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What's the best way to tell if my baby leopard gecko is male or female?

Updated on September 23, 2025

How can I tell if my baby leopard gecko is a girl or boy

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on September 19, 2017

The presence of pre anal or femoral pores will signify your gecko is male
These pores can sometimes be visible as early as 10-12 weeks of age but are easily seen by 3-5 months of age. A male gecko will also have bulges from his hemipenes near the vent.
Click here for images of male vs female geckos: http://www.reptilecare.com/leopardgender.htm

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on November 2, 2017
The images are not clear enough and your gecko may be too young to definitively determine sex. It is easier to determine sex after 6 months of age. Males have noticeable pre-anal pores just in front of the vent as well as two bulges at the base of the tail caused by the hemipenes. Dehydration and impaction will cause lethargy and decreased appetite. With impaction, you may see difficult or decreased defecation and possibly a swollen abdomen.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on February 22, 2019
i would say that Mobe is a female at first glance. There is no evidence or pre-anal pores or femoral pores. A hemipenile bulge is also not apparent. All these are readily visible in males.
It can be difficult to determine sex in a gecko this young though. Wait another couple months and you should be able to determine definitively.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on May 1, 2019
I would say Caramel is a female. There isn't a pronounced hemipenal bulge and the preanal pores are not very apparent.
If you can get a clear picture of the vent and preanal pores from above with the gecko on its back, that would make the determination easier. Be careful though, if the tail drops, it won't grow back.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Training & Behavior

How to tell if a baby leopard gecko is male or female to avoid fighting?

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. Sexing them is not hard. I suggest you refer to this article. It goes into more detail then I have room for here on this forum. ( http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Breeding-Lizards/Sexing-Leopard-Geckos/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Updated on September 23, 2025

New Pet

Can my two young leopard geckos live together? How old are they?

I commend you for rescuing those Leos! Female leopard geckos may live together peacefully as long as they have a large enough enclosure. Males should not be housed together as they will fight. If you have a male and female, they should be separated until the female is at least 55 grams, which is the minimum weight recommended for breeding. I would guess they may be about 3-5 months old. Hatchlings typically weigh 2-5 grams for reference. There is no "standard" since leos will grow at different rates depending on dietary and environmental factors. You can determine sex by looking underneath. Males have noticeably distinct femoral pores and pre-anal pores. The base of their tail will have two hemipenal bumps as well. You can review leopard gecko care here: http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

Updated on September 23, 2025

My leopard gecko is plump. Is she pregnant or is it mating season?

February to August is prime mating season for leopard geckos. A gravid (pregnant) female may become lethargic and spend more time on the warm side of the enclosure. Her midsection may begin to swell. Eggs are laid 2-5 weeks after mating. A female does not need a male to lay eggs, she will lay infertile eggs. Eggs should be visible through the thin skin. You can readily see them between her midsection and hind legs as she nears the time to lay. Neither female appears to be gravid but it may be too early to tell. It isn't mating season either but they can retain sperm for months after mating.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

Can I house adult and juvenile crested geckos together? How to sex them?

Keeping them together would not be recommended. The adult may see the juvenile as prey and may try to eat him/her. Cresties can be tricky to sex, especially when young. If yours weighs at least 10-15 grams, you may be able to see pores using a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe. You may see the beginnings of a bulge at around 30 grams body weight. If you are unsure, have him/her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Health & Wellness

My male leopard gecko has a white bulge from its butt. Is it serious?

That could be a sperm plug (or seminal exudate). It is normal in Male geckos. Typically, they pop out on their own but sometimes can be retained. Try soaking him in a warm bath for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, gently rock it back and forth to remove it. Don't force or pull it. A more serious issue may be a prolapsed hemipene which should be considered a veterinary emergency. In this case, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.

Updated on September 23, 2025

I just got a veiled chameleon. How do I tell its age and sex?

Male veiled chameleons have a tarsal spur, a heel spur, that is present from hatching. Females do not. Check the back legs for this bump. If it is present, you have a male. There is no definitive method of determining age. Chameleons will grow at different rates. If possible, go back to Petco and ask the associate. There should be records which may contain a breeder/source and a hatch date.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My leopard gecko isn't eating, losing weight, has bad shedding, can't walk.

Two female geckos cam live together peacefully as long as the enclosure is of sufficient size. Two males should never be housed together. Gender cannot be determined by the images posted. Males can be differentiated from females by the presence of a V shaped line of pre anal pores just in front of the vent and hemipenal bulges behind it. Your gecko appears to be in the middle of a shed. This is a stressful time for geckos. Provide one or two moist hides in the cage and daily soaks to aid in shedding. Feed appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes, that have been gut loaded for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Calcium w/D3 and Vitamin supplementation is essential to good health. Consider an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose illness or injury. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites.

Updated on September 23, 2025

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