[Blazer]

I've had my two females in together in a 40 gallon tank for about 8 months now. I weened them into being fine together when the younger one was a lot smaller and they have been getting on fine - clambering ontop of each other, sleeping in the same cave etc for a good 7 months now.

In the past couple of days, when the younger one was shedding (Custard), the older one (Storm - who seems to be a bit dappy & fat) has started nipping Custard. Custard has a few bites (enough to have made her bleed) on her tail and a scratch on her head.

As the weather has turned autmnal, we started putting the light on again in the tank and it is ever since we did this that Storm turned on Custard.

Has any one got any suggestions as to why this could have happened and or how to prevent it? Is it a geckos way of showing PMS / coming into season? I'm a bit worried about what will happen if i leave them to it to try and settle their differences! Its a little odd as its not a full on scrap that they have, its just as if Storm is going over the smell Custard. They are still sleeping happily in the same cave together of a night.

Please help! Please could you email me as i'm not sure if i get alerts from the forum about any replies... aimee_elford@yahoo.com

[SleepyDee]

Are you sure you have two females?
unfortunately leos do not always get on and at best only tolerate each other ~ leos will set up heirachies and dominance issues can quickly escalate with the smaller/bullied leo often then losing condition/health through stress even if no physical fighting has taken place.
I recently finished a study on leo behaviour part of which is on my website which may be of help ~ http://sleepydeegeckos.webs.com/behaviour.htm
my advice would be to split them up and put Custard into her own viv away from Storm

[Blazer]

Hi Sleepy Dee

Thanks for your reply. Can you give any suggestions why this has only just happened? They are defo both female (bought them purposely because of their sex)

When you say split them up, do you mean forever or temporarily again? You never see the ones in the shops nipping the others...

Can you recommend an antiseptic to put on Custards tail? I've seen Betadine is commonly used but do you need to dilute it? Thanks again!

[SleepyDee]

Originally Posted by Blazer

Thanks for your reply. Can you give any suggestions why this has only just happened? They are defo both female (bought them purposely because of their sex)

it could be down to their age, maturity or size ~ heirachies are normally formed with some leos tolerating company better then others unfortunately this is not always the case

When you say split them up, do you mean forever or temporarily again? You never see the ones in the shops nipping the others...

there is a high chance that they may have to be split permenantly as the more dominant one will still try to dominate/bully the other
the ones you see in the shop are usually quite young and because of their surroundings they can be somewhat stressed through other things but even then it's not unknown for one or more to be bullied or bitten

Can you recommend an antiseptic to put on Custards tail? I've seen Betadine is commonly used but do you need to dilute it? Thanks again!

I prefer using diluted tamodine on any wounds/bites and you're welcome