my levis bites the his g'friend!

[barbatus]

I finally got a female for my levis male. Right now they are together in a 55 gallon palace ! complete with sand dunes, hides and various bowls for food etc. I was watching them tonight while I was spraying them with luke warm water ( they love this... they drink from the glass or anything they can pick up droplets from) I'm not sure if they are of "age" but I saw the male bite the females tail (I thought he was going to rip it off!) he took a bite at the base of her tail (yes they are 1.1) Is this normal behavior? did they have a domestic? After reading this forum I'm planning on housing them separately. Any thought are welcome ! Cheers !

 

[warren63]

This is gecko foreplay !! Freaked me out the first time i saw it happen too with my milii. Certainly is rough

 

[ileventhal86]

If they do mate and that female isn't old enough to carry eggs healthfully, then she most likely will die. How old is she?

Yes that definitely is foreplay though.

 

[barbatus]

I was told that she was a year old- I got her from the local herp shop... they sometimes dont even know what they carry- this gecko was kept with a day gecko (same enclosure) I hate supporting this store but I find myself rescuing their animals... once there was a guy with a Lawsons dragon in the store car park with his son saying that he got the dragon 1 yr ago and its now sick and he wont take it to a vet and the store wont accept it back. I gave him 10$ for him and treated him at home... his my top breeder now. Went off on a tangent there...Ohh by the way... I weighed my geckos and they come in at 9 grams... I think there is something wrong with my balance.. it was a $10 one. They look the same size as adults shown on the web (photos)

 

[Zbiz]

9 grams is way too small for breeding. From what i was told Knob tail females have to be at least 20.

 

[ileventhal86]

Usually at the very least, the high teens for levis. It does all depend though. It's rare to see a female N. levis levis for sale...let alone at a pet store. How much did you pick her up for?

 

[barbatus]

I got her for $400 - Visually she sexed as a female for sure. I think I need to get another balance. I will report back with numbers. Thanks guys ! I'll keep you posted.

 

[ileventhal86]

That's a really good price for a female levis that is not an old breeder!
Congrats

 

[barbatus]

Yeah she was a good deal.. they recently got some male milli and were selling them for 220 a piece... I think they got their hands on a breeders (don't know who's) collection. I didn't get to the milli on time. Okay so my female is 85mm s/v length.. I checked on my 10$ scale and she comes up as 9 and change grams.... I'm highly suspicious of my balance. I guess I will need to purchase another. Any recommendations?

 

[barbatus]

I have not found a good balance yet- but I can report with some new developments.... I was watching her the other night and she looked plump. I picked her up and she definitely has 2 eggs, one on each side. She is kept with her mate in a 60g tank with 2 inches of sand, 2 half coconuts also. I see them eating mealworms and crickets.

QUESTION- do people on this forum place a laying den for your geckos or just keep an hawk eye on them?

 

[barbatus]

And... an update. My balance is not broken she is 10 grams as of today. She is also not pregnant ! (relief!) she had two white things on her underside.. apparently they are pre-eggs. SHe is eating well and growing.. hopefully she will put on weight and when she reaches 20 grams or so I can introduce her to her mate. Sorry for the ups and downs!