A question for ALL gecko enthusiast.

[KMR]

I am a snake person, and have never been into Leopard Gecko. But I have a simple question for you guys.

When keeping snake, if you have to make an emergency departure or a short vacation, your snakes can survive on thier own for a while, maybe 2 weeks. But in the Gecko World, if your family hates reptiles and you have no one to help, and you need to make an emergency departure or mini vacation, what are your options.

Now water can stay in a dish for some time, but I learn't geckos need to be feed regularly, especially hatchlings. What are my options here?

 

[Halley]

Simply, when you go on vacation somebody has to take care of them. It is irresponsible to go on vacation without them having proper care in my opinion.

 

[KMR]

Simply, when you go on vacation somebody has to take care of them. It is irresponsible to go on vacation without them having proper care in my opinion.

That is what i'm saying...

Note- I said emergency.

 

[acpart]

I once left an adult gecko for 10 days with a whole lot of mealworms and a friend to keep the water dishes filled. She was fine, and I think an adult could last that long with some good pre-feeding as long as there's water. Hatchlilngs empty their bowls just about every night. I went away for 4 days this summer with someone coming in once to fill water bowls and she may have put mealworms in. I didn't feel real good about this but they were all OK.

Aliza

 

[KMR]

That sounds something like what I would do. But the thing is, everyone I know hates reptiles. So I have no options that I can think of, that is why I'm here...

I'm here to read what is the best thing someone can do, if he/she was in this position. And I'm sure someone had something relateing to this...

 

[OhioGecko]

You need to have multiple backups you can count on.

 

[Morph]

yeah i'd find a pet sitter thankfully i have friends who love my reptiles

 

[Lena]

Luckily, I have a stepfather who is very enthusiastic about "watching them hunt" when I go away, he really genuinely seems to enjoy feeding my assorted reptiles. While on occasion I've come back to my bearded dragon's tank with many a wandering cricket, I know his intentions were good and that my animals were well-fed.

I'm actually going on vacation week after next and I'm leaving superworms this time, which should be much less of a concern.

 

[KMR]

So someone have no options if they were in that position?

 

[acpart]

So someone have no options if they were in that position?

From the number of petsitter ads I see on craigslist, you could always check out one of those people, interview them and ask for references.

Aliza

 

[KMR]

I should have mentioned this, but if you have a LARGE collection. What do you do? No petshitters!

 

[acpart]

I would like to think that no one gets to the point of having a large collection without lining up a pet sitter.

Aliza

 

[Baoh]

Do they ever have to go without food for periods in nature? Almost like they store energy in their tails.

Probably. I just would not make it a habit and try to make sure they stay hydrated.

Now, I wouldn't take that risk with hatchlings, though. They lack robustness and that would surely be negligence.

 

[Euphoric]

KMR your making a lot of excuses...
I don't see why you couldn't do a pet sitter and why you can't have reliable family at least to put some crickets in the cage.
My mom hates crickets, but I know she will feed them if she ever has to.

Those are really your only options you have to get someone to feed them.

If you can't do anything to back it up, don't get the animals.

 

[KMR]

Excuses? What are you talking about? I have NO geckos now. I am just asking if someone ended up in that position. I never said I was in that position!

What are you talking about? You should post anything before you read the thread completly...

 

[Euphoric]

No, sorry if that came up bad but every suggestion that has been made you have countered it, esp with the petsitter.

There are great petsitters if you can find them.

I am just saying, if someone else ended up in that position I am sure you would volunteer

I know you have no geckos, thats why I said if you can't do anything or plan you shouldn't get the animals.

When buying an animal you have to consider all the things you have to do, expenses and having an emergency plan.

I have a list on my wall next to my cages of feeding times, how much to feed according to what geckos and my hamsters care and fishtank care just in case something happens.

I also have a good friend who would take in all my animals if something happened that way my family wouldn't have to sell them or worry about them going to a good home.

 

[KMR]

I avoided the petsitter thing because I was looking at it where a small breeder was in that situation. i should have said that.

I'm sure the petsitter thing would change now right ?
What do you think should happen now?

 

[Euphoric]

I am currently working up to small breeder status, and I would still hire a pet sitter if no family or friends would do it, which i think is pretty silly because I am sure most people could convince one to do it, or have a younger family member do it for a cheap pay and have their parent supervise.

There isn't really any other options, I am sorry. You can't just throw in 50 crickets and a bunch of mealworms and hope for the best. Someone needs to be found to take care of the animals.

If your a small breeder maybe look into a employee type thing a boyfriend/girlfriend or something of that sort.

Maybe go to the local college ask some animal vet techs or something to help you out?

 

[Paco]

Babies are your only real concern. They need much more attention and care as compaired to adults. Adults can go weeks without food and water and show no signs of dehydration of lack of nutirition. I know I have had a few escapee's before. If they are healthy to start. Not that I would ever suggest you do this. Your best bet would be to have some sort of back up lined up just in case. Friends I have come to learn can be dependable sometimes. LOL But I found if you give the Family a hard enough time they will eventully give in. If they have a hard time with reptiles you make thiungs as easy a s possible for them when you leave. You have all the food in seperate conatiners for feeding, so they never have to touch feeders and tell them to fill water bolws when they get low. If thats all they had to do most would not have a problem doing this. So plan ahead if you want a Leo colony and you should be OK. Pet sitter's would be questionable for me as well. Dropping a pet off somewhere to be watched is one thing. Having a Stranger in your house with no supervision for 7-14 Days is very sketchy at the least. But if they jave excellent refrences there should be no issue. Except it could get very pricey.

Another option for you is to check out your loacal reptile/herp culb if any and get in there. Also you could go to various reptile forums and see who might live close to you and get to know the person and go from there.

That is one down side's to having a large collection of animals. You don't get very many Vacations. I am sure many here will agree.

 

[Morph]

i agree with paco for sure!

sometimes you might not find anyone to take care of your pets...worst case senario but then you have to think what more important...besides most plan things in advance especially for like vacations. there arent many reason i would just leave out of the blue for weeks with no preperation.