What Do Gecko Eggs Look Like? A Guide To Their Color, Size, And More

If you keep male and female geckos together, finding eggs in the enclosure is a real possibility. What those eggs look like depends heavily on the species. A leopard gecko egg and a flying gecko egg have almost nothing in common beyond both being reptile eggs. Knowing what to expect from your specific species makes it much easier to spot them, assess their condition, and decide whether to incubate them separately.

General Characteristics of Gecko Eggs

Most gecko eggs share a few traits regardless of species. They are typically white or off-white in colour, oval or spherical in shape, and range from roughly a third of an inch to one and a half inches depending on the species. Most are laid in pairs, and most species lay multiple clutches per year.

Beyond that, gecko eggs split into two broad categories based on shell type. Soft-shelled eggs have a leathery, pliable surface that may feel slightly rubbery when fresh. Hard-shelled (calcareous) eggs are firmer from the moment they are laid, similar in texture to a hard-boiled egg without the shell. Both types are normal. Which type your gecko produces is species-specific, not a sign of anything wrong.

Two other things to watch for. First, small sweat-like droplets on the outside of the egg are normal during incubation. Second, some eggs develop a slight dent as they approach hatching. This is also normal and not a sign of failure. Eggs that are shrivelled, sunken, or have a soft and gooey texture from the start are likely infertile. For a broader look at gecko reproduction, see what lizard eggs look like and our guide on how long lizard eggs take to hatch.

Gecko Eggs by Species

Leopard Gecko Eggs

Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) eggs are oval, chalk white, and have a slightly leathery texture comparable to suede. They typically measure between one and one and a half inches, roughly the size of a thumb. I have found that freshly laid eggs are firm and compact, and they harden further as incubation progresses.

Darker colouration or light speckling on the shell is not uncommon and has no impact on viability. If you want to check for development without disturbing the egg, hold a small torch directly against the shell in a dark room. You can see the embryo silhouetted inside a fertile egg. Signs of an infertile egg include a shrivelled appearance, an unusually soft texture, or a balloon-like feel.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 8
• Incubation period: 35 to 90 days
• Incubation temperature: 77 to 92°F

Crested Gecko Eggs

Crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) eggs are white and oval, measuring around an inch long. One of the first things I noticed when my crested geckos started laying is that the eggs often look rough or dirty when first found. That is because females bury them in the substrate, and the surface picks up whatever it was pushed through. A smooth egg is equally fine; the texture tells you nothing about the egg’s condition.

Females will generally ignore their eggs once laid. Remove them promptly to a separate incubation container to prevent accidental damage from the adults moving around the enclosure. When moving them, keep the same orientation they were laid in. Rotating the egg in early incubation can cause the embryo to detach from the membrane. Incubating crested gecko eggs at a slightly lower temperature for a longer period tends to produce larger, sturdier hatchlings.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 6 to 9
• Incubation period: 60 to 120 days
• Incubation temperature: 68 to 78°F

African Fat-Tailed Gecko Eggs

African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) eggs are ovular, white, and have a slightly chalky texture, measuring between one and one and a half inches. Females typically bury them under the substrate, so provide a lay box or check the enclosure carefully if you are expecting eggs. Each clutch usually contains two eggs, which start slightly sticky before firming up as incubation progresses. Single-egg and three-egg clutches are possible but less common.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 3
• Clutches per year: 3 to 5
• Incubation period: 40 to 70 days
• Incubation temperature: 82 to 93°F

Asian House Gecko Eggs

Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) eggs are round and relatively small at around a third of an inch. Unlike the soft-shelled eggs of many gecko species, these have a hard shell that helps resist moisture loss and physical impact. In the wild they are laid in soil, leaf litter, rock gaps, or under bark. In captivity, check under hides, carpet, substrate, and on tank walls. The hard shells make them more durable than most gecko eggs, and you can see through them from underneath when holding them to light.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 4
• Incubation period: 46 to 90 days
• Incubation temperature: 64 to 84°F

Chahoua Gecko Eggs

Chahoua gecko (Mniarogekko chahoua) eggs are well-calcified and approximately thumb-sized. Females typically bury them in substrate or leaf litter, or tuck them behind bark, and unusually among geckos, will guard the eggs until they hatch. The chahoua is the only species in the Rhacodactylus genus that lays this type of highly calcified egg. This places significant calcium demands on the female. After her second or third clutch of the season, monitor her closely for signs of metabolic bone disease and calcium deficiency, and ensure supplementation is consistent throughout the breeding season.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 5
• Incubation period: 60 to 200 days
• Incubation temperature: 64 to 77°F

Chinese Cave Gecko Eggs

Chinese cave gecko (Goniurosaurus hainanensis) eggs are white and oval, measuring around one and a half inches, with a hard shell. Females prefer to lay in cooler, more humid areas of the enclosure and will typically bury the eggs under substrate away from the heat source. Check carefully under hides and accessories. These hard-shelled eggs are easy to miss and easy to crack if you are not paying attention when rearranging the enclosure.

• Eggs per clutch: 2
• Clutches per year: 2 to 6
• Incubation period: 60 to 90 days
• Incubation temperature: 75 to 84°F

Electric Blue Gecko Eggs

Electric blue gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi) eggs are noticeably smaller than most species on this list: pea-sized and roughly a third of an inch long, with a hard shell. This is an egg-gluing species, meaning the eggs are firmly pressed and adhered to a solid surface immediately after laying. Do not attempt to remove them; the egg will almost certainly be destroyed in the attempt. If no dedicated laying site is provided, females will use any crevice or gap available in the enclosure.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 6
• Incubation period: 50 to 142 days
• Incubation temperature: 70 to 83°F

Flying Gecko Eggs

Flying gecko (Gekko kuhli) eggs are white and spherical, measuring between half an inch and three-quarters of an inch. In the wild they are communal egg-gluers, often found adhered to leaves or bark alongside eggs from other females. In captivity expect to find them glued to tank walls, the inside of hides, or the underside of large accessories. These eggs are extremely fragile and will break if you attempt to peel them from the surface. If the eggs are on a removable item, incubate that item separately within a container rather than trying to remove the eggs from it.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 4
• Incubation period: 21 to 127 days
• Incubation temperature: 70 to 90°F

Frog-Eyed Gecko Eggs

Frog-eyed gecko (Teratoscincus scincus) eggs are white, oval, hard-shelled, and calcareous, measuring around one and a half inches. Unlike many gecko species, frog-eyed geckos are not gluers. The eggs are deposited separately into the substrate and are not adhered to each other or any surface. Females show no interest in guarding or incubating the eggs, so transfer them to a separate incubation container promptly to prevent adults from accidentally stepping on them. Handle minimally and maintain their original orientation when moving.

• Eggs per clutch: 2
• Clutches per year: 2 to 4
• Incubation period: 60 to 100 days
• Incubation temperature: 80 to 90°F

Gargoyle Gecko Eggs

Gargoyle gecko (Rhacodactylus auriculatus) eggs are white, soft-shelled, and elongated oval in shape, roughly thumb-sized. Females bury them in the substrate rather than gluing them to surfaces, which makes them easier to locate and handle than glued eggs. Transfer to a separate incubation container once found. Adult geckos may eat them if left in the main enclosure. Pairs are the norm.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 4 to 9
• Incubation period: 45 to 100 days
• Incubation temperature: 70 to 82°F

Gold Dust Day Gecko Eggs

Gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) eggs are small at around a quarter of an inch and are not gluers. The eggs dry after laying and can be carefully removed without damage once fully hardened. In the wild they are typically laid inside sansevieria leaf crevices or bamboo shoots. In captivity, providing similar enclosed laying sites encourages natural egg-laying behaviour. Females of this species are secretive during egg laying and should not be disturbed.

Two eggs per clutch is standard, laid adhered to each other but not to a surface. A sticky or gooey texture on the egg once it has had time to dry indicates the egg is infertile. Move fertile eggs to a separate incubation container promptly. Adults of this species may eat hatchlings if left in the same enclosure.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 5
• Incubation period: 35 to 50 days
• Incubation temperature: 75 to 85°F

Golden Gecko Eggs

Golden gecko (Gekko ulikovskii) eggs are white to slightly yellowish, measuring a third to half an inch, with a hard shell. This is a prominent egg-gluing species. The eggs are firmly adhered to whatever surface the female chooses and cannot be removed without destroying the embryo. Do not attempt removal. In the wild, golden geckos are communal nesters and single nesting sites have been documented with 250 to 300 eggs from multiple females. In captivity, eggs appear on hides, dishes, and tank walls. Females are selective about where they lay and will only use sites they consider suitable, so ensure the environment provides appropriate conditions throughout the breeding season.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 6
• Incubation period: 60 to 200 days
• Incubation temperature: 75 to 85°F

Mediterranean House Gecko Eggs

Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) eggs are oval, measuring around a third of an inch, and are communally laid. Multiple females will often use the same nesting site. Fresh eggs are slightly sticky and soft, hardening as incubation progresses. In the wild they are found in tree bark crevices, rock gaps, man-made structures, and moist soil. Incubation time in captivity is strongly temperature-dependent: at 90°F eggs hatch in around 45 days; at 79°F they take around 60 days.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 2 to 3
• Incubation period: 45 to 180 days
• Incubation temperature: 79 to 90°F

Moorish Gecko Eggs

Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) eggs are notably spherical, hard-shelled, and distinctly white, measuring between a quarter and half an inch. Unlike most gecko species, the two eggs in a clutch are deposited separately rather than adhered to each other. In the wild they are found in tree bark crevices and wall gaps; in captivity they will be buried in a moist section of the substrate. Move fertile eggs to a dedicated incubation container promptly. This species is known to eat its young immediately after hatching.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 2 to 4
• Incubation period: 55 to 98 days
• Incubation temperature: 70 to 85°F

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko Eggs

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) eggs measure around an inch in length and are typically found under clumps of leaf litter, under hides, or buried in substrate. Clutches are usually pairs, though single-egg and three-egg clutches are possible. A sticky, soft texture indicates the egg is infertile.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 3
• Clutches per year: 2 to 6
• Incubation period: 60 to 120 days
• Incubation temperature: 70 to 78°F

Tokay Gecko Eggs

Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) eggs are hard-shelled and oval, ranging considerably in size from an eighth of an inch to one and a half inches. The eggs are affixed to vertical surfaces. Check the tank walls first if you are looking for them. Tokay geckos are one of the few gecko species where both parents are actively involved in egg care: females brood over the eggs to regulate temperature, with parents alternating to guard the clutch. Leave these eggs in place with the parents. Attempting to remove them or rearranging the nesting site stresses the female significantly and can prevent her from producing further clutches that season. If you want to stop breeding, remove the male from the enclosure rather than disturbing the nest.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 3 to 4
• Incubation period: 60 to 200 days
• Incubation temperature: 80 to 86°F

White-Lined Gecko Eggs

White-lined gecko (Gekko vittatus) eggs are small at a quarter of an inch, hard-shelled, and glued to surfaces, typically the stalks of leaves in the wild and tank walls or accessories in captivity. The paired eggs are adhered to each other and to the surface. As with all egg-gluing species, removal will destroy the egg. Cover glued eggs with a ventilated deli cup if you are concerned about the adults interfering. Parents of this species can be either protective of the eggs or may crush or eat them. Observe behaviour and act accordingly.

• Eggs per clutch: 1 to 2
• Clutches per year: 4 to 8
• Incubation period: 75 to 180 days
• Incubation temperature: 75 to 85°F

Fertile vs Infertile Eggs: What to Look For

Regardless of species, the signs of a healthy egg versus an infertile one are consistent. A fertile egg will be firm, white or off-white, and will plump up slightly as incubation progresses. When held to a light source in a dark room, a fertile egg in early to mid incubation will show a pink or reddish shadow of the embryo and blood vessels inside.

An infertile egg will be yellow, very soft, gooey, or quickly begin to collapse and shrivel. Mould growth on the shell is a sign of an infertile or dead egg. Remove mouldy or clearly infertile eggs from a shared incubation container promptly to prevent the mould from spreading to viable eggs.