Curious...do geckos "drop" their "balls"? Overnight discovery of a male!

**danar1977** · 03-27-2011, 03:56 AM

About a week ago I had checked on my clutchmates that are now around 10 grams each and have always been housed together. The next nigth when I checked on them I noticed that FOR SURE one is a male. So, I am wondering if this is normal to be an "overnight" thing, do they "drop" their balls? Or is it a slow process and I just seemed to see it one day more than the day before!??

**rhatfield** · 03-27-2011, 04:04 AM

I have seen it happen. quite annoying when that pretty girl turns out to be testosterone challenged.

**danar1977** · 03-27-2011, 05:56 AM

Hehe. I was actually kinda hoping he was a male, and hoping the other was a female. Think she is, but I am not sure if i can confirm yet as she is only 10 grams. When do you think it is "confirmable'??

**newlyson** · 03-27-2011, 07:57 AM

you can usually tell by 15-20 grams

**Saille** · 03-27-2011, 08:30 PM

Get a jeweler's loupe from Pangea so you can check for pores, thats the best way to tell. Males can "hold their balls" until about 22 grams before dropping, so a 30x jeweler's loupe should be a crucial thing to have especially if you're breeding.

**rubberduckey273** · 03-27-2011, 08:41 PM

all my younger males have seemed to.. show up overnight. i had a gecko that looked female until around 25 grams, and then hello. looking for those pores is the best way to go, but that can be hard.

**MistyC** · 03-27-2011, 11:49 PM

Keep in mind that females can display extremely pore-like dimples in the same general area as males have pores.

I have a 17g "female" right now with "pores" and no obvious testicles.
Also one of my females who's eggs are currently hatching has very pore-like scales near her vent as well, I could see how someone might mistake her for a male if they didn't know her age/history/lack of male bulge.