My girls...

[Lolo76]

Just thought I'd post some recent pictures of my girls, Sunny & Sahara, since I haven't shown them off for a while. They're both doing well, still pretty shy but warming up slowly... fyi, they're in an empty Sterilite tub (while cleaning their tank), in case you're confused about the background.






Who's that beautiful lizard outside the tub? LOL...

[lolashowme]

wow they are so amazing looking! ive always been into snakes-- but these little guys are so awesome. how big do they get? i also love blue tongued skinks!

[Lolo76]

Thanks! Leos don't get very big - about 8-10 inches long, and maybe 50 grams or so? Mine are still young, and have quite a bit of growing to do! Leopard Geckos were actually my first reptile, since I had a pair when I was a teenager... they make cool pets, although a little more skittish than your typical Ball Python.

[Clementine_3]

Nice looking Leo's!
It may be the tiny screen I'm looking at or the angle of the pics but the albino sort of looks like a he instead of a she to me.

[olstyn]

Thanks! Leos don't get very big - about 8-10 inches long, and maybe 50 grams or so? Mine are still young, and have quite a bit of growing to do! Leopard Geckos were actually my first reptile, since I had a pair when I was a teenager... they make cool pets, although a little more skittish than your typical Ball Python.

My adult female was 75 grams last time I weighed her and just a hair short of 10 inches. Males typically get larger than females, and she's definitely above average, size-wise, but I'd be willing to bet that there are 11+ inch males out there. (To my knowledge, she has no giant blood; she just happens to be a big girl.)

As far as them being skittish goes, I don't personally have any experience handling BPs, but the leos I've handled have all been very calm and docile. Individuals vary, of course, and I've heard BPs referred to as "pet rocks" before, so maybe leos are more skittish than BPs, but they're far from a "nervous" reptile.

[olstyn]

Nice looking Leo's!
It may be the tiny screen I'm looking at or the angle of the pics but the albino sort of looks like a he instead of a she to me.

I'm with you on that; in those pics, at least, it looks like there's a bulge under that albino's tail. Could be the angle, but especially in that first pic, it looks like a boy to me.

[Lolo76]

I'm with you on that; in those pics, at least, it looks like there's a bulge under that albino's tail. Could be the angle, but especially in that first pic, it looks like a boy to me.

You know what?? I've been thinking the same thing! She was only "incubated for female," so they didn't make any guarantees about the sex... do you think he/she is old enough to check visually now? I haven't tried, since they are skittish as I said, but maybe it's time to do that.

[Lolo76]

As far as them being skittish goes, I don't personally have any experience handling BPs, but the leos I've handled have all been very calm and docile. Individuals vary, of course, and I've heard BPs referred to as "pet rocks" before, so maybe leos are more skittish than BPs, but they're far from a "nervous" reptile.

Maybe it's just because they're still young, but they are definitely jumpy when I handle them! They also spend a lot of time hiding, except when they see food (worms/crickets) - even then Sunny is really shy. I admit I don't handle them too often, so should I start doing that?

[olstyn]

Maybe it's just because they're still young, but they are definitely jumpy when I handle them! They also spend a lot of time hiding, except when they see food (worms/crickets) - even then Sunny is really shy. I admit I don't handle them too often, so should I start doing that?

What I've found works really well with getting juveniles to calm down is this: just put your hand down in their enclosure and don't move it. They will eventually get curious and come investigate you. Let them crawl on your hand, lick you, whatever. Try to just leave your hand in there for a while, and don't grab them. They'll eventually get used to the fact that you're not a threat. It takes some patience, but it's well worth it; every leo I've ever done this with will just climb up onto my hands of its own free will. I'm fairly certain they see hands as nice warm spots to hang out.