Leopard Geckos are easily one of the cutest types of geckos that exist.
They are adorable and fun reptiles that make the perfect pet, so it is understandable that you might be wanting to breed leopard geckos if you already have them as pets.
The experience of breeding leopard geckos, and caring for them while they are young is truly out of this world.
But it is important to remember that a lot of hard work is required when looking after the leopard gecko eggs too!
If you are thinking of incubating leopard gecko eggs, then we’ve got you covered! In this complete guide, we’re taking a look at everything you need to know about incubating leopard gecko eggs.
Keep on reading to find out more!
Incubating leopard gecko eggs is surprisingly easy.
Simply collect freshly laid eggs, place them in the incubator at the correct temperature, and monitor them daily to check the humidity and that there is no mold.
After 35 to 90 days, the eggs will start to hatch, and your new leopard geckos will be born.
Before you start incubating leopard gecko eggs, there are some things that you will need to gather.
Incubating leopard gecko eggs is surprisingly easy, and the list of things that you will need for the job is surprisingly small.
This is the equipment that you will need to incubate leopard gecko eggs:
An Incubator
Egg Bedding
Egg Box
Spray Bottle
In order to incubate leopard gecko eggs, the only things that you need are not just equipment.
There are a number of other things that you will need in order for your efforts to be successful.
For example, having an incubator is all well and good, but as well as having the incubator, you will need a calm and peaceful environment to place your incubator.
Your incubator will need to be stored in a small and safe environment where no harm can occur to the incubator or the eggs within it.
A lot of the time, your incubator will also need to be attached to electricity to regulate the temperature, so bear this in mind before you get started!
In addition, the egg bedding that you purchase will need to be in a large amount.
Not only will you need egg bedding for the incubator, but you will also need to provide egg bedding for your female gecko to lay her eggs in.
Some of the best types of egg bedding for the job include peat moss or vermiculite.
The spray bottle might seem like a random addition to this list, but it is actually one of the most important things on the list.
Your eggs will require an extremely humid environment in order for them to develop and grow, and this sometimes cannot be achieved by solely using your incubator.
As well as using the incubator, you will need to fill a spray bottle with water and spray down the eggs in the incubator around 5 to 6 times a day.
You will only need to do this if the eggs seem to be denting or collapsing (this is very common when incubating leopard gecko eggs), but it is a good idea to have a spray bottle to hand just in case.
Finally, the egg box will not be needed for the incubator, like you might expect. Instead, the egg box is essential for your female leopard gecko to lay her eggs in.
You can get egg boxes online, but make sure it is at least 7 inches by 4 inches, with a hole in the top for your female to lay her eggs.
This might be at the bottom of our list, but it is the most important piece of equipment, as without it, you will not be able to incubate leopard gecko eggs.
How To Incubate Leopard Gecko Eggs: Step by Step
Now that we have taken a look at everything you need to incubate your leopard gecko eggs, let’s take a look at how to do this.
To help you out, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to ensure that incubating your leopard gecko eggs is as easy as possible.
Please note, this step-by-step guide only tells you how to care for leopard gecko eggs from the delivery of the eggs to hatching.
It does not cover how to care for the leopard geckos once the eggs hatch.
Step 1 – Get Your Gecko Pregnant
The most important step in incubating leopard gecko eggs is actually pretty much out of your hands.
In order to be able to incubate leopard gecko eggs, you need to have the eggs to get started, and the only way to do this is to get your leopard gecko pregnant.
The breeding period for leopard geckos runs from January through to September, so this gives you quite a wide time range in which to get your leopard gecko pregnant.
Typically, leopard geckos will reach sexual maturity once they pass the age of 1 year, so you will usually be able to breed your leopard geckos once they pass this age.
But, before you get your female pregnant, there are some things you should do.
Most breeders will increase the amount of food that they are feeding their female before they breed her, this will increase her intake of calcium and vitamin-D, and it will also increase her body mass, making her better able to carry eggs.
When your female is ready, you can then breed your leopard geckos.
During breeding season, simply place your female gecko into the tank with your male and watch for any mating signals.
These signals include:
The male rattles his tail quickly (similar to how a rattlesnake moves their tail).
The female is freezing and locking eyes with the male.
The male biting the female’s neck as they mate.
Typically, the mating process will only take 2-3 minutes. Once the moment has passed, pick up your female and move her back into her own cage.
The gestation period for leopard geckos is very short, and she will typically lay her first clutch of eggs in just 15-22 days.
Each clutch will produce approximately 1-2 eggs. This will repeat every 15-22 days until the female has produced roughly 4-5 clutches. So, up to 10 eggs could be produced from a single mating period.
To ensure that the eggs are laid in a safe location, place the egg box in your female’s tank immediately after the geckos have mated.
Step 2 – Get Your Incubator Ready
Between the mating period and the eggs being laid, you will need to set up your incubator.
We recommend doing this as soon as possible to ensure that your incubator is ready for the eggs when they arrive.
Setting up your incubator should be fairly easy, just follow the steps outlined by the manufacturer of the incubator that you have purchased.
Once the incubator is set up, you can start getting the inside ready for the eggs.
Inside the incubator, you will need to create a bed for the eggs. You should do this using the peat moss that you used inside the egg box where the eggs will be laid.
You will also need to ensure that the incubator is humid with a stable temperature, you can adjust the humidity once the eggs are in the incubator using the spray bottle we mentioned earlier.
Typically speaking, higher humidity is better for the eggs. However, you will need to ensure that no mold develops on the eggs as this is common in high humidity.
It is important to note that humidity is closely related to the temperature, and the temperature can actually determine what gender the leopard geckos are.
Keep these temperatures in mind:
Below 75 degrees Fahrenheit – the eggs will not make it.
80 degrees Fahrenheit – the eggs will be female.
87 degrees Fahrenheit – the eggs will be a mixture of female and male.
90 degrees Fahrenheit – the majority (if not all) the eggs will be male.
Step 3 – Move Fahrenheit – the the Incubator
After the eggs have been laid, it is time to move the eggs into the incubator. Soon after the eggs have been laid, the female will leave the eggs alone.
Open the egg box and check the eggs over to ensure that they are not damaged. One by one, take the eggs out of the box and move them into the incubator.
When moving the eggs, take care not to flip them. They should be placed in the incubator in exactly the same way as they were before.
Turning the eggs over could kill them. Place the eggs in the egg bedding in the incubator and cover them over with two thirds of it.
Clean out the egg box, refill it with egg bedding and place it back in your female’s tank ready for the next clutch of eggs.
Step 4 – Wait
Once your eggs are in the incubator, it then becomes a waiting game as you wait for them to hatch.
Every day, you should check the eggs for any dents and to ensure that the temperature is correct.
You should also check for any mold and deal with this if necessary.
Step 5 – Watch Them Hatch
Generally it will take between 35 and 90 days for the eggs to hatch. During your daily checks, you will be able to spot signs of hatching as cracks appear along the surface of the eggs.
Across the different clutches, it will take different periods of time for the eggs to hatch.
As soon as the eggs hatch, move the baby geckos into their new homes straight away, and repeat this until all the eggs have hatched. Then you will need to move onto caring for baby geckos!
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Leopard Gecko Eggs Look Like?
Generally leopard gecko eggs are white and about the size of your thumb. However, some eggs may be darker or speckled.
Generally, the color of the eggs does not impact the embryos inside at all.
Do I Need to Buy an Incubator?
No, you do not need to purchase an incubator. If you would prefer, you can create your own homemade incubator at a fraction of the cost of purchasing one.
However, this requires a lot more effort than if you simply purchase an incubator.
Can You Determine the Sex?
Yes, you can determine the sex of the leopard gecko eggs.
The temperature of the gecko eggs will determine the sex of the eggs, so you can decide if you have female or male geckos by the temperature you set the incubator to.
Summary
In short, the process of incubating leopard gecko eggs is surprisingly simple.
In this complete guide, we have covered everything you need to know, including what you need, a step-by-step guide, and FAQs.
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