Proper breeding age for males?

[quinnman999]

I have recently bought a 5 month old male and was wondering how long I had to wait before breeding him. I tried to find an answer but every source told me something different.

 

[acpart]

You're going to hear different things because people will have different opinions. I wouldn't breed a male younger than 9 months. You could always average the ages/weights and go with that.

Aliza

 

[mtmountainman]

Is there any harm in breeding them young, other than infertile eggs?

 

[katie_]

Males can fast during breeding and lose a lot of weight. Age isnt important, you'll want him to be at least 50 grams, more like 60 in my opinion.

 

[stager]

I only have one male who will fast even when not breeding in the presence of a female. My others only temperture drops and less sunlight slow there eating. I would say nine months would be fine just monitor that he is eating. But females can drop lots of weight bredding some do some don't but for the chance they might get em nice and fat first.

 

[acpart]

The only other problem with breeding a male too young is that he may not yet be reliably fertile.

Aliza

 

[steve_gecko23]

the not eating part is true i bought a male who was bred before i bought him and he was only 32 grams.. now he is with me and wont eat, does any one how long the not eating will take

 

[mtmountainman]

the not eating part is true i bought a male who was bred before i bought him and he was only 32 grams.. now he is with me and wont eat, does any one how long the not eating will take

It most likely isn't eating because of the stress of moving, not from being bred. It might take a few days to get comfortable and start eating.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Is there any harm in breeding them young, other than infertile eggs?

Breeding them early tends to stunt their growth a bit. Male leopard geckos often stop eating when they start mating. And we all know leopard geckos do most of their growth during the first year. So if you breed them early, they may not be growing to their potential and it's no telling how long it'll be before they'll eat normally again. The breeding season can last for 6-8 months out of a year, so that's a long time if you have a male that refuse to eat for any duration while they're young.

You have to use your discretion, and always put the gecko's health ahead of your own ambitions. I usually wait until 9-11 months, longer if they're a giant/super giant.

 

[Kristi23]

Since many breeders don't list hatch dates, I usually go by weight . I try to wait until 60 grams for both males and females. If I know the age, I usually wait until around 8 months. I notice that they seem to be sexually mature around 6 months old though.

 

[steve_gecko23]

It most likely isn't eating because of the stress of moving, not from being bred. It might take a few days to get comfortable and start eating.

its been three weeks

 

[mtmountainman]

Sometimes the stress causes the geckos to take longer than a few days to start up eating after shipping. I am just saying that breeding is probably not the only reason the gecko is not feeding. All of my males have been breeding and still eating like pigs.

 

[rossg93]

very useful information :main_thumbsup:

 

[steve_gecko23]

Sometimes the stress causes the geckos to take longer than a few days to start up eating after shipping. I am just saying that breeding is probably not the only reason the gecko is not feeding. All of my males have been breeding and still eating like pigs.

yea i understand but thuis gecko wasnt even shipped i picked him up

 

[Samantha12]

There might be something wrong with the enclosure temps. Are you using an undertank heater? Is the gecko living alone? My male, who won't breed anyway, will stop eating when I put a female in with him for too long. Or, as suggested, he could still be adjusting to the new environment