How to know if your Leopard gecko is male or female?
As a leopard gecko owner, it is very important to know the gender of your leopard gecko. This is so that you can maintain a happy environment and they can live for a long time. When you keep two male leopard geckos in the same tank, they will fight and torment each other but when you keep two female leopard geckos, they live very happily.
It is almost impossible to identify the gender of juvenile Leopard geckos. This is because you can only tell their gender when they are about 6 months or above. In adults, you can tell if they are male or female by looking at certain parts.
What is the best way to identify the gender of an adult Leopard gecko?
There is no doubt that it is incredibly difficult to find a gender for a leopard gecko. There are so many people who are worried about how to find the gender of leopard geckos in their homes. However, you don't need to be concerned because we are here to offer you two methods of finding the gender of your leopard geckos.
- By their Biological Difference
- By their Physical Difference
In the following sections, we will provide you with an overview of these two methods:
By their Biological Difference
You will learn about the differences between female and male geckos by looking at their body parts and their sex parts in the biological differences section.
Preanal Pores
Preanal pores are located above the vent of leopard geckos. They are usually arranged in a V-shaped pattern of dots in the vent and front of their cloaca.
- In Males- Preanal Pores are prominent and visible in male Leopard geckos.
- In Females- The preanal pores of a female Leopard gecko are barely visible, and you cannot see them with your naked eyes.
Hemipenual Bulges
Hemipenulous bulges in leopard geckos are located at the tail's base behind the cloaca and beneath the preanal pores.
- In Males- It is found in male Leopard geckos and These bulges are a reproductive organ of a male gecko that comes out only during the mating process.
- In Females- Female Leopard geckos do not have bulges like males.
Femoral pores
Leopard gecko's femoral pores are chevron-patterned pores located on its hind legs' inner thighs. These pores secrete pheromones.
- In Males- The Femoral pores are clearly visible on male Leopard geckos. They secrete waxy substances to attract a mate and help them to distinguish from each other.
- In females- The femoral pores of leopard geckos are very small and difficult to see.
It is possible to see the above organs of a Leopard gecko by gently handling it or by putting it in a transparent box which will give you a clearer view of them.
By their Physical Difference
It is also possible to identify the gender of your leopard gecko based on the physical characteristics of the animal, such as its behavior, structure, etc.
The below table will help you to get a better understanding of the physical characteristics of male and female Leopard geckos, including the differences between them.
| Male gecko | Female Gecko |
|---|---|
| The average lifespan of male gecko is 10-20 years | The average lifespan of female gecko is 6-10 years |
| Their behavior is aggressive | Their behavior is Docile |
| They eat more food than female geckos | They eat less food than the male gecko |
| A male gecko lives longer and healthier life than a female | The female gecko lives less than the male gecko and is less healthy |
| Male geckos don't get sick if they receive proper care and food | In female geckos Ovulation cause them to become small, sick, and stop eating. |
Is it okay to keep male and female Leopards together?
No, it is not okay to keep a male and a female Leopard gecko together since as you are aware male Leopard geckos are very aggressive. They can bully a female Leopard gecko, which can lead to injury or stress and can result in health problems in female Geckos.
It is recommended to keep them only together during the breeding season to avoid any problems.
Which pair of geckos is appropriate if I only have one tank?
If you only have one tank and you want to keep two leopard geckos in that tank. It is important that leopard geckos are protected from bullies and do not encounter problems.
You will find below two pairs of leopard geckos that you can keep together without having any problems at all.
- Female and Baby leopard gecko.
- Female and Female leopard gecko.
Note- As you know, male leopard geckos are known to bully other geckos. Therefore, you should keep them in separate tanks instead of keeping them with females, babies, and other male leopard geckos.
Why should gecko owners know their gecko's gender?
It is important to know the gender of your leopard gecko. This is because you will be able to prevent problems in the future if you determine the gender of your leopard gecko. For example
- If you know the gender of your leopard gecko, you will not be able to keep a male leopard gecko with another leopard gecko, etc.
- There is a difference in the way male and female Leopard geckos act. Their health issues are also different so if you know their gender, you should treat them accordingly.