Licking Under the Tail?

[ALGeckos]

Star and Bengal are 8-9 months old and are currently living together in the same enclosure. They were quarantined for over 60 days in separate enclosures. They're both temp sexed and visually sexed females, they don't fight and get along well, they're both about ~58 grams, and both started doing this behavior a few days apart from each other.

Several weeks ago, maybe around mid-January (sorry I just had time to post now), I saw Star with her tail curled up, her head at the lower side of the base - it looked as if that's as close as she could get - and she was licking herself with her eyes closed. I kinda laughed at it, but noticed her do the same thing a couple more times during the week. A couple days later, I caught Bengal doing the same thing. Since then, I haven't seen them doing it.

What does that mean? Are they just cleaning themselves? It was funny at first, but should it be a cause for concern?

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Looks at though they bred and were cleaning themselves. That is 100% normal.

 

[paulnj]

Looks at though they bred and were cleaning themselves. That is 100% normal.

lesbian geckos, is that a new morph?

 

[Leopardbreeder]

lol, I thought Bengal was a girls name. Hmm, they still clean them selves all the time.

 

[ALGeckos]

Hehehe yeah they're both female. They couldn't have bred though since I have no males and I think they may be too young to breed (correct me if I'm wrong because I'd like to know... they have to be over 1 year right?).

I guess they were just cleaning! LOL. It was the first time I've seen it since owning leos since 2003/2004! LOL!!

 

[Alchemy]

lesbian geckos, is that a new morph?

LOL, more like a "nobody's looking maybe I can sneak one off" kinda morph.

My husband asked me about under the tail licking the other night when he caught one in the act. I think it's a hygiene thing rather than anything to do with sex: male/female, female/female, or solitary, lol

 

[paulnj]

I was being a bit funny while pointing out that the 2 geckos are female...

 

[Bodon]

LOL, more like a "nobody's looking maybe I can sneak one off" kinda morph.

!!!!!!!! hahahaha! but seriously, ive seen mine do it once or twice, i think its a cleaning thing.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Hehehe yeah they're both female. They couldn't have bred though since I have no males and I think they may be too young to breed (correct me if I'm wrong because I'd like to know... they have to be over 1 year right?).

I guess they were just cleaning! LOL. It was the first time I've seen it since owning leos since 2003/2004! LOL!!

Leopard Geckos sexually mature about 6-8 months old.

 

[ALGeckos]

paulnj: Hahaha you were You know, your posts always make me smile!

Alchemy: Hahahahaha! Yah seems like a cleaning It's still funny to catch it!

Ccrashca069: Thank you for answering! I appreciate it!

 

[Stitch]

I think it's a hygiene thing rather than anything to do with sex: male/female, female/female, or solitary, lol

The hygiene and sex thing can go hand-in-hand. Every time after my males copulate they clean themselves. I've even seen one clean himself even though the female rejected him.

 

[lucia]

My male just started "cleaning" himself. I've seen him lick under his tail and also lick his side/back a couple times. I've never seen a reptile engage in this behavior. It's so amazing, really. This behavior added to the tail-twitching, stalking, and the fact that they lay around sleeping all day really does make them cat-like!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Ahhhhh... good hygiene! I like that in a gecko!