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Question

Do I need to buy an incubator for leopard gecko eggs?

Audra Barrios
Reptile Specialist
Audra Barrios is a Marine Biologist and owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business offering experiemces, reptiles, supplies and plants. With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and exotic animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues, and animal husbandry. Audra earned a BASc in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied Natural Sciences at the College of Marin. She is the founder and Executive Director of Things That Creep, a non-profit dedicated to herptile conservation through education. She has spent the last nine years working as a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.

Audra Barrios

Reptile Specialist

Expert Answer

Not at all! You can use a deli cup to house the eggs. Just punch some holes in it and fill it with substrate, like damp soil or vermiculite. Then, carefully place the eggs in the substrate in the same position they were laid.

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Question

Do leopard geckos have to mate to lay eggs?

Community Answer

No, but they have to mate in order for the eggs to be fertilized and hatch babies. Eggs from unfertilized females will not hatch.

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Question

My leopard gecko laid two eggs, and I transferred the eggs to a small incubator. The next day, the eggs were shriveled. Does this mean the embryos have died?

Community Answer

No, but you need to put a moist paper towel in there ASAP, as they need some humidity.

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Question

Can you leave newborns with their mother after they hatch?

Community Answer

No. After hatching, leopard geckos are on their own. If you put the babies with their mother, the mother may eat them.

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Question

If I got the wrong incubator, should I touch the eggs again to transfer them?

Community Answer

Yes, or use a spoon. Either way, be very careful.

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Question

Do I have to incubate a leopard gecko egg?

Community Answer

Yes, because otherwise it will rot or die.

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Question

Does a female have to be introduced to a male to have a fertile egg?

Community Answer

Yes, because they have to mate in order to fertilize the eggs.

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Question

The pets stores around me are saying mealworms are unavailable. I could only get locusts and waxworms. How do I go about feeding my two leopard geckos?

Community Answer

Crickets are a good feeder option, and if they are not available, you can order mealworms online, or even breed them yourself.

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Question

Can I put the babies with the adults?

CourtneyLauren

Community Answer

No, never put two geckos together if they are not equal in size.

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Question

If I gt two males, do I have to separate them?

Community Answer

Yes. Males placed together will fight over territory. If you are looking to house leopard geckos together, look into getting females or a group containing only one male.

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Question

How much water should I put in the egg incubator?

FreckleGecko208

Community Answer

Just some mist. You don't want to drown your eggs, but if your geckos hatch then use a small water bottle cap with clean tap water.

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Question

I have had my beautiful female gecko for 3 years, and my dad is thinking of getting a male the same size and age. Would this be alright in a 20 gallon tank?

Community Answer

Yes, a 20 gallon tank should be more than enough for the two. Just be careful, as the male or female might get a little defensive, so have a backup tank just in case they fight.

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Question

Can I put a 6-month-old gecko and a 2-year-old gecko in the same terrarium?

Community Answer

Put them in the same cage for about 15 minutes to see if they get along. If they do, leave them together.

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Question

What is wrong if they are not active, but are eating well? They are very healthy; the female comes out of her rock, but the male is staying in all the time.

Community Answer

Leopard geckos are nocturnal, so if they seem to be eating well, you may just not be seeing them move at night.

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Question

How long does it usually take a female to breed with a male?

Community Answer

It doesn't usually take very long. When a female is introduced to a male, it should only take about 30 minutes, but be patient.

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Question

Can I use moss as substrate?

Community Answer

Yes. Moss is usually good at keeping in moisture, so as long as you don't soak it, it should be fine. It may make the eggs move around more though, so using a lot packed together around the eggs should help this. I'd recommend sphagnum moss if you are going this route; it's easy to find.

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Question

Woke up in the middle of the night to find two eggs in their cage! No incubator on hand, so I removed them and put them in a Tupperware with moist towels. What's the best way to transfer for success in morning?

FreckleGecko208

Community Answer

You did the right thing. You can keep them there, just buy something for good heating so it will stay in between 80 and 90 degrees.

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Question

Do I have to wear gloves when holding the baby gecko?

Community Answer

Wearing gloves is not required, but you should be very gentle. It's probably best to avoid holding a hatchling until it's a few months old, unless you have to.

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Question

What if one of the newborn leopard geckos is male and I put it in the same terrarium with an adult male?

BenMc04

Community Answer

The adult male will try to attack the baby. Just because the baby is the offspring from that gecko doesn't mean they won't fight.

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Question

How do I tell the difference between male and female leopard geckos?

XelZie

Community Answer

It can be really hard to tell the difference between the two. On adults, at the base of the tail, there should be 2 bumps of it's a male and there will be pores that will be larger, while on a female they are smaller.

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Question

Do I need to worry about keeping the container where the eggs will be humid, or is it okay for it to be arid as long as the sand is nice and moist?

Starirock

Community Answer

Yes, it is okay, just make sure the sand is moist and the humidity is a little higher than usual.

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Question

After the babies hatch, and I transfer them, does the temperature of the tank have to be the same as the adults?

Luv Geckos

Community Answer

It should be the same as for adult leopard geckos, which is between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Question

Where can I sell my eggs when they hatch?

Community Answer

You can try to sell them to your local pet store, or post online and ask if anyone would be interested in purchasing them. You can also ask friends and family members.

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Question

Do I need a license to breed them?

Community Answer

No, you shouldn't need a license to breed leopard geckos, but it would be best to check your specific state's laws before getting started just to be safe.

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Question

Can baby geckos die in their shells?

Animalz_r_kool

Community Answer

Yes, like all creatures, baby geckos can die before they are born/hatched. Sadly, it is just part of life.

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Question

Does a female have to be introduced to a male once in her life in order to lay eggs?

Community Answer

She can lay infertile eggs without being introduced to a male, but will need a male for live eggs.

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Question

What do I do if the female doesn't have any interest in the male?

Community Answer

Check that she is actually ovulating. If she's not, you will need to wait. If she is, she may just not be in the mood - try again in a day or two.

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Question

Can I use sand as a hatching substrate?

FutureHow

Community Answer

No, sand is hard and does not transfer heat well. Use the substrates listed in the article or egg-specialized substrate.

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Question

I have my leopard gecko eggs in a store bought incubator and they are starting to get moldy. Did they die?

FutureHow

Community Answer

They might not have been fertile. If you checked and they were fertile, try putting some sphagnum moss on the top of the egg or wiping it down with a paper towel.

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Question

What is the best incubator to buy?

FutureHow

Community Answer

There are many options and many different opinions. Do some research and ask around at your local pet store for the best ones.

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