Leopard Geckos getting along

Question
QUESTION: Okay...
To get started I have five years experience with lizards. I have two Uros who get along great (for now) and that went well in the introduction phase.
I have a female leopard gecko I have had for a few months. I just bought three girls (who are near full adults) and they are clutchmates I am sure because they get along like peas in a pod.
How do I introduce them to Hathor so they can all get to the same tank here soon.
Thanks.
Andiy in freezing Idaho

ANSWER: A basking spot does not necessarily mean light...it is a warm spot...they bask in heat...which they need.








Hi Andiy,
First its very important to quarantine the new ones from your "older" leo for about 30 days to be sure there are no problems there.  Even though there may not be any signs of an illness or disease, they can still be carriers..I do suggest having fecal checks done for internal parasites also.
The very best way to introduce them would be in a neutral territory...such as a new tank.  With wanting to house 4 in the same tank, I'm hoping you have a tank that is at least 40-50 gallon or larger(floor space is more important that height)so each can have their own space. If you already have a large enough tank to house 4 of them, then I would introduce them out of the tank so your first leo does not feel the need to protect her space, especially since you want to add 3 to her home. Personally, I prefer housing them separate but I know people have had success housing females together.
Be sure to have plenty of humid, cool and warm hides in the tank so that if sharing is not wanted, they can each have their own hide. Of course basking area will need to be large enough so all can fit, or again, you may need to provide more than one area. Your original girl may feel threatened, stressed or she may allow the new leos to "move in with no problems.You will need to keep an eye out to see if there is stress or other problems..IE: one eating first all the time...one not allowing the others to bask/hide, etc...  Even though you don't see fighting, leos have their own way of communicating which can be very hard to see. Be on the lookout for less active leos, loosing weight, waiting to eat last, hiding more..etc...if you see anything that says the 4 are not getting along then you need to remove the one that is not fitting in, be it the alpha one..or the one that is getting stressed. And as I can see you know.."for now" is a big phrase in housing reptiles together.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I see what you mean. Well actually they have it really good for them. It is about 90 during the day because they are right above the uro cage and it is 120+ in there. night is about 70 wish is great. They also have an undertank heater for them. Thanks for your help. The neutral thing is a good move. They are being socialized today with friends coming over.
How does one breed crickets? It is expensive to buy them and the mass buying you can do has a 20% die rate and has numbers no less than 500 at a time. Granted the 500 are cheaper per month than the 8 dozen it takes to feed the babies, but...they only live two weeks and they die off rapidly. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Andiy,
Here is a great link for the "How to" on raising crickets.
http://www.anapsid.org/crickets.html
Sometimes its better to get younger crix if yours are dying off in two weeks. What are you using to feed them and water the crix?

Have you thought about feeding superworms?  Much easier to keep! the Leos love them. Of course they are too large for the little leos...but.........
I have found that with meal worms that I raise on my own do not have the hard outer body like those you buy..
I never keep my meal worms in the fridge..they will breed, lay eggs and have tons of little worms.
I believe that one of the reasons they don't have the hard outer body shell is due to their diet.  I feed them lots of greens, veggies, etc.  Also, with raising your own, you always have enough "fresh sheds" (the nice white ones) to feed to the leos too. Raising them also gives you a choice of sizes to feed to the baby leos... Of course variety is also needed, but with the mealies and the supers so much easier to raise and keep.