Stopping Leopard Gecko Fighting

Stopping Leopard Gecko Fighting

Are your beloved pets fighting all the time? Leopard gecko fighting is a real problem that has to be addressed. If your pets get to rough, they might injure themselves or the other leos. Left on their own, they can even get so violent that one of the lizards may die! Dont let this happen to you and put an end to the fighting with these tips.

Male Fighting

Leopard gecko fighting is usually due to two males being in the same tank, especially during mating season. Two males will fight over potential mates and dominance of the area. Fighting between males is known to be very rough and is not known to improve with time. It just gets worse and worse until one of the leos is killed! When theyre young, your lizards may be fine together but as they grow older, males will eventually develop very aggressive attitudes towards each other.

To prevent this, it is best to separate your males. The trick here is to identify the males before the fighting breaks out. When theyre young, it can be very difficult to tell males apart from females. Try to monitor them as they grow older. Males will have a hemipenal bulge just behind their vents. They also have a row of anal pores shaped in a V just above the bulge.


Mating Fights

When you want to mate your leos, prepare for fighting as well. Your males are going get aggressive towards the females. Biting is not uncommon and you may even end up with some injuries. This is normal and should not go beyond male aggression if the female accepts the males advances. However, should the female refuse, the female will fight back and it is at this point that you have to act. Separate the lizards at least for a few days to prevent major injuries. You can try to mate them later after a cooling off period.

Treat Injuries Seriously

If the lizards draw blood, tend to the wounds immediately. Any open wounds are prime areas for an infection. To prevent this, use topical antibiotics and other vet approved products. Dont hesitate to call your vet if anything doesnt look right.

Unexplained Aggression

Sometimes fights break out for no apparent reason. Some keepers have even reported fighting between females in an all female tank. The thing to remember here is that these creatures are still animals and they can be quite unpredictable. Even when something should be right, nature and the leos sometimes have other plans.


Some factors may help you prevent these unexplained events. First is to check your tank size. Try to keep your lizards in a big enough tank to prevent overcrowding. Around 20 gallons per lizard should be more than enough. Sometimes the tank is too hot. Remember you need two areas of temp, one at around 90 degrees and the other at a cooler 80 degrees or lower. Also, stressed out lizards can become cranky. Try to ensure the lizards are happy by checking their hide boxes, making sure they have enough water and food, and cleaning out the tank of any debris, fecal matter, or uneaten insects.


Donna Perez is a lizard enthusiast who has vast experience of raising Leopard Geckos.

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