Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's nice to see that you consider websites as reputable sources. I myself will continue to rely on printed sources from long standing names in the industry.

Take a look on day at The Leopard Gecko Manual by Philippe de Vosjoli. They state that young adults can breed at 30-35 grams, but most breeders wait until 40 grams. Not to mention the stated average adult size is between 45-60 grams.

Now let's look at The Herpetoculture of the Leopard Gecko by Ron Tremper. He states a breeding size of 35-45 grams.

The recommended breeding size of online sources has continued to rise over the last 2-3 years. Most likely because newer breeders want to give a safe number and just add 5-10 grams over what they were told. After a few years we start to get people who will state a breeding size of 70-80 grams. That is ridiculous. Most female leos will not get to that size unless they are giants, obese, or they are from a line that has been bred for size. 70-80 grams is outside the normal natural size for a leo. Wild Females do not wait until 70-80 grams to breed in the wild. They are more than able to breed at 40 grams. As a matter of fact, a lot of my females will ovulate and produce infertile eggs as small as 30 grams. They don't have to breed to produce eggs; they only need to be mature.

And let's see here when were the books written? Yes they are good books but not too accurate and other studies have since then been recorded and therefore it's best to wait and breed at 50-60g not 30-40 they are not at good weights and are usually not even 1/2 the adult size they will be.

Too all his own, but i know what i prefer and alot of other breeders in this area, and many as i had shown you on the internet as well, which are all reptuable breeders to many people. Good day!

The Leopard Gecko Manual was updated and published in 2004, and The Herpetoculture of the Leopard Gecko was published in 2005. That seems pretty recent to me.

So these new studies, do you have a reference for them or are they just made up? Just because someone says one thing, does not make it true.

>>The Leopard Gecko Manual was updated and published in 2004, and The Herpetoculture of the Leopard Gecko was published in 2005. That seems pretty recent to me.
>>
>>So these new studies, do you have a reference for them or are they just made up? Just because someone says one thing, does not make it true.

Im not taking sides but most books say and I have talked to many breeders who say that 45 is usually a good weight and for giants 55-75 not to disregard your opinion leolady but 80 seems to just overdoing it and if you could give me some contact information on these studies I would love to talk to someone about them,unless these studies arent real and your making them up to defend your case.But Garweft I dont think you should be so harsh to Leolady she has your opinion and you have yours so lets just stop this argument and all be friendly herpers.

I think that the safest thing to do when breeding would be to wait until the gecko is large and mature and probubly between 50-80 grams, It could'nt hurt, and this way you greatly reduce the risk of a female having complications and that is the most important thing Leopard Gecko owners and breeders alike should consider.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!!!!!!!!!

-Tony C

Thanks to both of you herp haven and tony---I agree as well....I gave several websites before of were it says that breeding at 30g is not healthy and the studies 2 are private stufies and i am not actually supposed to release any iformation as the breeders would probably be pretty pissed. It's not my information to give to the public it's theirs. They are also very reptuable breeders, and would as well not want to take their spotlight, thank you.

I to am always about safety and health. Not about getting out babies so i can make some money. They are all pets to me whether i breed or not.

RIGHT--EVERYONE HAS THEIR OPINIONS, and i'll stick with mine and 99% of everyone else. Thanks and good day!

I said 40-50 grams is large enough to breed. I then added that I have breed them as small as 35 grams (although I never recommend 35g as a breeding weight). You can go back and look at all my posts, I never said 30 grams.

I still would not recommend a weight of 70-80 grams, because it is outside of the normal average weight of an adult female. Yes some females get this large, but most do not. Telling someone this weight will encourage them to overfeed their females to a point of obesity just to breed. Obesity is unhealthy in leopard geckos just as much as it is in snakes, dogs, and people. Obese reptiles, like obese anything, die at a younger age and are just generally unhealthy. Leos do not need to be fat to breed, just sexually mature and at a good weight.

So do reptiles breed at too young of ages! Look i will and will always stick and recommend 50-80g before breeding. Just my opinion. You have yours and that is 35-50g. Good luck to you as well as good luck to me.

As all of my research and all of the breeders i deal with and have spoke with all breed at 50 and above. Thanks and Good day!

Like I said 3 times before 40-50 grams.

Also age and size are not the same thing. A leo can be obese at 3-6 months and be 50 grams. They would not meet one of the first requirents, maturity. 40-50 grams at 9 months of age is all the larger and older a leo needs to be to breed. Breeders that have been working with leos for over 30 years also go by these size requirements, so I am not alone in these sizes (actually I'm in real good company). I would also not be suprised if the same breeders that told you 70-80 grams breed their leos at 40 grams.