fighting?!?!

Ipsl · Jan 9, 2008

So I've had my two females in the same tank for some time now. An APTOR and a Blizzard. The Blizzard has a smaller frame but weighs a little more and it a little bit older. The APTOR has cut her head in the past due to bad rock placment on my part. Now I've seen them sleeping together, laying awake with each other and seen one on top of the other both ways. So I awoke this mornng and threw in some mealies in there (only one) dish. As I was watching Sherbert (APTOR) eat as she usually does, she all of a sudden jumped around, sweaked and ran. Now I didnt see it but I thought it was Smokey (Blizzard) This seems totally opposite to what I would think. Sherberts more active and aggressive and more of a tweak as far as contact. They both are gaining weight steadily again. They do seem happy together most of the time. But maybe having one food dish could be a cause for friction? Though Ive seen BOTH of them eat out of the same bowl before. Sherberts about to shed as well so IDK what that would cause as far as any aggressition or submistionary signs. Could it be Smokey is trying to claim that food bowl as her own?! Or did she just touch her tail and Sherbert flipped?

David Loftin · Jan 9, 2008

I think Sherbert probably had her tail touched and spazzed out because of it. I have had quite a few colonies of ~5 Adult Female Leopard Geckos. One Animal is always the dominant one, she eats first and the others stay back until she is done. But.. I have never had any aggression in the cage. If you see bite marks on Sherbert or Smokey.. then.. maybe something is going on. Otherwise I wouldn't worry.

:main_thumbsup:

I take it your back to work today? You are up early. :main_laugh:

dprince · Jan 9, 2008

I house groups of females together (some), and I have seen occasional aggression and fighting. That's when the girls get tubs to themselves.

Mostly, the females get along, though one will be dominate.

If she's getting bitten, I would move her. :main_yes:

Pacific Gecko · Jan 9, 2008

I agree with what's already been said..you only need to take action if you see bite marks

Ipsl · Jan 9, 2008

Does anyone have a pic of what a bite mark looks like? She did get a scrape on her before and I've seen why... She doesn't get her own size if that makes sense. For example, when theres a little gap shes forced herself through it before and when she walks around she seem oblivious to smokey sometimes. Where as Smokey and my Male try to fit and if it doesnt work right away they stop trying.

dprince · Jan 9, 2008

Can you post pictures of what you think might be a bite mark? That would give you different peoples' perspectives on it.

Ipsl · Jan 9, 2008

OK I will have to do it later tonight as this morning she was about to shed. But I'll post them.

dprince · Jan 9, 2008

Sounds good. :main_thumbsup:

Ipsl · Jan 9, 2008

Well I helped her finish shedding and took some pics. Im not resizing them cause I want you guys to get as accurate a perspective as I can provide.

Now whats interesting is the tail wound (now completely healed) was the newest mark. I also have noticed that in both low and bright light Sherbert's can be oblivious at times. So what I believe is happening is there forming a pack or some kind of hierarchy and since Sherbert's so.... indiscriminate as to who or whats around her at times and Smokey's older I think Smokey just putting a little discipline in the child.

I also belive that this is the worse case scenario because as I lifted the slate Sherbert went for cover and, as usual

, started to walk over Smokey. When she got a little on top Smokey Moved fast and brought her head to Sherberts and licked her. Once that happened Sherbert went lower and showed a little more awareness. Smokey wasen't waving her tail in any sort of desernable pattern (like a rattle or snake maneuver)

dprince · Jan 9, 2008

Is there anything she could be scratching herself on? If not, I'd say those were bites - the tail especially looks gecko jaw shaped. Often, if geckos are showing aggression towards each other, it's on the tail, neck and head that I find the marks the most often. Usually it's the male that does it to the female, though not always. You're sure Smokey's a girl?

Ipsl · Jan 9, 2008

Yeah Shes female.. she ovulated and everything. I have some Ideas as to whats going on. I got Smokey from David and we've been brainstorming... Im pretty sure now the marks are from the slate and the tub itself is kinda "frictiony" or I could see it causing Indian burns.

David Loftin · Jan 9, 2008

I DO think that the mark on the tail is a bite mark. I didn't see that one on the pictures you linked me to.. You can see the Jaw line on that mark.

Ipsl · Jan 9, 2008

yeah I think whats happening from a pack view is because smokey's older, she's being assertive but not overly aggressive. Cause Sherbert is kinda obliviouse at times.when I first put them together they both lost a little weight. Than once I saw them both eat I switched to phoenix's for a while so I think there growth was slowed cause of the less fat content. But they are still both gaining weight. I see one walking over the other all the time and no fighting breaks out. When I take them out and put them in a temp holder they lay together. So what do you guys think. My plan so far is to wait and see if theres any weight issues, like sherberts not if gainig weight as fast as Smokey or isn't gaining weight at all. Im going to start weighing them at least bi-weekly.

dprince · Jan 9, 2008

Ipsl said:
yeah I think whats happening from a pack view is because smokey's older, she's being assertive but not overly aggressive. Cause Sherbert is kinda obliviouse at times.when I first put them together they both lost a little weight. Than once I saw them both eat I switched to phoenix's for a while so I think there growth was slowed cause of the less fat content. But they are still both gaining weight. I see one walking over the other all the time and no fighting breaks out. When I take them out and put them in a temp holder they lay together. So what do you guys think. My plan so far is to wait and see if theres any weight issues, like sherberts not if gainig weight as fast as Smokey or isn't gaining weight at all. Im going to start weighing them at least bi-weekly.

Glad you figured out that she might be scraping herself.

Removing that piece of furniture will probably help quite a bit. If not, then you know it's biting.

If they are both gaining weight and doing well, besides a little scuffle here and there, they can probably stay together. Sounds like, for the most part, they get along pretty well. If you remove the rock and she's still getting injured, I'd separate them.

Glad you are on top of this. They're in good hands. :main_thumbsup:

Ipsl · Jan 10, 2008

6AM: I just put about 4g of mealies in the cage. As usual sherbert came up (she's an AM eater whereas Smokey's a PM eater) SMokey was right there watching her and not fight broke out. So I can now rule out food being a reason for dominance.

Ipsl · Jan 11, 2008

UPDATE: (Phew false alarm)

So I feed them this morning and I believe I saw what the outcome of the scuffle caused. Sherbet came up to eat as usual and Smokey was not far behind. She kinda stood there for a minute and let her grab a couple than slowly walked toward her. I got a little nervous and as Smokey just touched Sherbet, she walked (as in not ran away sporadically) away and Smokey ate some than seemed to have her fill and let Sherbet start eating again. PHEW glad thats over.

fighting?!?!

Ipsl

New Member

David Loftin

Geek

dprince

Mod Squad Member

Pacific Gecko

Pacific Gecko

Ipsl

New Member

dprince

Mod Squad Member

Ipsl

New Member

dprince

Mod Squad Member

Ipsl

New Member

dprince

Mod Squad Member

Ipsl

New Member

David Loftin

Geek

Ipsl

New Member

dprince

Mod Squad Member

Ipsl

New Member

Ipsl

New Member

Visit our friends