First time doing a multiple Leo Terrarium

[Spartanozzy]

Hey all. I am wanting to set up a terrarium for 3 leopard geckos to share. Now I know they all need to be female, and of the same size. Any other tips you all could give me? This will be my first ever multi-reptile housing.
thanks!

 

[LeopardShade]

It is vital that you quarantine all the females individually for a period of at the very least 30 days, though 60-90 would be most preferable. This way, you ensure that if any of the animals are carrying any potential health problems, they will not be spreading them to your others and making the others sick as well. Also, it gives you essential time to assess and monitor the gecko and its behaviors, as well as to ensure it is eating normally, defecating normally, and has a clean bill of health. Unhealthy animals should never be placed together, or with healthy animals. Improper quarantine can and has eradicated breeder's collections, so I would say your most important step in ensuring the prosperity of your geckos you plan to house together is quarantine.

Along with that, you need to keep in mind the possibilities of food competition and dominances among the animals, as well as the fact that an infection can be picked up very fast among animals housed together due to them all potentially coming in contact with each others' feces, water, etc. You will need to continually monitor and ensure that all animals are getting enough to eat, are not being subjected to bullying or aggression and are not displaying abnormal symptoms. I've always restrained housing geckos together just because of these potential problems, but it certainly can be done when these factors are kept in mind.

 

[Spartanozzy]

Ok then, cool. I'm not a breeder, and don't plan on being one. I just always seeings photos of multi-gecko terrariums, and it looks so awesome. My gecko's would probably all be from the same breeder though, maybe even the same clutch. Would the quarantine still be essential?

 

[LeopardShade]

My gecko's would probably all be from the same breeder though, maybe even the same clutch. Would the quarantine still be essential?

If they came from the same clutch and had been previously quarantined and living together healthily, then I believe you could skip the quarantine. But if the hadn't been kept together and the only means of relations they have are that they came from the same clutch, then quarantine is still essential.

 

[mudskipper]

I also have a set up for 3 leopard geckos except one is in a different tank now for quarantine. You'll need a big tank with LOTS of hides. They are rarely in the same hide. Here's my thread. http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=89081

 

[gmaier19]

in my VERY humble opinion and through years of experience of my own and talking to others, i have concluded that leopard geckos do MUCH better when they have their own environment i.e. they do not share a habitat with others.

of course you can do whatever you want with them, and i think youll make the right decision.

 

[Russellm0704]

You can not count on all of the geckos to grow at the same rate even if they are clutchmates. I house ALL my hatchlings individually and some clutchmates grow twice as fast as their sibling. Some geckos are not great eaters, some will eat anything in their site. Housing individual is the best option.

 

[justindh1]

If you want to keep multiple leopard geckos together then go ahead and try it. I have done it successfully in the past and know other breeders and keepers who have as well. Just keep a eye on them and have a separate tank ready just in case you need to separate one of them. Have multiple hides and feeder dishes for all your geckos. For three LG's, I would recommend going with a 40 gallon. Good Luck!

 

[Spartanozzy]

So I am getting the feeling that I should just do separate housing. So maybe I'll just get a super giant male gecko.

 

[Russellm0704]

So I am getting the feeling that I should just do separate housing. So maybe I'll just get a super giant male gecko.

What we are saying is that you should go for it as long as the proper precautions are taken. And you should be prepared to separate if needed. But yes it should be fine