Leopard Gecko Sexing

Updated on March 20, 2024
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Dawn Burch
Director of Animal Care, Education & Compliance (ACE) at Petco

When to Sex Leopard Geckos | Tips for Sexing Leopard Geckos | Male vs. Female Identification | How Gender Affects Care

Bearded Dragon Sexing

Would you believe leopard geckos are the world’s third most popular pet lizard? You might if you’re a gecko parent—because you know they’re relatively easy to care for, with friendly temperaments and striking good looks. But one thing that’s not always easy is sexing juvenile leopard geckos. Determining whether you have a male or female is often one of the first things on new parents’ minds, but it can be difficult to sex juvenile leopard geckos for beginners. Here’s what you need to know.  

Before you begin 

Sexing leopard geckos is much easier if you can hold your pet. Once they’re comfortable, you’ll want to get them used to being handled. Approach the enclosure and reach in slowly, picking them up firmly but gently by the body—not the head or tail. Cradle them in your hand for five minutes, then gently place them back into their habitat. Add a minute every few days until you can hold them for up to 20 minutes. Always let your gecko go if they struggle. When they feel threatened, they can “drop” their tails, and while they will regrow, it’s always preferable not to lose them in the first place. 

What if you bring home multiple leopard geckos at the same time? It’s usually advised to keep them in separate habitats until you can identify their genders. While females can live together, males may not get along. And, of course, a male with one or more females can result in unintended baby leopard geckos. Properly pairing up your pets is one reason leopard gecko gender identification is important—another is so that you know what to name them.  

When to start sexing leopard geckos 

If you’ve brought home a cute baby gecko, you may want to know right away whether they’re male or female. But can you sex young leopard geckos? It’s certainly not easy. Hatchlings haven’t yet developed the structures that distinguish male leopard geckos from female ones. Those begin to appear at 10–12 weeks old, but only someone with experience will likely be able to spot them.  

Around 3–5 months old, leopard gecko sexing gets easier as they develop further. If you want to determine the sex yourself, you’ll probably be more successful if you wait until they’re 6 months old. Leopard geckos reach sexual maturity at about 10 months, and the older they are, the easier it will be to determine their gender. 

Resources for sexing leopard geckos 

If you want to know your leopard gecko’s sex when they are still young—or if you need help ensuring you get it right—it’s time to bring in the experts. If you got your gecko from a breeder, checking with them is a great place to start. Breeders have a trained eye that can spot the differences between males and females.  

The breeder might also have information about your pet’s sex from before they were even born. Did you know leopard geckos have what’s known as temperature-dependent sex determination? Eggs incubated at cooler temperatures are more likely to produce females, while those incubated at warmer temperatures are more likely to produce males. Breeders can leverage this to be more certain of the sexes of their lizards. 

Another great resource for sexing leopard geckos is your veterinarian. Some vets specialize in reptiles; they are often called herp veterinarians, which comes from the word herpetology, or study of reptiles. Veterinary specialists will know how to handle your gecko properly and determine their sex—plus, it’s generally recommended that you take your new leopard gecko in for a checkup anyway.  

Tips for sexing leopard geckos 

Whether you do it yourself or talk to an expert, sexing your gecko always involves looking at their underside. To do this, you can hold them in your hand and look between your fingers at their underside, or have someone else hold them so you can see more easily.  

It can be helpful to compare two leopard geckos side by side, particularly if you already know one’s gender. That way, you can see similarities and differences. You can also use images from reputable websites as a comparison tool.  

Male vs. female leopard gecko identification 

You’re ready to determine the sex of your leopard gecko—so what are you looking for, exactly? There are three identifying features that can tell you whether your gecko is male or female. 

The pre-anal pores are located above your gecko’s vent, which is where their waste comes out and is found where the tail meets the body. In adult males, the pores are a distinct V-shape that is darker than the rest of their skin, and they produce a waxy material. They become larger and darker as the gecko ages. While females do have these pores, they are less prominent and don’t produce anything.  

Similarly, the femoral pores are much more obvious in maturing male leopard geckos than in females. These pores are located in a straight line underneath their upper hind legs and look like little white dots. Females also have them, but like the pre-anal pores, they are less prominent. The femoral pores release pheromones that allow geckos to mark their territory and attract mates—when geckos meet, these pheromones tell them whether they’re interacting with a male or female.  

Finally, you’ll find the hemipenile bulges below the pre-anal pores on male leopard geckos, just below the vent where the tail meets the body. Adult males have two bumps on either side of the base of the tail that contain their reproductive organs, called hemipenes. Females do not have this structure at all. When sexing leopard geckos, be sure you don’t push on this area, and do not push on the hemipenile bulges if you see them. It can be uncomfortable and traumatic for your gecko.  

How gender affects your leopard gecko’s care 

Male and female leopard geckos share the same requirements for food, lighting, temperature and other habitat needs. Proper husbandry will help them avoid common conditions, diseases and malnutrition. However, they also need some differences in care. 

Female leopard geckos can form and lay eggs, even if they are kept alone—which can be a surprise if you don’t know your leopard gecko’s gender. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for egg retention. Females typically lay two eggs at a time, so if you only see one, you’ll want to consult your veterinarian.  

Adult male leopard geckos tend to see other males as competition for resources and may fight if kept in the same habitat. And as mentioned earlier, you won’t want to keep males and females together unless you want them to start a family. You can usually house multiple females of the same size together, but if one is much larger than the other, the bigger gecko may steal the smaller one’s food and cause undue stress.  

Filed Under

Sponsored