Introducing new leo to existing pair in new home?

[CaliforniaPlaya]

I've been wanting to get some leos for a while and have been given the opportunity to adopt a pair of healthy leos, male & female approximately 3 years old. They are currently in a (too small) 10 gallon enclosure and get along together fine. I have a 40 that I am in the process of setting up for them. I would like to add an additional 1 or 2 (no more) females. I do not plan on breeding at this time while I'm learning about them, but may consider it in the future. Should the male become too aggressive, I would separate him. I realize they may or may not get along and they need to be watched. Is there a preferred way to do this so there are better chances of them getting along?

If I introduce all 3 or 4 of them to their new home at the same time, the environment and things in it would be new to all of them, so perhaps less of a chance of being territorial. But maybe also more stress on all of them. I'm thinking this may be the best way.

If I introduce the pair first and let them get used to it, and then introduce a new one(s), this may be less stressful on the pair, but they may be more territorial.

If I introduce the new one(s) first and then the pair, perhaps the pair may 'gang up' on anything living in their environment or the new ones become territorial.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks and Happy New Year!

 

[Reborn]

Well im not for housing a male with females perminately just because the mating part. But i have had no problem housing multipule females together. Right now i have a group of 4, 2 groups of 3, and a group of 2. Its a matter of knowing the personalities, knowing what to watch for, and ofcourse elimiating the need to fight over food(i hand feed) I never house dominates with dominates because that would obviosuly lead to fights. If one females dominate then i house her with less dominate girls(sweet girls<3) there is no fighting for heat or anything as providing enough hides is key there. I make cardboard hides for mine that have mulitiple places to hide in while still being on the heat. If you can eliminate the need/reason TO fight then there will be no fights. I dunno how well a male would work there. I house a male with 3 females for a time(breeding) and after a month i desided to pull him as a female had stopped eating. This male was a sub-adult and he was a frist timer so i let him stay for a bit longer. Its paid off as my females are now having eggs<3 and so far all are good!(females were first timers too).

When i introduce a new female i take the hide out(hoem made one) and put her right by the dominate girl. Either shes gonna allow her or not. I dont whipe the cages clean or change anything. If the boss girl says she can stay she stays. Ive had One time where the boss female didnt allow the one female so i pulled her and put her somewhere else. It was a simple tail nip i didnt allow it to go any farther. Watching for such signs is the key. I think if you put them all together at one time then it should be fine vs 2 groups of 2. The male probably will start trying to mate with them so watch him closely. He could seriously damage them. Best of luck!

 

[roger]

I am totally against having mutiple leos in one enclosure.Too many injuries can happen maybe not right away

 

[GothicGurrrl]

When i introduce a new female i take the hide out(hoem made one) and put her right by the dominate girl. Either shes gonna allow her or not. I dont whipe the cages clean or change anything. If the boss girl says she can stay she stays. Ive had One time where the boss female didnt allow the one female so i pulled her and put her somewhere else. It was a simple tail nip i didnt allow it to go any farther. Watching for such signs is the key. I think if you put them all together at one time then it should be fine vs 2 groups of 2. The male probably will start trying to mate with them so watch him closely. He could seriously damage them. Best of luck!

I am currently doing a bit of research about housing leos together.. because i'm going to purchase a new leo in a couple of months. I will have a spare vivarium when i move my current leo into my 20 or 25 gallon tank (im not sure about the size)... but I was considering getting another female to house with my girl... and then I could get a male to go in the spare vivarium. I'm just very worried about housing together :/

sooo.. if i decide to house the females together.. ( my female will be already living in her new tank and I will have the spare vivarium set up for the new leo) how would I introduce them? I've never seen my leo around other leos soo i don't know if she would be dominant or anything :/

 

[roger]

I am currently doing a bit of research about housing leos together.. because i'm going to purchase a new leo in a couple of months. I will have a spare vivarium when i move my current leo into my 20 or 25 gallon tank (im not sure about the size)... but I was considering getting another female to house with my girl... and then I could get a male to go in the spare vivarium. I'm just very worried about housing together :/

sooo.. if i decide to house the females together.. ( my female will be already living in her new tank and I will have the spare vivarium set up for the new leo) how would I introduce them? I've never seen my leo around other leos soo i don't know if she would be dominant or anything :/

IMO putting 2 leos together is like sand impaction.In the short term its ok but in the long term it could injure your gecko.Why take the chance

 

[Reborn]

Well first get to know your leo some cant be housed together, ever. I do have a lone female who just hates every living thing...Minus meXD Other things she hates. I like to introduce them as younger geckos. The one that doesnt like others is a adult female i bought off craigslist, she was never housed/been around other geckos(she hates males too) so she just dont get along with anything. The others however i "established" as juvies/babies. I normally dont recommened housing together, as roger mentioned, things could go wrong if your not watching them VERY carefully. It would be "easier" to house alone but mine are in 45+ gallon, in relistic(LOL as they can be with them hides) set ups. But thats off track. Introduce them on nuteral ground first. See if one takes bad interst in another. Watch for signs of dominace, bullying. If no signs are shown then place them in the cage and watch them for a good while. I normally watch mine for a good hour or more just to make sure. If there gonna fight it'll be fairly quick so be ready to break up a fight if one starts. Like dogs its not as simple as just putting them together and hoping they get along. You will also wanna consider hand feeding. I never allow the crickets to run off to far. I dont want 2 going after the same one(normally feed one at a time but if a geckos super hungry i'll feed 2 or 3) With enough hides, enough food, and having the ablitiy to have time alone i think makes it easier. But yes ALWAYS have a extra tank. There not mammals and something could go wrong quickly. If you dont know your female then get to know her better and see how she is. Also its less stressful if you dont get albinos. With the light issues its easier on them not to be put into a group AND deal with lights. key to success: dont allow a reason for a fight.

Roger- Why take the risk? I personally dont house my geckos in tubs and like viewing them. Now having 20 geckos means having 20 10 or 20 gallon tanks. Thats a ton of tanks! We made a custom cage for ours. Its more realistic and not as much of a eye sore as a rack. I personally feel the risk of a fight(even tho its small) is worth viewing my animals in a realistic set up. They've been like this for quite a while and i have yet to have a issue. Again tho i dont recommened it for just that reason. I take precations to make sure everyones happy and stress free.

 

[roger]

Well first get to know your leo some cant be housed together, ever. I do have a lone female who just hates every living thing...Minus meXD Other things she hates. I like to introduce them as younger geckos. The one that doesnt like others is a adult female i bought off craigslist, she was never housed/been around other geckos(she hates males too) so she just dont get along with anything. The others however i "established" as juvies/babies. I normally dont recommened housing together, as roger mentioned, things could go wrong if your not watching them VERY carefully. It would be "easier" to house alone but mine are in 45+ gallon, in relistic(LOL as they can be with them hides) set ups. But thats off track. Introduce them on nuteral ground first. See if one takes bad interst in another. Watch for signs of dominace, bullying. If no signs are shown then place them in the cage and watch them for a good while. I normally watch mine for a good hour or more just to make sure. If there gonna fight it'll be fairly quick so be ready to break up a fight if one starts. Like dogs its not as simple as just putting them together and hoping they get along. You will also wanna consider hand feeding. I never allow the crickets to run off to far. I dont want 2 going after the same one(normally feed one at a time but if a geckos super hungry i'll feed 2 or 3) With enough hides, enough food, and having the ablitiy to have time alone i think makes it easier. But yes ALWAYS have a extra tank. There not mammals and something could go wrong quickly. If you dont know your female then get to know her better and see how she is. Also its less stressful if you dont get albinos. With the light issues its easier on them not to be put into a group AND deal with lights. key to success: dont allow a reason for a fight.

Roger- Why take the risk? I personally dont house my geckos in tubs and like viewing them. Now having 20 geckos means having 20 10 or 20 gallon tanks. Thats a ton of tanks! We made a custom cage for ours. Its more realistic and not as much of a eye sore as a rack. I personally feel the risk of a fight(even tho its small) is worth viewing my animals in a realistic set up. They've been like this for quite a while and i have yet to have a issue. Again tho i dont recommened it for just that reason. I take precations to make sure everyones happy and stress free.

Reborn-i dont take the risk thats why i house my leos individually

 

[fuzzylogix]

whether or not you decide to house them together is ultimately up to you. but no matter what you decide, please make sure you quarantine the new gecko before introducing them. i have housed up to 6 females together in a 100 gallon tank before with no issues, but then again i've had to seperate a pair of young females in one of my tubs because of fighting. as with any wild animal they are unpredictable. you can have two leos together for a year doing fine, and then one day have to seperate them because of aggression. if you do decide to house multiple geckos together, keep a very close eye out for signs of trouble. bite marks, missing tails, nipped toes or tail tips, etc..

 

[Reborn]

whether or not you decide to house them together is ultimately up to you. but no matter what you decide, please make sure you quarantine the new gecko before introducing them. i have housed up to 6 females together in a 100 gallon tank before with no issues, but then again i've had to seperate a pair of young females in one of my tubs because of fighting. as with any wild animal they are unpredictable. you can have two leos together for a year doing fine, and then one day have to seperate them because of aggression. if you do decide to house multiple geckos together, keep a very close eye out for signs of trouble. bite marks, missing tails, nipped toes or tail tips, etc..

Just to add to the signs, Also watch for one eating less, staying on the cool side, and just acting odd in general. I havent had a issue yet but you never know. If one female is stay on the cool side and eating very little thats a good sign that there was a fight and thats the loser female whos stressed out.