Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since we are in the season I was just wondering if everybody wouldn't mind posting their preperation for breeding techniques? I have my own, but I'm always looking for new and better ways to do it. I think it would make for some interesting and educational reading.

Course we could just turn the thread into "Techniques Used Throughout the Cycle."

Thanks,

Tim
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LEOs: 6.9.0
1.3 High Yellows-Barney,Betty,?,?
2.0 Hypo Tangerines-Bam-bam,Rex
0.3 SHCT's -Journey,Wiggy,Lil'bit
1.0 Rescued Normals -Shleprock
1.3Tremper Albinos Mr.Slate,?,?,?
1.0 Tang Tremp Albino - Rocky

Tim,

I've never had any problems with letting nature run its course. The only changes that I've made have been to feed females a lot so they keep their weight up throughout the season. Lighting and even cooling to an extent occur naturally with the seasons changing (ie. sunlight decreases and our houses get cooler), and I don't try to manipulate those changes.

I believe 100% that it is NOT necessary to artificially cool leopard geckos to induce breeding, unless you live in a really warm climate and can't get your tanks below 90F. IF they're healthy and the appropriate size, they will start breeding, in my experience.

So, just make sure the girls are big enough (they have junk in the trunk, if you will) and they are properly supplemented (I use Miner-All I in the dishes all the time), you'll do fine. Egg production takes a lot out of them, so if they aren't fed enough, or provided enough calcium, they will drop in weight over the season and the eggs will gradually become weaker as they continue to lay.

That's my philosophy on it, not necessarily the best answer, but it has done me well over the past few years.

Good luck, I can't wait to see your babies this year.
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Rob Jenkins
Have you seen the GeckoCam?
Herptopia Reptiles
Email Me

Like Rob, I do not manipulate heat or light cycles to get them to breed. They are happy little geckos that have no problem figuring out when it's time to start and time to stop. Around Christmas, I start hearing tails rattling, and by right about now is when the constant sound of 9 breeding groups' tails going permeates the entire place constantly!

I feed the girls daily while they are egging, give them about .5cc of Neocalglucon every week, and a pinkie after every clutch gets laid. I watch for signs of stress or injury from the mating process, and if I see anything like that I remove them from the colony and let them have some R&R for a week or so. Likewise, if they start showing signs of noticeable weight loss, dull skin, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

Right after breeding stops, a few of them might look a little haggard, but the vast majority of my girls do not lose more than about 8 grams of their pre-season weight. During the 3-4 month rest period, they are fed and supplemented well, and given occasional waxies, butterworms, and a pinkie now and then.

I am very attentive when it comes to the health of my females, and getting/keeping them in optimum condition throughout the year is the key to successful breeding IMO. It concerns me when people are in such a hurry to breed that they will risk the health of their females by breeding them when they are too young. I think the ideal age for a female to start breeding is after they are at least 18 months old and weigh over 50 grams.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com