Breeding beardies?

[acpart]

There's something I'm wondering about from the people who breed beardies. I breed leopard geckos and this is the first year (my 4th year breeding) where I feel sure I will sell all my babies. I have produced about 35 babies a year and always do sell but I have had to take it on faith. From what I understand about beardies, they can lay several large clutches a season and the babies eat a lot. As we all know, adults need a lot more space than a single leo. What I'm curious about is how people who breed beardies manage to feed and sell them. ALso, I worry sometimes about the number of beardies I see on craigslist either being sold because the owner can't take care of them, or being sold as adults with 10 gallon tanks. I really don't mean this in a "how can you possibly do this?" way, more in a "what do you take into consideration given the situation" kind of way. Any responses would be interesting.

Aliza

 

[LadyGecko]

I guess that since I have paired my male and female and I am breeding breadies for the first time in more than 5 years I can give this one a go

I unfortunately cannot be responsible for an animal once it leaves my care-in the event of selling or giving away animal
I can only hope that they are properly taken care of and help with any questions from people that are interested in buying babies or that come back to me for help with them

I would guess that anyone here that breeds/sells reptiles must feel the some what the same or you could never part with a single baby or even breed them for that matter

Now-I have not successfully hatched out any Leos eggs as of yet (I paired two females up with a male this year and I am waiting on both females first clutch) but in the past with my Beardie babies-I have sold locally (local Pet shop where I could go and check on them ) and a bit on the net

You are right-Beardies do produce many more babies per clutch than say Leos but them so do a lot of snakes and people still breed them like crazy

My personal plan for Beardie babies is this

I have numerous empty aquariums (from former fish keeping days) for housing future Beardie babies and the UV lighting (all new bulbs) and fixtures and the bug supply that will be needed-again provided locally
Veggies are the easy part-lol

I have contacted the few nearby pet shops-my bug supplier works for a green house that also sells reptiles and they are interested in the future babies

I will most likely put up an ad on the classifieds of the various websites that I belong to for babies that do not go to local pet shops/people when they are ready to be sold
Also-there is a reptile swap a bit north from me where I can bring them to sell


With the economy being in such sad shape-I was wondering the other day if I should have paired up Harry and Sally but damn-I have been waiting over a year for them to be the right age and weight for breeding-lol

I don't think that there are any more mistreated/unwanted Beardies than there are any other type of reptile that is being bred and sold

With all of this in mind-I am glad that I did pair up Harry and Sally but I doubt that she will be bred again next year

This is more for me and my love for the Beardies in general -than to try and make any money-lol

I just hope that I can come close to breaking even after buying all those crickets-lol



my .02
Sandy