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Reproduction of Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos are very easy to breed. Obviously the first important factor is to have a male and female leopard gecko. Male leopard geckos are distinguished from females by the presence of large, prefemoral pores right before the vent. While females also have these pores, they are much less pronounced. Male leopard geckos also have a distinguishable bulge just past the vent at the base of the tail where the hemipenes are stored. Males will fight with other males, so it is best to have only one male in a breeding situation. To stimulate breeding, leopard geckos should have a 4-6 week period of reduced temperatures. Two weeks prior to a reduction of temperature, leopard geckos should not be fed in order to allow their digestive tracts to clear, however, water should still be provided. The temperature should be slowly lowered over several days to a low of 60-65 degrees. The geckos should be checked a few times a week during this cool down period for any signs of illness. Any gecko exhibiting signs of illness (puffed out throat pouch, gaping mouth etc..) should be immediately removed from hibernation and warmed slowly over a few days to normal temperatures. If the gecko does not improve over a few days of normal temperatures, it should be taken to a qualified herp veterinarian. After the hibernation period, the geckos should be warmed up over a few days to normal maintenance temperatures and food offered. It is important that the female geckos are fed heavily and of good body weight during this period. A few weeks after they have been warmed up, the geckos will begin breeding.
It is easy to ascertain if a female leopard gecko is carrying eggs. When a gravid female leopard gecko is turned upside down, the developing eggs are visible through the skin just above the vent on both sides of the body. When developing eggs are visible, it is important to include an egg-laying chamber in the enclosure. An egg-laying chamber can be constructed out of a plastic Tupperware container with an access hole cut in the side. The egg-laying chamber should be filled with a moist, loose substrate such as peat moss, vermiculite, or potting soil. The humidity site can often double as the egg-laying site. Female leopard geckos will bury clutches of two eggs each in the substrate at two to three week intervals. If the egg-laying chamber is on top of the heat source, it is important to check the egg-laying chamber often so the eggs do not dry out. After the eggs have been laid, they should be removed and artificially incubated. Leopard geckos are temperature sex dependent, temperatures between 80-86 degrees produces mostly females, temperatures above 88 degrees produces mostly males. At a temperature of 85-88 degrees F, a mix of sexes is produced. Baby leopard geckos can be set up and maintained in a similar manner to the adults, in a smaller cage of course
The above breeding information is from Rocky Mountian Herps