Young are 2-3" at hatching. Eggs are laid in rocky crevices or under the eaves of houses. The 2-3 eggs, laid several times a year, are sticky and adhere to surfaces.
In captivity, they may be laid on the glass sides of their terraria. Incubation time for the eggs ranges from 2-6 months for the oviparous Gekko species.
There is little visible sexual difference between male and female leopard geckos. The male seems to have a broader head and neck than the female and their body is usually somewhat larger. However, looking at the undersides, adult males have a prominent V-shaped row of pre-anal pores while the pre-anal pores of the female are barely noticeable. Adult males also have hemipenile swellings and a wider tail base.
The sex of the leopard gecko seems to be determined by the temperature at incubation.
Eggs incubated between 79-83 are generally female, 84-86 are about half of each sex, and above 87 are usually male.
Madagascar Ground Geckos are one of the easiest species of lizard to breed in captivity. These animals do not require any special conditioning before breeding with the exception of being in good health. Some authors recommend a cooling period and a reduction in the day length but this is not necessary to induce breeding. Breeding can occur year round with proper care of the adults.
Females typically lay three clutches of two eggs which they fertilize with sperm from an earlier mating. Eggs should be removed and placed in an incubator. Incubation of the eggs should take place at a temperature of 26 o -29 o C (82 o - 88 oF) and a relative humidity of 60 to 70 %.
Breeding season is determined by temperature and photo period if the proper climate and diet are provided. As lighting hours and temperature increase in Spring, females should be provided additional food and supplements.
Day geckos are either gluers or non-gluers. Non-gluers lay two or one calcareous hard-shelled eggs in a protected location such as a leaf joint or open bamboo section. Gluers attach the egg or eggs to leaves or other hard surfaces and are easily broken if an attempt is made to remove them.
The eggs of gluers must be incubated in place unless the object to which they are attached can be moved to an incubator. Most fertile eggs can be incubated at a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees C) with small variations in temperature and will hatch in 38 to 90 days depending on the species. Eggs can be hatched in an incubator by placing them on a small plastic lid placed on top of a bed of slightly moistened vermiculite (1:1 ratio of vermiculite to water by weight)
The breeding season of the Fat-tail is between Oct. and June, but different breeding colonies may have unique schedules.
Mating normally occurs in Dec. and the first clutch of eggs can be expected from fifteen to forty-five days later. For females who are just beginning to cycle, the laying time is usually the full 45 days. After being bred once the female can continue laying good eggs for at least 5 clutches, with delayed implantation of the male's sperm. If the female is bred by a different male after laying the first clutch, it will take at least one clutch more before the first male's sperm is purged and the second male's offspring start to be produced.
Clutches of five are normal, but 13 is not impossible, with two eggs in each clutch. These occur twelve to twenty-two days apart, depending upon the temperature of the habitat. Geckos that produce many eggs one year may lay fewer the following year.
