Gecko Numbers

[Desdemona]

So, given a group of all females... if you have more than one do they do better in pairs, treos, do they care?

Also, if you have a pair and then add a third will the pair pick on them for not being part of the group?

Remember children goths and preps don't get along... even in gecko world (haha, my random thought for the day).

 

[Jordan]

geckos dont 'get along', its more like they tolerate each other or ignore each other.
unless they fight obviously.
But as long as the enclosure is big enough and enough hidey spots are provided you could go for as many as possible. But id recommend a trio. thats always nice.

Remember to quarantine new ones before introducing them though.

 

[M_surinamensis]

There are some definite risks or negative aspects to housing them communally.* If you have analyzed those risks and those consequences and decided to house them in a group anyway...

... then strictly from a behavioral standpoint there are two conflicting factors.

Adding more geckos increases the probability of adding a gecko which will be more aggressive. The larger the group the higher the probability is of including an individual which is inclined towards territorial behaviors. This is manageable however, since the geckos will not be selected by blind chance and can be individually chosen and tested for compatibility in the group.

Counterbalancing that is the idea that more geckos also means a more complex and widespread set of interactions, as the more dominant and aggressive individuals are interacting with a larger pool of less aggressive animals. If you have two geckos and one is territorial, then the other gecko will be a constant focus for that aggression, every time the bully nips or harasses, it will always be the same target. If you have three geckos, then that behavior is spread out, roughly half the behavior will be aimed at each of the other geckos present. The more you add, the more divided those behaviors become and the less significant a risk they represent to each individual that might get chased, shoved or nipped. If you have two geckos and one is nasty, then you run a good chance of having a death or serious injury occur. If you have twenty geckos, then that aggression is so spread out, that attention so frequently being distracted, that the chances for significant damage being done are slim (but not none).

*it all comes down to feces.

 

[Jordan]

If you have twenty geckos, then that aggression is so spread out, that attention so frequently being distracted, that the chances for significant damage being done are slim (but not none).

But wouldnt that take you back to the first point, if you have twenty gecko's the first point states there is more chance of aggressive territorial gecko's. So it may be spread out more from one bully, but the more gecko's the more chance of more bullies. So within them 20 gecko's could be 4 or 5 bullies.
Not arguing with you but just thought it was an interesting point.
I suppose may as well just house seperately and then all this could be avoided anyway lol.

 

[M_surinamensis]

That would be why I described them as conflicting.

 

[Desdemona]

I will say that I like watching animal dynamics, ie if they are not killing each other. Mostly, though, I like less cages to clean but more pets. Though, of course, I would only do so if it was safe for the pets. I have had more social pets than not, even if they wern't buddy/buddy types. I like watching them interact.

I thought about it when I saw one of the adverts offering a buy one get one half off deal. I won't be in the market for buying another gecko for a few months so mostly just planning right now.

 

[Daedric1]

IMostly, though, I like less cages to clean but more pets.

Youre right in the fact that you will have less cages to clean, but you will have to do it more often. You're still having the same amount of poop from three geckos whether they're in three cages or one, but now it's in one tank. Remember that each individual likes to poop in a particular place - if you're lucky, they'll all poop in one area, but it's also possible you have three "poop areas" in once cage...and that can start to stink.

However, you won't have to change three dishes of water and whatnot.

 

[jon21388]

i have to leopard geckos right now together and they are both female in the same tank, and they love each other, I always catch them together with one laying its head on the others back. Hopefully this continues, cause of right now their young. I have another tank with everything already just in case this incident does occur.

 

[noahsark31]

I keep certain females together all year. When I go to put a group together I watch the females. If there is any fighting or territorial displays then that female gets removed right away. When breeding season comes around I just toss the male in and let him go to town. Females always stay in the bigger cage because it seems better for breeding purposes. The male in a new environment will take much less time to get to breeding than the females will. The most I keep in say a 20l is 3. I have a 40 breeder and a custom cage with a 40 breeder footprint ill be keeping 4-5 in this breeding season. All of my breeding cages are also display tanks. I like to see the animals also.
Cody