Be a responsible breeder. Please read.

[stager]

I've considered it but just don't have the time so I don't. But I think this is a great post.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Just to throw a wrench in the works... I've been a gecko breeder (7 species) for 16 years this month, and I am asking myself "why". We are dealing with living creatures here... not inventory items.

 

[Dimidiata]

^ because humans are selfish and overly curious, wich out ways are true care for the animals, lets face it, if we really cared for their best we would want them to be wild BUT these are geckos that are bred in captivity with all our fancy colors. Thus they cant be wild. SO we give them the next best thing, a good home, food love and care. But as for breeding i dont see why EVERYONE has to do it, not they everyone does but i would say a large mass do.

 

[Desdemona]

A large number of breeders on this board, but if you compare with other species... reptiles and their breeders are still in a slight minority. I think it just seems like, "everyone," does so because that is the personality that seeks out this board. A few who are just pet owners... but if you go to the cute and furry type boards you will find a different genre of person... the ones who just want to share stories of their pet-kids. Reptiles don't make that kind of connection.... so that personality is here much less... which leaves the breeders.

This is just my observation. There are not a large number of Leos in my area compared to other species (Bearded Dragons seem to be the most common reptile wise) and I live in a pretty populated area. They don't even show up in large numbers on craig's list. So if everyone was breeding then they must all be on the East coast. I think its just an illusion of sorts created by the type of population that is a regular on this forum. However, its only my observation.

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[sunshinegeckos]

A large number of breeders on this board, but if you compare with other species... reptiles and their breeders are still in a slight minority. I think it just seems like, "everyone," does so because that is the personality that seeks out this board. A few who are just pet owners... but if you go to the cute and furry type boards you will find a different genre of person... the ones who just want to share stories of their pet-kids. Reptiles don't make that kind of connection.... so that personality is here much less... which leaves the breeders.

This is just my observation. There are not a large number of Leos in my area compared to other species (Bearded Dragons seem to be the most common reptile wise) and I live in a pretty populated area. They don't even show up in large numbers on craig's list. So if everyone was breeding then they must all be on the East coast. I think its just an illusion of sorts created by the type of population that is a regular on this forum. However, its only my observation.

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I agree. For those that breed everyone has their own reason for why they do it. Some do it for fun, some do it for the chance to make some money down the road, some do it to better the gecko population, etc etc. As long as your repsonsible and can take care of the breeders, hatchlings and any issues that will arise I see no harm. I don't think it is an accurate assumption that everyone who owns geckos wants to breed them. I think it feels like that on here because a lot of breeders come to this message board to talk to other breeders, get help and have a place to go to talk about geckos (or other reptile species). There are those that dont breed that come on here but they are the minority but I think that is just because of the nature of the board.

 

[brillobee]

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

I never had thought of this. The expense of buying the incubator, feeding and housing to get "free" geckos. I think I'll just use that cash to buy one that I know is what I want.

 

[Desdemona]

If you want something specific... you really will have more luck buying than breeding. If you just want a generic tremper.. then you can easily breed two trempers and get that. Some of these morphs however require a few generations to make and it could be quite time and money consuming to get THAT specific morph.

Also since geckos are only fertile for a few years you would have to keep on breeding new geckos every two or three years to keep your "free" lines going. Otherwise you have original gecko dieing then 3 years later their offspring dies (assuming both live to the same age) and you have no geckos again.

Considerations... time is the biggest factor for me, and right now I don't have a lot so I will wait till next year... end of 2012 beg 2013 for any breeding attempts. For me.. I just love genetics and seeing what I can "pop/hatch out." I've breed animals in the past and once I retire I plan on being a full time hobbiest with animals everywhere! All properly care for of course. I won't be on any crazy horder show.