Click to Skip Ahead
So, you have decided that the leopard gecko is your next vivarium pet. After all, there is so much to love, including their spotted skin and thick tail. You may even want two (they’re just so cute!), but you’re not sure if it’s okay to house them together.
To get right to the point: You should probably not house two leopard geckos together, except in the case of breeding. Even then, they should only be together for a short while. We gathered information from real leopard gecko owners and other experts here to help explain why.
When It’s Not Okay to Have Two Leopard Geckos Together
Even though they look like they are smiling when they look at you, leopard geckos are solitary creatures that enjoy their alone time, and they can get extremely territorial. Although they are curious when it comes to people, when another leopard gecko enters their area, they know exactly what’s going on and will usually immediately go into defense mode.
This is truer for male leopard geckos than it is for females. The male geckos have a bigger head and tail. They also have a different pore pattern than females. Male leopard geckos will almost always fight if housed together, and they can injure or kill one another.
You may see pictures of two leopard geckos seemingly enjoying a good time under their heat lamp, but they are likely only competing for the heat. They will also compete for space and food. When a leopard gecko feels threatened, they will swish their tail back and forth or raise it straight. If you see this happening, you need to separate your geckos right away.
Some people get away with having two leopard geckos in the same habitat with no issues. This is most likely because they have two female leopard geckos or two geckos that have been together since birth. But there have been recorded cases of females fighting, too.
It’s just best to not take the risk. Keep one leopard gecko in one vivarium at a time to ensure the safety of your little reptile.
When It’s Okay to Have Two Leopard Geckos Together
The only time it’s permissible to have two geckos—a male and a female—in the same unit is when you want baby geckos. Breeding geckos isn’t that challenging, and you can probably do it yourself. However, you need to be sure you have all the necessary supplies before you start, along with enough space and enclosures to house all the geckos separately once they’ve hatched.
You may be surprised to find out that male leopard geckos aggressively breed with the females. It’s normal for a male to bite the back of a female’s neck in the process and to repeatedly mate with her, even after successful breeding. This can be hard on the female leopard gecko’s body, on top of the already arduous task of creating and laying eggs.
So, you can have a male and female leopard gecko pair up when you want to breed them; just make sure to separate them into different enclosures once breeding is successful.
Do Leopard Geckos Get Lonely?
The fact that it’s best to have one leopard gecko in a habitat at a time might make you feel sad. Even if you only have the space and resources for one terrarium, you might still feel bad that your leopard gecko could get lonely. It’s easy to feel this way because our human species is social, and we thrive from others being around us. Leopard geckos are not this way, though, which should give you some peace of mind.
In the wild, leopard geckos live in “loose colonies.” This means they are around certain geckos often but interact minimally.
If you have had a leopard gecko for a while, you may notice that they watch you come and go and may even scratch at the door where your hand enters the terrarium. Leopard geckos are motivated by curiosity, so you can interact with them by picking them up and handling them, along with adding or changing up their terrarium objects.
Leopard Gecko Care Tips
- Provide them with a diet of crickets, mealworms, grubs, and occasionally a pinkie mouse.
- Give them a vitamin D and calcium supplement.
- Always make sure water is available (with a rock placed in it so crickets can get out).
- One leopard gecko needs at least a 10-gallon-sized habitat.
- The tank needs to stay at 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and only drop to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Conclusion
Owning a leopard gecko can be a rewarding experience. They are considered the first domesticated species of lizard and require little care, making them a great beginner reptile pet. Leopard geckos can live up to 20 years, which means they can be around for a long time. Make sure you’re willing to commit to having one for this long before buying a leopard gecko.
- Related Read: Do Leopard Geckos Like to Be Held?
Featured Image Credit: agus fitriyanto suratno, Shutterstock
