I put my leopard geckos together and..

[Byrns149]

so i just put my male and female together for the 1st time and the female kinda shook her tail and nipped at the male. was this defensive or????. I seperated them because i didnt want anything to happen to the male.

 

[katie_]

so i just put my male and female together for the 1st time and the female kinda shook her tail and nipped at the male. was this defensive or????. I seperated them because i didnt want anything to happen to the male.

I'm a newbie when it comes to breeding geckos too...
I would seperate them until youve done some more research

 

[Byrns149]

I'm a newbie when it comes to breeding geckos too...
I would seperate them until youve done some more research

I have never seen this with my other geckos

 

[ForTozs]

It is totally normal for a male to bite the females tail, back, and neck. Normally this should cause minimal damage to the female. If they are actually mating, she should be fine. Just make sure he's not harassing her when she's not ready. Tail rattling is normal behavior as well as the male rubbing his belly on the ground.

Edit: Sorry. I totally missed your question. I have only seen this once and I did the same as you and separated them. Can't really say if that was the right thing or not.

 

[katie_]

I have never seen this with my other geckos

Neither have I

 

[OnlineGeckos]

If she shook her tail and bite the male, she's saying no, go away. You did the right thing by separating them, because she would totally rough the male up good. Or worse, the male gets dumbheaded and goes for it over and over, and the two end up fighting and injuring each other.

 

[LeopardShade]

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=83991

Is this male the "new male" you mentioned in this thread ^ that you wanted to breed?

 

[Dimidiata]

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=83991

Is this male the "new male" you mentioned in this thread ^ that you wanted to breed?

Why do i get the feeling it is, wich means once again nobody ever listens to us -_-. If not then how long have you had this male?, I would halt breeding until you learn more about the gecko behaviours. Now, lets see if you dont respond to this thread.

 

[Russellm0704]

Why do i get the feeling it is, wich means once again nobody ever listens to us -_-. If not then how long have you had this male?, I would halt breeding until you learn more about the gecko behaviours. Now, lets see if you dont respond to this thread.

it's hilarious when people dont get the answer they want they dissapear. But if one person gives a wrong answer after 20 have given the correct answer, the person will quote that person and say "thanks, i'm gonna go with that". Why cant everyone just enjoy their geckos for the first few years? From what i have gathered through research from many reputable sites, and from some of the biggest breeders here on geckoforums, breeding is a huge expense, a huge responsibility, and poses many risks. So why don't we just leave the breeding to the experts and let them produce all the amazing morphs that we see today. If you are learning step by step to breed sometime in the far future then i think that is great. But, we don't see this too often anymore. Just my two cents.

 

[RampantReptiles]

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=83991

Is this male the "new male" you mentioned in this thread ^ that you wanted to breed?

/sigh
http://www.geckosetc.com/health.html

 

[LeoTyreal]

i have to agree with a little bit of each. i think that is the females way of saying no. separating them was the right thing. if she is ovulating she will either lay dud eggs or re absorb them (or so ive heard) and then go on their merry way. but give her time and grow the male up some if it is the one you mentioned in the post that was linked above. she could just not be ready for the rest of the breeding process yet even if she is producing eggs. wait till later in the season. if you really are legit about the breeding. but id say wait till next season when you know they are fully fully mature. use the time to get them used to each other. but keep them in separate tanks thru the process after giving them a little together time. otherwise you run the risk like was mentioned of the female really rocking his world and hurting him when your out of the house for the day. give it time. like anything it all takes time....also use the time to ask questions and read up on peoples tricks and tips of things to do and try. just another 2 cents added here

 

[LeopardShade]

it's hilarious when people dont get the answer they want they dissapear.

I wouldn't exactly say that. I don't particularly find it hilarious knowing that somewhere out there, some gecko(s) could be suffering because the owner didn't get the answers they wanted. It's frustrating, yes, but mostly just sad. Very very sad.

 

[Byrns149]

This gecko came from a breeder i 100% trust, i have talked with him many times, and i have purchased many other geckos from him. This gecko has been eating great and acting completely fine for 2 weeks. I asked what it means when my gecko does this. Im not looking for bashing.

 

[Dimidiata]

Its not bashing, its lecturing. You will recive it. Nobody cares how well you know this breeder, a good breeder will reccomend that you QT their animal.

 

[LeopardShade]

This gecko has been eating great and acting completely fine for 2 weeks.

It doesn't matter how great the gecko is acting or how healthy it seems, a risk of possible disease is still there, and that risk is very real and very dangerous. All involved with the male are at risk of possible infection at this point, since you've apparently put him in with a female already. That risk may seem virtually nonexistent if the gecko is acting great, but you never know.

]Im not looking for bashing.

We're all here because we care about the health and wellbeing of these animals. It doesn't matter what question you asked, if we feel that someone is jeopardizing the health of a gecko, we will address the situation to ensure the gecko can live a long and prosperous life. Don't think of it as bashing, think of it as looking out for the animal's health.

Quarantining is not something that should be overlooked, it is an essential step in acclimating new geckos, especially for breeding purposes like yours. Quite frankly and honestly, I'd say you're nowhere near ready to breed these geckos if you didn't already know about this mandatory step.

Putting that male in was a big mistake. Remove him immediately and please, quarantine him in his own enclosure for the next 60-90 days!

 

[30secondstobob]

I'd like to know who decides who should breed their geckos and who shouldn't? What gecko gods gave you the right? I've seen quite a bit of criticism of new, enthuiastic, leo owners in the few short weeks I've belonged to this forum, for no other reason than someone wanting to breed them. Include myself in this list. Did everyone here begin as experts on the subject? Just because we don't have 5,000 posts or 20 years of experience doesn't mean we haven't done extensive research or provide excellent care for our animals. Sometimes you just want to get a second or third opinion. Healthy animals in breeding condition WANT to breed. It is instinctive and natural. As long as neither animal is being over exherted, depleated or harmed, what's the harm in letting them breed? Also, anyone who willingly breeds geckos with genetically inherent neurological disorders (enigmas) should never criticize anyone for anything IMO. I could care less if anyone does - just don't act like you're better than the average newbie who may make an occasional mistake. No intentions to offend anyone in particular, just stating what's on my mind at the moment. Bob

 

[LeopardShade]

Healthy animals in breeding condition WANT to breed. It is instinctive and natural. As long as neither animal is being over exherted, depleated or harmed, what's the harm in letting them breed?

The problem here is that no one, not even the OP, can presently know if one of his breeding animals is healthy or not because he didn't follow proper quarantine to be certain of optimum health. Introducing an animal that could potentially be harboring a health problem is an extremely risky move. If that animal turned out to be ill, it could have a devastating effect on the geckos and geckos involved.

 

[Owens]

^.^ No one is telling the OP not to breed, they are just telling the OP to take all proper steps needed to breed. So some people on here may not sugar coat their post, endangering an animals life is not something that will be taken to lightly by most of the people on this forum and we as a community will state what is recommended/needed for a healthy, happy little friend.

 

[katie_]

. Healthy animals in breeding condition WANT to breed. It is instinctive and natural.

I agree with this. This is why I spay and neutered my dogs and cats.
If only we could spay and neuter our leopards...

 

[M_surinamensis]

I'd like to know who decides who should breed their geckos and who shouldn't? What gecko gods gave you the right?

"Everybody has opinions: I have them, you have them. And we are all told from the moment we open our eyes, that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Well, that’s horsepuckey, of course. We are not entitled to our opinions; we are entitled to our informed opinions. Without research, without background, without understanding, it’s nothing." - Harlan Ellison

There are a host of related but not-quite-identical factors that go into holding an informed opinion; experience, education, wisdom, investment, perspective, knowledge. These can be somewhat ambiguously defined and difficult to quantify, we have no standard measurements to identify a quantity of wisdom or insight. It is however undeniable that some people, through a combination of contributing factors, have more of it than others on a given subject.

People who know more than others decide who should and shouldn't breed their geckos. People who have experience and an education that allows them to predict the outcome, to weigh the risks and know in advance if it is objectively a good idea or a bad idea.

People who have a greater investment in the entire captive population of the species decide who should and shouldn't breed their geckos. People that will end up dealing with the fallout of poorly considered pairings. People who will face ramifications when diseases or genetic defects are allowed spread through the population. People who's businesses and hobby are affected when irresponsible production replaces their positive contributions in the market and in the public perception.

There is an enormous difference between should, shouldn't, can and can't.

If the question is "should someone breed a gecko with no quarantine, no experience, no knowledge or forethought about the behaviors involved, no awareness of what it entails and no plan?" then the answer is no. No, they should not. If they get extraordinarily lucky, then it might turn out alright, but the risk and probability for a negative outcome far outweighs the positive. Breeding on a whim is a stupid thing, done by impetuous, selfish people.

If the question is "can someone breed a gecko with no quarantine, no experience, no knowledge or forethought about the behaviors involved, no awareness of what it entails and no plan?" then the answer is yes. Of course they can. They own the geckos, they are responsible for their own reputation, they can do whatever idiotic thing they want if they're willing to accept the risks and consequences. They just shouldn't expect any help or sympathy when it goes horribly wrong after they ignored the well reasoned advice of those who know better. They also shouldn't expect to have a good reputation if their practices are known.

Which only peripherally touches on the subject of the suffering and risk to the involved animals.

Bad habits, bad decisions, irresponsibility; these should not be condoned under a banner of personal choice because the repercussions are not isolated. When someone does something ill-considered, it's not just them that is affected. It messes with my pets, it messes with my ability to communicate with the public, it messes with my ability to sell and even own an animal. It also messes with yours. With everyone who has responded to this thread, everyone who is registered on this site, everyone who has ever owned a reptile and everyone who ever might want to do so. Raindrops landing on the surface of a river and all that, each seems inconsequential by itself but they add up and then the dam breaks.

TLDR version- I do. I decide who should and shouldn't breed their geckos. When someone asks me if I am a God, I say, "Yes."