Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 10-15 gallon tank thats empty right now, but i have a few questions before i get a leo.

I have researched leos before and am looking into them again. But i wanted to know somethings before i got one (or a pair).

#1: I have heard different things on handling requirements. I want to know how much i can handle a baby, juvenile, and adult gecko.

#2: If i got a pair, and they bred, how do you guys feel on freezing fertile eggs? Do you feel that this is wrong and taking a life away? I am not sure on this topic.

#3: What morph do you guys think a breeder should start out with? ( I love leopard geckoes, i have a friend who has a pair and he breeds them, they are albinos, i think.

#4: How much should i expect to pay for a leo (or a pair) at an expo?

#5: What do you guys think i should do if i get a pair, Male and Female in separate cages, or together? which is better for breeding?

Thanks, feel free to comment or question on anything else.
-Nic
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Nic
if you want to contact me: noseguardnoms@hotmail.com
Email me if you want to give me any more info

Why would you freeze the eggs?

Well I feel this would be common sense. If you don't want to end up with eggs, don't get both sexes or at least don't put them together in the same cage. They will breed.
It's just as easy to get two females. Both sexes in leopard geckos are attractive.

>>I have a 10-15 gallon tank thats empty right now, but i have a few questions before i get a leo.
>>
>>I have researched leos before and am looking into them again. But i wanted to know somethings before i got one (or a pair).

If you only have a 10 gal tank only get one. it'll be easier on the leos to have more room. They do NOT need to have other leos to "keep them company".

>>#1: I have heard different things on handling requirements. I want to know how much i can handle a baby, juvenile, and adult gecko.

Baby's - leave alone
Juvies - once in a while
Adults - a few times a week, give or take

>>#2: If i got a pair, and they bred, how do you guys feel on freezing fertile eggs? Do you feel that this is wrong and taking a life away? I am not sure on this topic.
>>

Why would you want to stree the female to lay eggs and then not keep them? Isn't it kind of the point of breeding?

Personally, throwing out the eggs as soon as they are layed would do the same thing... the egg would simply never develop into a embryo (like how you eat eggs with breakfast!)

Again, if you don't plan on keeping the eggs, don't breed. It will just cause undue stress on the female.

>>#3: What morph do you guys think a breeder should start out with? ( I love leopard geckoes, i have a friend who has a pair and he breeds them, they are albinos, i think.

Pick which one you like the best and is within your price range
http://www.freewebs.com/stinauiuc/morphdescriptions.htm

>>#4: How much should i expect to pay for a leo (or a pair) at an expo?

Completely dependant on the morph.
http://market.kingsnake.com/index.php?cat=10

>>#5: What do you guys think i should do if i get a pair, Male and Female in separate cages, or together? which is better for breeding?

Again, why are you even breeding if you don't want eggs?
in two words: SEPERATE CAGES. even if you keep them together for a few weeks at a time, the male should have his own enclosure for if the female is loosing too much weight or stops eating. Again... not problems you will have if you don't breed.

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Brian Skibinski
Milwaukee Reptiles
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com