I've read from a few sources that a good weight to begin breeding is 50g. Is this a good weight or are there problems with this.
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Breeding Size
luczak32
Jan 07, 2005 04:06 PM
Replies (8)
marla
Jan 07, 2005 04:41 PM
that's the rule of thumb that i've heard. i've also heard the other rule is 1 year of age. anything less is pushing it & could stunt growth. younger geckos have lower fertility rates anyways. 
but i'm sure, if you had two smaller, adult geckos, that were clearly healthy, you could breed them at under 50 g.
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marla
currently: 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 2.8.3 leopard geckoes, 0.0.13 oriental fire-bellied toads, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders
Witeleo
Jan 07, 2005 05:16 PM
You can breed at as low as 40 grams but I recommend 45 grams. It is not as much importance of age then size. A 20 gram leo can e 1 year old and not be mature for breeding, yet a 40 gram gecko that is 10 months old may breed like an adult.
leaftail
Jan 07, 2005 10:30 PM
I disagree a bit. age matters too. the 40 gram girl at 10 months could breed, yes. She'd lay her eggs and 2-3 days later be dead. Wait AT LEAST a year. Most wait 1 1/2 years. I wait 2 years (I'm serious, I do).
GreggMM
Jan 09, 2005 09:53 AM
Can you expain exactly why she would be dead 2 to 3 days later???? I do not know how someone can make a statement like that without anything to back it up....
leaftail
Jan 09, 2005 03:00 PM
Sorry for just dropping that bomb on you and not explaining. A few years ago on this forum there was a LOT of discussion and info passed around on this subject and I just assumed a ton of people would also reply to your post and explain in more detail (I am lazy ).
I'll give you my quick non-formal explanation now, and try to dig up some expert info on the subject later.
Female leopard geckos may look full grown at 10 months and weigh as much as a breeding female, but inside apparently they are not completely developed yet. There is a high mortality rate in female leos that are bred under 1 year of age.
GreggMM
Jan 10, 2005 05:29 PM
Thanks for the info but I have to disagree with that statement.....
leaftail
Jan 10, 2005 05:32 PM
that's ok. but, why do you disagree? do you have personal experience that contradicts?
marla
Jan 10, 2005 10:51 PM
i back you up, leaftail. it's simple to understand the concept if you think about it this way- just because i girl in 6th grade is able to conceive, does not mean she won't suffer ill effects from carrying a baby to term. simply, she may not be fully finished growing/developing, so the strain on her resources is much greater.
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marla
currently: 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 2.8.3 leopard geckoes, 0.0.13 oriental fire-bellied toads, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders
