If you enjoy breeding leopard geckos or happen to have both female and male leopard geckos, then getting to know whether your pet is pregnant or not can be a daunting task. After all, with the recent domestication of these lizards, there’s relatively little knowledge of how to determine when a female leopard gecko is pregnant. Well, there are tell-tale signs and behaviors that can indicate that a female leopard gecko is pregnant.
So, what are the signs to tell that your leopard Gecko is pregnant? There are 5 signs that can tell whether your leopard Gecko is pregnant and these include:
1. Being less active
2. Swelling of the abdomen
3. Lack of eating
4. Slow movement
5. Thin tail
While these are some of the most common signs, there may be other signs that will indicate that a female leopard gecko is pregnant. It’s important to get a good grasp of these common signs that could indicate a gecko is pregnant as any complications during their pregnancy can then be easily picked up and further medical attention sought should the concern be worrying.
Pregnancy is very physically stressful for a female leopard gecko, and this is evident from the signs. Therefore, getting through the pregnancy can be overwhelming for both the female leopard gecko and the pet owner. Here are some of the indicators that your leopard gecko is pregnant.
Being Less Active
As with any other expectant living creature, a gecko will naturally feel less active when it’s pregnant. More often, the gecko will prefer to spend a lot of time lying at the warm end of the vivarium.
Swelling of the abdomen
Naturally, the eggs grow within the female’s body. Unlike many other animals, female leopard geckos usually grow two eggs at a time, which are often laid 2-5 weeks after mating, depending on different factors. The abdomen’s swelling is generally due to the two eggs that can be felt with a touch.
Lack of eating
If you notice that your female leopard gecko has lost its appetite, chances are that it is pregnant. Mostly, lack of appetite is because the two eggs occupy a more significant part of its abdomen; thus, they have little room for food.
Slow Movement
A gecko will experience slow movement when it’s pregnant. Coupled with the fact that your gecko will be carrying two eggs and the fact that it will gain weight over time, don’t be surprised if your gecko experiences difficulty moving.
Thin Tail
This tail is generally because your gecko isn’t feeding well. Lack of appetite means that your gecko will feed less, leading to a thin body, with the tail being most evident.
How Long is a Leopard Gecko Pregnant For?
Typically, the Leopard Gecko is native to Indian and Pakistan regions. A male leopard gecko will always attain 10 to 12 inches long, with females reaching up to 7 to 10 inches. While general information about leopard geckos is standard, information such as how long the gestation period for a leopard gecko is not standard.
So, how long is a leopard gecko pregnant for? Once a female and male leopard gecko breed successfully, you can expect the female gecko to lay eggs between 2- 5 weeks, depending on different factors. From mating to when the eggs are laid, the total pregnancy time is between 22 and 35 days, making it one of the shortest gestation periods. It’s important to remember that even after laying the first batch of eggs, the female will continue to lay a clutch of eggs every two to three weeks over the four or five-month period.
Usually, the female will lay eggs in the egg-laying box that you place in the terrarium. When it comes to the actual laying box, ensure to keep the design simple enough. At the same time, keep in mind that the container should be made of plastic with moist sphagnum moss or vermiculite complete with an entry hole to the side. Once the eggs are laid, take caution to carefully take them out and transfer them into an already prepared incubation tray. When all the eggs are placed in the incubation tray, take care not to roll the eggs. They should maintain their original position always.
How Do I Know if My Leopard Gecko Is Ovulating?
If you have a pet, you’ve probably been in a situation where you wonder whether your pet companion is pregnant or not. It can quickly become confusing for a beginner leopard gecko owner to determine whether your gecko is pregnant or merely gaining weight. However, the only way to know whether your gecko is pregnant is to know when and how it ovulates.
So, how do I know if my leopard gecko is ovulating? Determining whether your leopard gecko is ovulating can be challenging. In a bid to better understand the signs, it’s worth remembering that geckos always start their ovulation cycle in January and end around June or July. During this time, you will notice several behaviors and eating changes on your female leopard gecko.
However, this is always the case with younger leopard geckos. Ideally, female leopard geckos that are not matured are on a different cycle and will start to ovulate once they are about 8-12 months old. Some of the most common signs of ovulation in a leopard gecko are visible eggs, swollen abdomen, lack of appetite, and slow movements.
Common Signs of Ovulation in Leopard Geckos
Just like any other female living creature, once a leopard gecko starts to ovulate, it means that it is ready for breeding. During this time, a female leopard gecko can quickly begin to produce eggs. While some of these signs are synonymous with a pregnant gecko, it’s important to note that you cannot solely rely on signs to determine if the leopard gecko is pregnant. Therefore, it’s essential to look for more than two signs to ascertain pregnancy.
Swollen Abdomen
Although leopard geckos don’t gain weight during ovulation, their abdomen can quickly get swollen. This is entirely symmetrical because leopard geckos usually lay clutches of eggs in groups of twos. Since it can be utterly challenging to determine whether the gecko is gaining weight or merely with eggs, you can press the gecko’s stomach to feel their eggs.
Lack of Appetite
Lack of appetite is another common indicator that your gecko is ovulating. During this time, your leopard gecko will often start to eat less or completely stop eating after the early days of pregnancy. The main reason why this happens is not that the gecko doesn’t want to eat, but it’s mainly because the space in their stomachs and digestive system has limited space as the eggs grow.
Even so, you can feed your gecko as usual, but you shouldn’t be surprised if your leopard gecko fails to eat as much as the recommended amount. You can also notice your leopard gecko’s tail during ovulation, which is mainly caused by a lack of appetite.
How Many Eggs Does a Gecko Lay at One Time?
Geckos are not only lovely creatures, but they are also fun to watch. Of these cold-blooded creatures, the most common pet geckos are the leopard geckos, known for their docility and hardness.
So, how many eggs does a gecko lay at one time? The vast majority of geckos are Oviparous, meaning that they reproduce using laying eggs. Since leopard geckos often lay eggs clutches, they lay two eggs at a time.
Although some species reproduce only once or twice per year, some, like leopard geckos, produce up to 4 to 6 clutches per year. In the wild, the females often deposit their eggs in protected locations under rocks, tree barks, and logs. However, the eggs are swiftly taken to an incubation chamber for pet leopard geckos after they are hatched.
Typically, leopard gecko eggs are white and sticky, with a pliable softshell that naturally hardens immediately when exposed to air. Depending on the gecko species, the eggs usually incubate for 30-80 days before they are hatched into any baby geckos.
Finally
Just like in any other pets, pregnancy in leopard geckos can be utterly stressful and worrisome for many pet owners. However, with enough knowledge of how their physiological bodies work, taking care of your target leopard gecko doesn’t need to be complicated. Before delving into gecko breeding, it is highly recommended that you educate yourself on the geckos ovulate and how they get gravid.
