Normal behaviour??

[dim&shell]

I bought 2 babies about 3 months ago (from the same hatchling) and they are about 5 months old now, I am planning to separate them and put the female (as I am pretty sure they are male and female) into a separate tank, which I already have a female in (the mack snow I bought yesterday) but am keeping her in quarantine for 60 days as recommended.

Anyway, I noticed that the "male" (which is quoted because unsure) has been laying his belly a lot in his water bowl for long periods of time, and also noticed that the "female" has been spending a lot of time in her moist hide, I also noticed the other day the "male" looking like he was chasing the "female" (only for a second or so) and the "female" ran away - these are my first geckos and not sure if this is normal behaviour - really don't want them to breed but I am not able to separate them for 60 days, as mentioned above.

 

[fallen_angel]

Do you know how much they both weigh or do you have a gram or kilogram scale that you could weigh them with? I don't think a male would attempt breeding at the size of 20 grams, but may attempt breeding at the size of 30 grams.. but I am not really sure. Is there any way that you could get another tank for the time being just to be safe?

Also, can you post pics? We may be able to help you figure out what sex the two of them are. Also, if you put them next to something that everyone knows the size of (like a Sharpie for example, or just anything that has a specific size) for comparison, maybe we could guess about how much they weigh.

 

[dim&shell]

Right I would say that Winston (the male) is about 30-40 grams at least, and Leeroy (the female) is about 25-30 grams, I have not been able to take them both out to do it as Winston is quite feisty and just escapes and runs riot lol, I have had a look at Winston from the side and he has clear bulges. I don't have a temporary tank unfortunately and just spent £250 on a tank for the 2 females to go into in 60 days so can't afford another tank?

I know that Winston must be quite large at 5 months old and I'm thinking the same - the guy never stops eating (or growing!!)

 

[fallen_angel]

Could you possibly partition the tank that you just bought, just divide it into two sections so that you can house all of them seperately? I am afraid that those two could very well breed/try to breed.

 

[SleepyDee]

I have had a look at Winston from the side and he has clear bulges. I don't have a temporary tank unfortunately and just spent £250 on a tank for the 2 females to go into in 60 days so can't afford another tank?

if you can't seperate the tank as suggested by fallen_angel then I'd recommend buying a large plastic Faunarium (about £15 from most pet and rep shops) or even a suitable sized RUB and using that as a temporary home for the male.
If he's left in with the female then you could well end up with a gravid female who is neither old enough or big enough to breed and/or a stressed/ill female because of the male pestering to mate

 

[dim&shell]

BTW just as an update... We weighed Winston last night and he weights 52 grams!! Big boy - also checked his sex and we're 99% sure he's a male. We couldn't get Leeroy out as she was having none of it, but will try again tonight

Thanks SleepyDee, we will have a look around for a plastic Faunarium, I didn't know you could get them, and we really can't afford to buy yet another tank just yet. Will keep you updated

 

[RepBex]

If your Really Stuck since ur in the Uk Argos Sells small plastic tanks for £10

 

[Mel&Keith]

Maybe these pics will make you 100% sure.

male

female

Your boy is definitely big enough to be breeding and a lot of females start ovulating at 25-30g especially if a male is around. It would be a good idea to at least figure out a way to divide the tank.