care for a gravid gecko

[Megan Knight]

So here is the situation. I bought 2 leopard geckos from a pet store. I thought they were both females so I put them in an enclosure together. I then noticed that they were fighting so I separated them. Well I didn't separate them quick enough. I just don't know how to take care of her. Is there something different that I need to do for her? I didn't mean for this to happen but sometimes nature just takes it course. I'm not sure if she was even big enough.

 

[katie_]

Can you post a picture of her? How much does she weigh?

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Katie's questions are good ones. Are you sure she's gravid? The male may have just harassed her and she may not be big enough to ovulate yet. If that's the case they you're in the clear!

If that's not the case, she'll start laying eggs and you need to decide whether you want to commit to raising baby geckos or not. If you do want to raise them you'll need to look into getting her a lay box, an incubator and a few enclosures to keep the babies in once they hatch. She may lay two eggs every other week or so for a few months if she is gravid. If you don't want to commit to raising them then just don't incubate the eggs. In either case make sure she has a dish of calcium at all times (she should have one anyway as just good husbandry).

Posting pictures as Katie asked would be a good first step to letting people help you figure out what to do.

 

[katie_]

If she does lay eggs, I wouldnt incubate them.
This world is full of too many geckos as it is. I would freeze them and then toss them away.

 

[Megan Knight]

I was trying to post pictures, but I just got a new laptop and I can't figure out how to post the pictures. I have looked at pictures of ovulating geckos and gravid ones. I'm pretty sure she is gravid. I don't plan on hatching them. I am not up for that challenge. I am more worried about her and how to take care of her.

 

[Megan Knight]

She laid her eggs last night. I don't think I want to keep them but how do I get rid of them the most humane way possible.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

As Katie said before, freezing them before throwing them away is IMO humane and ensures they wont hatch.

 

[B&B Geckos]

Dust her food with vit D3 calcium every feed and multivitamins twice per week. Make calcium available in a dish. Many recommend Repashy's Calcium Plus as the sole supplement. I would guess that you would dust feeders with it every feeding and make it available. Caution: if switching to a new supplement do so gradually, by mixing the old and new. Some breeders have experienced reduced fertility in their females, perhaps an indication that absorption is compromised until their systems get used to the new supplements.