Be a responsible breeder. Please read.

[winwin]

I noticed that everyone who has a gecko is planning to breed them, some just for the heck of it, and most without proper knowledge and know-how of how to breed. Well first off, before getting into breeding, ask yourself a few questions:

1. Why do I want to breed my geckos?
2. Will I be able to provide them with the proper care while they are gravid?
3. Do I know how to take care of the eggs?
4. Do I want that many babies?
5. If I have the babies, am I going to keep them all? Or sell them? Am I sure I can take care of them or sell all of them?
6. Am I properly informed as to how breeding works and what I should and shouldn't do?
7. Did I research properly and thoroughly with regards to breeding, incubating and taking care of hatchlings?

After all those questions, if you still decide on breeding, read on.

Things to make sure before starting to breed:
1. Breeding only occurs if the female is ovulating.
2. Both male and female should be old enough and heavy enough to breed. Breeding takes a big toll on their bodies esp. if they are not yet ready to breed. As a general rule, make sure both male and female are at least 10months old (Better if older esp. for the female) and at least 50g or heavier.
3. You NEED to have a lay box with some sort of substrate (moss, coco peat) for the female to lay the eggs. Failure to provide that may cause female to be egg bound (egg stuck inside female), which is fatal and leads to death.
4. Prepare suitable substrate for the eggs to be incubated in. Substrates include perlite, vermiculite, coco peat and etc.
5. An incubator or a place to incubate the eggs in.
6. Containers for the babies after they have hatched.
7. Enough supply of feeders for all the babies (females lay up to as much sa 24 eggs so be prepared to feed a lot and have a lot of feeders on hand.
8. Enough vitamins and calcium for all the babies. Babies need a lot of calcium to support their fast growth. Lack of calcium would lead to MBD(Metabolic bone disease which is fatal to the baby).
9. A lot of spare time to take care of the babies and make sure they are healthy.
10. Some spare cash to spend on the supplies, food, containers and etc. of the babies.

After all those have been secured, and you are sure that you are ready to breed and you are able to take care of all you bred. Then you can start breeding.

Do not breed just for fun.
Do not breed just for the heck of it.
Do NOT cross albino strains. There are 3 albino strains and you should NOT cross them with each other, they are not compatible and will not yield a "cool" new morph and will only muddy the gene pool even more.
Do not breed geckos that are too young or mix a female and a male together with no intent of breeding.


Be a responsible breeder. You don't need to breed your geckos to be a hobbyist. Thanks for reading.

 

[Desdemona]

Though I'll agree that there are probably those who breed because they want to see cute babies and don't really "know" the full extent on what they are doing... I will say that it probably only "seems" that way because of the nature of the board. Casual owners who just want a cute pet probably won't hang around here unless there is a health issue with their pet. It's those who are more serious and have a greater interest in the species as general..and also those who will more likely want to breed them.

I also disagree that you shouldn't breed, "just for fun," if you are more than willing to keep all of the babies (and are not crossing the albinos). Having a single clutch and keeping the kids for some "free" geckos is fine IMO. Of course given that the person knows what they are doing. I've done that with quite a few of my previous pet interests. In all cases but one (since I had a steady customer) I breed simply for personal interest, not to sell babies and took good care of the offspring. I had one rat litter (they were pets), two mice litters, and multiple dwarf hamster litters (the ones I were able to sell). In the end I also had a dwarf hamster litter where I kept the entire bunch (minus one due to a unexpected sell to a friend) because I loved their dad so much (he was a unusual little guy). (though it should be noted that none of the babies had dad's qualities... so breeding in hopes of a similar offspring doesn't always work).

 

[Dimidiata]

I own a gecko, i take extreme intrest and i have NO intent to breed. I dont breed my animals unless i know their background as stupid as that may seem. I have breed only Dwarf gourami, danio, gold barbs and hopefuly 10years from now, bettas.

 

[animeavatar]

I don't breed anything. Maybe someday frogs BUT only if I feel like I'm ready and I've researched and got experience.

 

[winwin]

Though I'll agree that there are probably those who breed because they want to see cute babies and don't really "know" the full extent on what they are doing... I will say that it probably only "seems" that way because of the nature of the board. Casual owners who just want a cute pet probably won't hang around here unless there is a health issue with their pet. It's those who are more serious and have a greater interest in the species as general..and also those who will more likely want to breed them.

I also disagree that you shouldn't breed, "just for fun," if you are more than willing to keep all of the babies (and are not crossing the albinos). Having a single clutch and keeping the kids for some "free" geckos is fine IMO. Of course given that the person knows what they are doing. I've done that with quite a few of my previous pet interests. In all cases but one (since I had a steady customer) I breed simply for personal interest, not to sell babies and took good care of the offspring. I had one rat litter (they were pets), two mice litters, and multiple dwarf hamster litters (the ones I were able to sell). In the end I also had a dwarf hamster litter where I kept the entire bunch (minus one due to a unexpected sell to a friend) because I loved their dad so much (he was a unusual little guy). (though it should be noted that none of the babies had dad's qualities... so breeding in hopes of a similar offspring doesn't always work).

Breeding irresponsibly is the issue I am addressing. If you breed for fun but are willing to take care of everything then by all means, go ahead. But some just breed for fun but don't bother to take care or even know how to take care of them.

 

[Desdemona]

Oooh, I would love to breed bettas, thought about trying it once but once I read about the offspring potential I changed my mind.

Maybe some who "think" they know what they are doing will see this. The truly irresponsible probably won't care. I think mentioning that they could be looking at an upwards of 20 geckos would be a good point to add.. and only from one pair.

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[Desdemona]

Ooops, you did mention the baby count, ignore my last.

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[Taquiq]

This is a good post. I also breed fish like Mollies, Bettas, and barbs. Very interesting!

 

[Russellm0704]

Just because they lay 12-20 eggs does not mean you have to hatch them out. If you only want 3 or 4 geckos to personally keep and take care of then you can just discard the eggs. There is nothing wrong with not bringing more geckos into this world. But before anyone should breed they should have enclosures or racks up an running before even thinking about it. And they should also estimate the increases cost of feeding since babies eat like pigs!

 

[Desdemona]

I agree with Russell... though I dont' think I could personally do that.. my curiosity would win over my intellect and I would HAVE to know what was in those eggs! Though I would not find fault with anyone else who did have the will power.

 

[Russellm0704]

Is it wrong to toss out gecko eggs? I honestly don't know if it is right or wrong.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I don't believe it's wrong to toss out gecko eggs, for a number of reasons. For instance, a new to geckos keeper adopts a gecko from craigslist or even a friend brings them one that someone no longer wanted. A few weeks later eggs appear, much to the surprise of the new keeper. Panic begins. It would be right to discard the eggs as the keeper was not prepared for such a thing. Incompatible lines of albinism would be another good reason. A possible genetic defect is another. I do think that it's wrong to breed just to get a couple free geckos because it's selfish knowing the female will most likely lay multiple clutches and sometimes things go horribly wrong resulting in injury or worse.

 

[Russellm0704]

So if you want more geckos to keep, just go
Buy them and save the trouble of buying incubator and risking female

 

[Desdemona]

Keeping pets period is selfish, especially a highly instinctual animal like a gecko that easily stresses. If you breed your own pets you know their history, you can get some hatchlings that would otherwise be expensive (I spent 400 on my last two) and incubators and all of that have dual purposes...ie hatching silkworms so still a good investment.

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[animeavatar]

My dad thinks it is cruel to throw out fertile eggs. Some people just breed for the $$$

 

[sunshinegeckos]

$$$? there is money in breeding?? haha

 

[im faster]

as posted in another thread

Do not breed just for fun.
Do not breed just for the heck of it.

needs to be changed.

 

[animeavatar]

THe $$$ just goes back to the geckos so those greedy ppl dont get anything

 

[winwin]

I agree with Russell... though I dont' think I could personally do that.. my curiosity would win over my intellect and I would HAVE to know what was in those eggs! Though I would not find fault with anyone else who did have the will power.

For me I couldn't do that since I don't think I have it in me to freeze the eggs.

 

[winwin]

$$$? there is money in breeding?? haha

Well actually there is. Haha so if someone is in for the money, then by all means go ahead but be sure to be able to care for the geckos.