Can my pet gecko change its sex or switch genders naturally?

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!

Unfortunately, it is common for intact males of the same species to fight, so you may experience that as they get older. They can be very territorial, and it doesn't matter if they are siblings or not. As you mentioned, male and female geckos can (and often will) mate, no matter if they are siblings or not. If you have two females, this would be the most ideal housing situation for multiple animals. Females will often tolerate one another in the same area, however there are exceptions to the rule, and they can fight as well.

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.

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

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.

In doing some research to answer your question, I found that the both the Desert Tortoise and Wood Turtle have been shown to display homosexual behavior, but it may not be an extensive list. Since I don't know the type of turtle Jerome is, I can't say for sure if his breed has been shown to display homosexual behaviors. Regardless, whether or not Jerome is gay has no bearing on his ability to live his life as an awesome turtle, and I would not worry about it :-)

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.