Place the laying cup in a warm area of the cage, and keep an eye out. You will see her laying or digging in it. Check it daily for eggs.

Leopard gecko eggs are around 1.5" oblong, so you won't miss them. Once you see she has laid her clutch, you will need to get ready to incubate them. Using a clean 16 ounce deli cup, poke around 10 small holes in the lid. You will need to mix your vermiculite with water in order to keep the eggs from drying out. The best way to do this is by weighing both the vermiculite, and the water. If your going to use 2 ounces of vermiculite, then use 2 ounces worth of water based on weight not volume. Once you have the vermiculite in the cup, use your finger to make 2 dents for the eggs to lay in. You will want the eggs to be half way in the vermiculite. Wearing gloves, carefully pick up the eggs, and place them in the dents you made. Do not turn the eggs at all. You must be very careful to place them the same way they were laid. Once the eggs are in place close the container, and place them in your incubator.

If you want all females you should incubate at 78 - 82 degrees.

If you want all males you should incubate at 89 - 90 degrees.

If you want a surprise you should incubate at 84 - 87 degrees.

The warmer you incubate the faster they will hatch. Most eggs will hatch in 50 - 55 days, but this range can be shorter or longer depending on the conditions. If you notice dents in the eggs, that means they are drying out. Add a few drops of water to the vermiculite, and they should puff back out within 24 hours. From time to time geckos do lay non fertile eggs, so don't get disappointed if they all don't hatch out. Once the babies hatch allow them a few hours in the incubator to absorb the egg sack, and get stretch out, then carefully move them to their new home. Do not put them with the parents, the adults will eat them. Try not to handle them to much for the first few weeks. Once your baby leopard geckos are around 7 to 8 weeks old you can sell them.

Breeding leopard geckos is a little work, but it is fun. Unfortunately the babies are so cute, that it's easy to become addicted, and hard to let them go.