sexual maturity

[thaveteran]

Does anyone know when female geckos are able to reproduce? I know the weight that you should breed them but at what age are they physically capable of reproducing? I've heard 8 months to a 1 year as the standard but in Daytona this past august a highly respected breeder said he was doing it at 6 months which leads to the question. At what age "can" they physically reproduce?

** I'm referring to females by the way **

 

[dprince]

I personally wouldn't breed them at 6 months of age. It's really hard on the females as it is, and when they're younger......it's harder. (Imagine it's like a 13 year old girl.....just because they can, doesn't mean they should. )I would wait until at least 8-10 months (as long as they were at the proper weight, 50 grams minimum.)

So it is possible.....just not desirable.

 

[BG-Gecko]

If your female gecko weights about 50 grams at 6 months,its possible to breed here to a male,but after that she probably wont gain a lot of weight
I'd wait till she's at least about 8-12 months. At that time she'll be a bit heavier, mature and it makes it just "easier" for her to make it to the end of the breeding season without losing a lot of her reserves

 

[thaveteran]

Ok maybe you misunderstood the question. It has nothing to do with when you "should" breed. I know all that. I'm asking at what age are females able to breed? I can't find a lot of information on that. I breed at 8 months and 55 grams but that isn't the point here. Doesn't anyone want to know when leopard geckos go through the transition and are capable of reproducing?

 

[Ipsl]

Females may lay ten to 16 eggs each season. Fertile eggs feel like stale marshmallows, while infertile eggs look and feel like half-filled balloons. Sexual maturity is reached at ten months, and females stop being reproductive at eight years of age.

quoted from:
http://www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/common/modules/documentcenter2/documentview.asp?DID=1296

Which CLEARLY DOES NOT make sense.
AND

Leopard Geckos become sexually mature at around 10-14 months of age. Females should have a minimum weight of 50 grams to reduce the chance of any complications carrying or laying eggs. Males however do not need to be of any specific weight once sexual maturity is reached (though an obese male may be reluctant to mate).

quoted from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_gecko

Which, also, CLEARLY DOES NOT make sense.

 

[BG-Gecko]

well the thing is, leopard gecko's don't have a certain age when they became "fertile" just like we do, They start getting "fertile" at about 30-40 grams.
So if you can manage a gecko to be 40 grams in 3-4 months you can breed her/him, but I really wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Kimjorg]

We don't breed by age as much as at what weight we feel the female will be able to have a great laying season...We started off thinking like 50 grams (which is fine for some females) but have moved up to the 55-60 gram weight class to ensure that they will not be too skinny while still producing. Some females, like one of our A&M geckos, will lay over 26 eggs a season and need tons of fat storage to be able to make it through the season healthy and producing healthy eggs. Every breeder determines their when their geckos should breed a little differently but all in all I think almost every breeder will tell you a female should not be bred if under 50 grams.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

a highly respected breeder said he was doing it at 6 months

If age was the only factor, then I wouldn't think this breeder would be highly respected at all... at least by other breeders.

But, to answer your question, a female leo could potentially be breedable as soon as she starts ovulating - as early as 6 months/35 grams.

 

[thaveteran]

If age was the only factor, then I wouldn't think this breeder would be highly respected at all... at least by other breeders.

You'd be surprised.

to answer your question, a female leo could potentially be breedable as soon as she starts ovulating - as early as 6 months/35 grams.

Thank you. The guy says he has his animals at 55+ by six months.

Does anyone know at what age females stop ovulating?

 

[Ipsl]

Females may lay ten to 16 eggs each season. Fertile eggs feel like stale marshmallows, while infertile eggs look and feel like half-filled balloons. Sexual maturity is reached at ten months, and females stop being reproductive at eight years of age.
quoted from:
http://www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/common/modules/documentcenter2/documentview.asp?DID=1296

Which CLEARLY DOES NOT make sense.
AND

Leopard Geckos become sexually mature at around 10-14 months of age. Females should have a minimum weight of 50 grams to reduce the chance of any complications carrying or laying eggs. Males however do not need to be of any specific weight once sexual maturity is reached (though an obese male may be reluctant to mate).

quoted from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_gecko

Which, also, CLEARLY DOES NOT make sense.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

You'd be surprised.

Not much surprises me anymore.

The guy says he has his animals at 55+ by six months.

Perhaps. I have had several that reach that weight by 6 months, too (without power-feeding). I am curious what this breeder's longetivity/mortality rate is for his breeding females.

Does anyone know at what age females stop ovulating?

Studies by Philippe de Vosjoli, and Dr. Brian Viets suggest that at females stop ovulating at around 12 years of age.

 

[Ipsl]

Man I just cant catch a break on this one!!! Well at least I got the info for the UPS shipping right. lol

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Jerome, you were not wrong... females DO stop being "productive" at around 8 years of age, with egg production declining each year until they stop ovulating completely.

 

[thaveteran]

I am curious what this breeder's longetivity/mortality rate is for his breeding females.

Now that I cannot tell you. I find so little "real" information on leopard geckos it's hard to learn the things I really want to know. Everything is based off of what breeders have self learned over the years. I read Philippe de Vosjoli and Trempers book but still I want something that goes a little deeper. The book was great though.