ideal weights for leopard geckos when breeding

[geckoboy92]

ideal weights for leopard geckos when breeding

[SleepyD]

minimum 50g-55g and a minimum of a year old ~ a lot of breeders prefer them to be heavier and older before breeding as it can take a lot out of the females.
following links may be worth reading if you're considering breeding ->
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/breed...-thoughts.html
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...ease-read.html

[funky1]

Defo with Sleepy on the minimums, I`m also one of those who much prefers to use heavier females. I`d much, much rather use a female who weighs in at 60g plus than one who`s only just struggled to make the minimum.
That said, there are some females out there that are naturally on the small side - in their case, consider their age and whether you think they will ever be a much bigger leo or not. Also consider their proportions in terms of weight and importantly - their overall health. Once you use a `good` female, it`s important to provide her with the very best diet possible - to help maintain a decent weight, help egg/shell production and also to help produce the healthiest babies possible.

[messengermatt]

We have bred ours at 40grammes and had no problems with them, aslong as you can keep the weight up through the egg development period you should be ok.

[forgottenEntity]

Originally Posted by messengermatt

We have bred ours at 40grammes and had no problems with them, aslong as you can keep the weight up through the egg development period you should be ok.

You mean you've put a male in with a 40g female at the start of a breeding season?

Or do you mean you've had females that have dropped to as low as 40g during a breeding season?

Or were you referring to using a 40g male with nice healthy 50g+ females?

[SleepyD]

Originally Posted by forgottenEntity

You mean you've put a male in with a 40g female at the start of a breeding season?
Or do you mean you've had females that have dropped to as low as 40g during a breeding season?
Or were you referring to using a 40g male with nice healthy 50g+ females?

you beat me to it ~ good questions

[messengermatt]

Originally Posted by forgottenEntity

You mean you've put a male in with a 40g female at the start of a breeding season?

Or do you mean you've had females that have dropped to as low as 40g during a breeding season?

Or were you referring to using a 40g male with nice healthy 50g+ females?

I have had females drop as low as 40g some lower than that.

A female at less than 50g however can be just as healty as one that is above.

[forgottenEntity]

Originally Posted by messengermatt

I have had females drop as low as 40g some lower than that.

A female at less than 50g however can be just as healty as one that is above.

It's not about "health" - it's about how much energy and how many nutrients a female has to expend on producing eggs. It also depends on other things - like if you leave a male in with your females for long periods or on if you take the male out after a day or two, once he's done his job.

Don't take this as me being pointy... I am not sure from what you've replied with there as to whether you actually do put 40g females in with a male to start breeding or if, as I am hoping (although it's a big drop in weight if you do mean it) that you start from 50g+ females and they drop during the season due to the diet you are providing not being enough to keep the weight up, etc.

[messengermatt]

Originally Posted by forgottenEntity

It's not about "health" - it's about how much energy and how many nutrients a female has to expend on producing eggs. It also depends on other things - like if you leave a male in with your females for long periods or on if you take the male out after a day or two, once he's done his job.

Don't take this as me being pointy... I am not sure from what you've replied with there as to whether you actually do put 40g females in with a male to start breeding or if, as I am hoping (although it's a big drop in weight if you do mean it) that you start from 50g+ females and they drop during the season due to the diet you are providing not being enough to keep the weight up, etc.

Yes they start off at atleast 50g where possible, some of my girls cant get to the weight no matter how much you feed them especially my WT.

I think i have managed to get a balance on the weight now, i offer a pinkie and gutloaded mealies after they lay and it tends to put the weight back on pretty quick,

[forgottenEntity]

Originally Posted by messengermatt

Yes they start off at atleast 50g where possible, some of my girls cant get to the weight no matter how much you feed them especially my WT.

I think i have managed to get a balance on the weight now, i offer a pinkie and gutloaded mealies after they lay and it tends to put the weight back on pretty quick,

erm I may end up looking thick here (not first time!) but... what does WT stand for?