Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok here's the deal,
I recently got two female leopards and will shortly be acquiring a male but I noticed them acting strangely last night. I put them in a new larger habitat together for the first time last night and one of them waved its tail at the other and began to approach it with apparent intent. I thought only the males were suposed to do the tail wag thing when put together with other leopards. Am I wrong? I was unsure of their genders originally so i took them to a breeder and he told me they were females. Can someone please explain this to me. Thanks a lot,
John

I'd separate them for now and get a second opinion about the sex. We don't breed our geckos, but it is my understanding that the tail wag is a male thing. From what I read recently on mating behavior it went something like, "a male gecko wags his tail at another gecko, if it wags back the first gecko knows it is a male and a territorial dispute might occur. If the other gecko doesn't wag, then the male knows it is a female and mating may occur. Only male geckos wag tails at each other."

Now, tail wagging before eating is something that is seen in both sexes, just FYI.

I think you are right in doubting the sex, get a second option or post some belly pics. If you can get clear ones we can try to help. You are looking for a pronounced V of glands just above where the tail would separate. There are some good pics on the internet if I had them handy. Also a good leo book, something you should get your hands on ASAP if you don't already own one, will always have clear pics for sexing. Good luck.
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hmm i was wondering the same thing just the other day. i caught my female waging her tail the other night. and i know for fact shes a female, since she has given me babies before.

and it wasnt the "im about to eat a cricket" kind of waging.
she lifted her tail off the ground and moved it in an S shape for over 30 seconds. it was kinda cool.

yea.

There are 2 different kinds of "tail wags". If it is low on the ground and kind of like vibrating, that is what males do to determine gender (or if the gecko is about to eat). When they raise the tail up over their body and the S type movement, it is a defensive thing. They are trying to make themselves look bigger. Both males and females do this.

my females do it all the time... I've always assumed it was just 'posturing' and not really part of a male display. Even new little babies will do it, especially if they're annoyed.