Leopard geckos make pretty fantastic pets. They are considered to be the first partially-domestic reptilian pet. You’ll learn from any Leo pet parents that these critters are adorable, easy to care for, and a whole lot of fun to handle and observe.
You will often come across many leopard gecko enthusiasts that are keen to keep more than one Leo in the same cage and wondering if it’s safe to do so. Others consider housing more than one leopard gecko when they feel their pet is all alone and may need a friend. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to reconsider.
Can leopard geckos live together? Leopard geckos are solitary animals. They meet to mate, but they don’t live together in the wild. Moreover, male leopard geckos are pretty territorial, so it is never a good idea to have more than one in a single enclosure. However, in a larger enclosure, you may be able to house two females.
So, without further ado, let’s delve into the subject of whether Leopard geckos should have more friends living in the same vivarium and if it is safe for you to house two male leos or two female leos together.
Do Leopard Geckos Get Lonely?
The idea of introducing another pet into your household to socialize and provide companionship for your existing pet may hold true for most mammals. But your leopard geckos are reptiles. When you take a good look at the way leopard geckos live in the wild, you’ll get the picture.
Leopard geckos come from arid, dry regions of Southern Asia, particularly Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. These regions aren’t known for their ample resources of water. So, most leopard geckos aren’t very fond of getting wet either. This also means they come from a place where scarcity doesn’t allow you to be a picky eater.
They will pretty much eat whatever they can find. You might think that the only way such a species would survive would be to live and work together to find food. However, as resources are so scarce, leopard geckos do meet to mate, but once mating is over, both males and females prefer to go their own way. It is all about fending for yourself when it comes to leopard geckos.
Now, leos make wonderful pets, but you can’t say that they take to captivity so much that they completely change their way of living. It is pointless for you to worry about leo’s loneliness, as these reptiles quite enjoy their solitude.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t interact with them either. Leopard geckos do just fine with their humans, even if they don’t behave too well with their own kind when sharing the same quarters.
Can You Keep Two Male Geckos Together?
As mentioned earlier, leopard geckos live on their own in the wild. Male leopard geckos are relatively territorial. Sharing territories means sharing resources, and no male leo is happy to do that. Keeping two male geckos in the same terrarium will result in fights, as these reptiles are very territorial.
Also, geckos don’t just end up losing their bragging rights after a fight; they very often lose their tails as well. Conflicts between two male leos often result in injuries. Sometimes, regular contests can cause degloving in male leopard geckos.
Now, degloving happens when male geckos fight and wind up pulling at each other’s shedding skin. This is usually skin that is close to the toes. As the skin has been roughly pulled off, your gecko might suffer some scratches or cuts due to the ruthless degloving.
Your pet might suffer from stress with having another male present in its territory. If one gecko happens to be slightly bigger than the other, then your leo may even have to face bullying. Your pet or the new gecko may be prevented from eating, sitting, or lying down in places it enjoys by the bully in the vivarium.
Can You Keep Two Female Leopard Geckos Together?
The only time when you can keep more than one leopard gecko in the same vivarium for any length of time without repercussions is when you keep two female geckos together. Female leopard geckos pose little threat to each other, and females aren’t particularly territorial. They don’t wave their tails around to declare dominance over the vivarium.
However, it does help if you still keep a watchful eye on the vivarium. Furthermore, when you own two or more female leopard geckos in the same tank, you have to ensure enough space for all to move around, climb, and hide.
However, when you keep more than one leopard gecko into the same vivarium, you will need to be extra careful about hygiene. Multiple reptiles in one tank mean that there is now a greater risk that your pet might fall ill due to an infection. Repeated and thorough cleaning of the tank and its contents is always crucial.
What Is The Right Sized Vivarium For Two Female Geckos?
Housing a single leopard gecko requires that the enclosure be at least 60cm long, 40cm high, and 30cm deep. You need to ensure that the tank is thernogradient so that there is a warm area to bask and a cooler area present to hide too.
The tank should be well-ventilated, not placed in direct sunlight, and the tank needs to be fitted with a hygrometer to monitor the humidity.
When you want to keep two leopard geckos or more, then the dynamics change considerably. For two female geckos, the dimension of the tank needs to be doubled. You’ll need at least two basking sites as well as multiple hides where the females can go and relax.
The basic rule that applies to multiple leopard geckos in the same habitats is the bigger, the better. You do need to consider that each pet will require a separate food and water bowl, along with different basking spots and hides.
Can You Keep A Male And A Female Leopard Gecko Together?
Yes, can keep a male and a female leopard gecko together, but this is only recommended if you’re trying to breed them. However, placing a male and female leopard gecko together isn’t instantly going to result in tiny baby geckos.
Leopard geckos take their time settling into their new environment. The breeding season begins in January and lasts until September. So, it would be useful to place your leos in a large vivarium together around the breeding season.
However, your leos will only breed under certain conditions, and if you want your pets to breed successfully, you’ll have to set up the right environment. A single leo female can produce eggs up to 8 times per mating season; it helps to have more than one female for your male leo if you’re really serious about breeding.
The more eggs a female leo lays, the more stress the female’s body has to undergo. And repeated pregnancies will shorten the lifespan of your female leo.
Most reptile owners recommend that you separate the male and female into separate tanks after mating. The gestation period for female leo is 16-22 days, and the incubation can take from 6-10 weeks.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that keeping a reptile as a pet is significantly different owning a canine or feline. But, leopard geckos have gained much popularity in recent years due to the fact that these animals are amazingly mild-tempered, friendly, and low-maintenance pets.
Naturally, each pet has different needs and wants. As a pet parent, it is your job to cater to your pet’s needs. While adding another animal into the household can bring companionship for your pet, leopard geckos don’t function in the same way as a regular pet.
A leopard gecko is a reptile, and like most reptiles, they prefer to be solitary. If you really want your leopard gecko to be stress-free and live a long and happy life, then it’s best to let it have the vivarium all to itself.
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