So i baught a breeding pair...

[Neill]

Just have a few questions before i dive into this breeding thing. Being totally new owner of 2 females and now getting a SS male and SS female. I am hoping to setup up the female with the other 2 females i have, and the male by himself. I know i will need a separate cage for eggs *plan on making a incubator*. Watched the youtube video on how too. My questions are

1.) How long does an egg take to hatch

2.) Once hatched i would assume he needs to be moved to ANOTHER separate cage. How many for how long can i keep in a (new baby cage) before males get aggressive.

3.) What would a final breeding set up consist of for one breeding pair?

 

[acpart]

1.) How long does an egg take to hatch

2.) Once hatched i would assume he needs to be moved to ANOTHER separate cage. How many for how long can i keep in a (new baby cage) before males get aggressive.

3.) What would a final breeding set up consist of for one breeding pair?

I'll have a go at this:
1. hatch time depends on incubation temp. with lower temp resulting in longer incubation time. I incubate at 80, the low end, and it takes about 9 weeks. Someone else will have to give you higher temp times because I've never done it.

2. Do you mean the baby needs to be moved to a separate cage? I'm not sure what you're referring to. My set-up works like this: eggs in containers in the incubator. When they hatch, clutchmates are moved to a small cage area (I partition my 30" long tanks into 3 sections; other people use tubs in racks). Clutchmates stay together unless one gets bigger than the other in which case I separate or mix and match hatchlings for size. Incubation at low temps like I do results in all females so I have never hatched a male. I would guess that for at least the first 4-8 weeks there wouldn't be a problem with males being together.

3. Many people keep all their geckos individually and "introduce" the male to each female periodically for breeding purposes. I keep my breeding groups together for the whole season. Although a breeding pair can work, it's often better to have 1 male for 2 or more females if you're keeping them together so the male doesn't bother the same female endlessly. I keep 1.2 or 1.3 in a 20 gallon long with an additional heated "upstairs" 12"x12" area. There is 1 laybox per enclosure, multiple hides and 1 water dish. This has worked well for me for 4 seasons.

Remember that you won't be able to keep all the babies in the same cage even if they were all female because they'll be different sizes. Think about tubs or other caging to house multiple hatchlings and how you plan to sell/give away unless you're planning to keep them all.

Good luck,

ALiza