Seeing multiple leopard geckos together in one enclosure at the pet store will mislead new leo owners into thinking this is normal.
In fact, leos tend to be solitary creatures in the wild, and they often live alone.
However, this does not mean your leo is not craving the attention or interaction with another leopard gecko.
This may lead you to wonder how to introduce a new leo to your current one.
As a general rule, introducing two leopard geckos to each other should be a carefully planned process. Follow specific steps to ensure safety for both pets, including a quarantine period to prevent spreading illness, putting them together for short periods, and observing behavior for signs of aggression.
Introducing two leos to each may be a complicated process, even for experienced leopard gecko owners.
New leopard gecko keepers should do their research and planning before attempting to give their leo a companion.
Read on for more information on what to consider before introducing two leopard geckos together, as well as the steps to take to make sure the meeting is a success.
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Leopard Gecko Introduction Process
Before introducing the geckos, make sure you know what you’re getting into by reading below.
But if you feel ready to get started, there are a few essential steps to follow to ensure the process goes smoothly without causing any harm to either of your leos.
Quarantine The Leopard Geckos
The first step you will need to take when bringing home a new leopard gecko is quarantining it.
This quarantine period is a crucial step because you need to be sure your new leo is free from any parasites or diseases which could infect and harm the reptile you already have.
The quarantine process will also give your new leo a chance to get accustomed to its new surroundings, so it is not stressed when it meets its new cage mate.
The temporary quarantine tank should be straightforward and large enough to comfortably house a leo with its basic needs.
Once your veterinarian has given your new leo a clean bill of health, it is time to move on to the next step.
Put The Leopard Geckos Together On Neutral Ground
When introducing your leopard geckos, it is best to do it on neutral territories, such as an empty tank.
A leo with an established enclosure will immediately take offense if another leo is placed in its territory, and it will assert its dominance right away.
Your leopard gecko may always see the new pet as a threat, and it will not be in a hurry to become friendly towards it.
Placing the two leos together in a neutral setting allows them to focus on getting to know each other instead of establishing their territory.
It is vital to introduce them for short periods at first, so you are able to ensure they are not aggressive with each other.
Then, you will be able to let them hang out together for longer periods.
Once you are comfortable with their behavior, it is time to place them in a regular enclosure.
Observe The Behavior Of Your Leopard Geckos
Once you place your two leos in the same enclosure, it is still important to closely monitor them for any signs of aggression for the first few weeks.
The two leos will eventually become more comfortable with each other, and they will get along just fine.
If your leopard geckos continue to be aggressive with each other for several weeks, it may be a sign your leos will not get along, and they will have to be separated.
This is a somewhat rare occurrence, as leos will generally be friendly once they get to know each other, but it is still something you should be prepared to deal with.
Can You Keep Leopard Gecko Pairs And Groups Together?
A male and female leopard gecko will cohabitate together very well once they get to know each other.
A group of females will typically get along, and you may even be able to add a male to the mix.
It is not uncommon to see four or five female leopard geckos in the same enclosure with one male.
However, two male leos should never be housed in the same enclosure.
Males are aggressive and territorial, and they need to show their dominance over other males.
When males are placed together in one habitat, it creates a dangerous situation.
The male leos will likely fight with each other, and this could cause a severe injury to one or both of the reptiles.
Bite wounds are not only painful for a leopard gecko, but they pose a risk of infection at the site of the wound.
If you are unsure whether or not your current gecko is a male or a female, it is best to seek the advice of an exotic animal veterinarian.
The vet will be able to give you all of the information you need to know about your leo, including its sex.
Are You Prepared for Your Leopard Geckos to Breed?
Housing a male and female leopard gecko is a guarantee they will eventually mate with one another.
The same is true if you are housing a male with several females.
The male will breed with most, if not all, of the available females.
Females will generally lay one or two eggs per clutch, considering they may lay up to 8 clutches in one year; it adds up to many leopard gecko babies.
If you are not prepared for this, it may be pretty overwhelming.
Baby leos should be removed from the main enclosure within two or three days of hatching and placed in a separate 10-gallon tank of their own.
Once the babies are between three and six months of age, you should be able to tell their sex.
At this point, males and females should be placed in separate cages to avoid breeding at too young.
Males should also be separated from one another to avoid any aggressive behavior.
Since the leopard geckos will need to be in separate enclosures, you will need to be prepared to have extra tanks on hand, and you will need enough room to place them all.
This adds up to be an expensive endeavor, especially if you are not ready to commit to raise hatchlings.
To avoid the situation altogether, it is best to house only females together if you want to have more than one leo in the same enclosure.
Choosing a Leopard Gecko of a Similar Size and Age
Two more things to consider when housing multiple leopard geckos together are their size and age.
Ideally, the two leos you want to live together should be acquired simultaneously or taken from the same clutch, so they are around the same age and weight.
Larger leos will bully smaller ones if put together, which creates a hazardous situation for your pets.
Bodily injuries, especially in smaller, younger leos, may quickly become fatal.
The smaller leos will also tend to hide a lot if bullied, so it could be difficult to know if they are injured.
It is always important to separate leos if you see any signs of bullying.
House Only One Species Together
An essential part of housing geckos together in the same enclosure is choosing geckos of the same species.
For instance, you should never house a leopard gecko together with a crested gecko.
Not only are the two species highly unlikely to get along, but they may also have different care requirements when it comes to temperature, humidity, diet, and their overall habitat.
Leopard geckos need less humidity than crested geckos, and they also eat more live insects than more vegetables.
Leos also need higher temperatures than cresties, which do not do well in temperatures higher than 80° degrees Fahrenheit (27° C).
Leos aren’t as adept at climbing as cresties, so the habitat setup will be completely different.
Tank Size Matters
Having a tank large enough to comfortably house more than one leopard gecko is very important.
If you do not provide your leos with enough space, they will become aggressive toward each other as they fight for food, water, and extra space.
Overcrowding leopard geckos will also cause them to be very stressed, which may lead to illness.
As a general rule, a 20-gallon tank is ideal for housing two leos together.
A 30-gallon tank or larger enclosure is needed for several leos to live together comfortably.
The goal is to have an enclosure large enough for the leos to move around and go about their daily activities, such as eating and drinking, without having to climb all over one another.
You also do not want to provide an enclosure too large for the leos to effectively hunt their food.
A very large enclosure will also be more difficult for you to clean.
Tank size is an important topic so to learn more here is our post on optimal tank sizes for leopard geckos.
