How to Tell if a Leopard Gecko is Male or Female

Last edited: December 10,2024

Some people prefer males, while others prefer females because of their different behaviors, but I personally like both. They are both great. If you want to buy a leopard gecko that will chill and sit with you, you need to identify their gender to clarify which one has a very chill behavior.

Handling

Simply grab them with your hand to see their underside. Some leos may pee when you pick them up, so be conscious. Also, if they feel scared, they might drop their tail, making it harder to see their underside. In this situation, you can place them in a transparent plastic container or a transparent glass tank, and you will be able to see their underside more easily.

Weight

Males tend to be a little bit bigger than females because they don’t lay eggs and do not go through ovulation. As a result, they don’t lose weight, making them slightly bigger. However, it can vary among different geckos, as some females may be larger than males due to genetics. In most cases, though, if two geckos are of similar age and body shape, males are generally bigger than females. Therefore, measuring weight and identifying gender this way is more difficult; you will need to follow other identifying methods for a more accurate determination.

Pores

Males have V-shaped pores located above their tail and pre-anal pores in front of their vents. These are specialized glands used to produce scent, which attracts females during the reproductive season. This is a good way to identify male geckos.

Hemipenal Bulges

Males have hemipenal bulges, but females do not. These bulges are located under the vent and look flat in females. During mating, the male uses the hemipenal bulges to transfer sperm into the female. These bulges house the hemipenes, which are the paired reproductive organs essential for male geckos.

Lay Eggs

Female leopard geckos lay eggs, but this is not the only way to identify their gender. To identify them this way, you need to wait for their ovulation season and breed them. If you only have one gecko, you cannot identify their gender this way. On the other hand, male leopard geckos do not lay eggs, so you don’t need to worry about ovulation or egg-binding problems.

What You Should Notice Before Checking Their Gender

You can identify the gender of a leopard gecko if they are between 6 to 12 months old; otherwise, it may be difficult. If they are not fully mature, you cannot identify their gender using the methods I mentioned above. Male geckos tend to be more aggressive, so you should not keep two male leopard geckos together, but females can live together.