Buying a Gecko / Having it Shipped to Me?

[TripleB]

Sorry for posting another thread...but just want to be aware of a couple things before I purchase my first leo :2thumbsup::

1) How do breeders keep the Leopard Gecko alive and uninjured when they ship it to your home?

2) What age and size leo should I be looking to purchase?

3) I've noticed that some breeders charge up to $300 and more for leopard geckos (I guess it's a rare breed). What can (or what is typical) I expect to pay for a healthy (not rare) leopard gecko shipped to me?

Thanks again for all the input and help. I apologize for so many questions but when I first venture into something I try to be prepared as possible. Thank you for your patience.

TripleB

 

[LizMarie]

Its good to be prepared.

1. Well when I had my leo shipped to me she was packaged like this..

The small deli cup keeps them nice and secure so they don't jump around to much. It had a damp paper towel in it. Outside the peanuts helped secure the deli cup some more. The aluminum thing helped keep insulate the box since I had her shipped in November and it also came with a heat pack so she wouldn't get too cold. The box was fully labeled with LIVE ANIMAL. HARMLESS LEOPARD GECKO on all sides, Fragile Signs and which end was up. Many breeders try their best to keep your leo safe.

2. What age and size is really up to you. Older geckos that have been handled and treated well might be a better choice, since hatchlings can be jumpy at times. If your getting a baby shipped I believe no breeder with ship anything below 15 or 20grams, depending on their preference.

3. Rare Breed no, it's just a unique morph. Normals, certain Albinos and stuff will be around $30 - $50 which is reasonable. You just have to look around and ask. The shipping will be anywhere from $45-$75. Some have standard shipping while others charge you for the actually expense of shipping.

Have you ever thought of adopting your first leo? I adopted a beautiful Bell Hybino and just had to pay $60 shipping and she's amazing. Nice, Healthy and beautiful girl.

Also where do you live? There might be reptile shows where you can go and check them out personally and pick your favorite and might be able to cut a deal

 

[TripleB]

Its good to be prepared.

Rare Breed no, it's just a unique morph. Normals, certain Albinos and stuff will be around $30 - $50 which is reasonable. You just have to look around and ask. The shipping will be anywhere from $45-$75. Some have standard shipping while others charge you for the actually expense of shipping.

Also where do you live? There might be reptile shows where you can go and check them out personally and pick your favorite and might be able to cut a deal

Thanks for the information about the cost. It seems alot when you compare it to the $17.99 they cost at the local pet store....however, probably worth the extra cost knowing that you are getting a healthy leopard gecko from someone who actually cares about you getting a healthy leo.

I live in North Carolina about 45 miles NW of Charlotte.

Thanks again for the information.

TripleB

 

[daleo]

well i live in york sc, about 45mins from charlotte. one of the members on this forum named chris lives in rock hill sc. he is a breeder and has a few female adults for cheap right now. im not sure how long it would take you to drive to his house but you would be able to meet the person you are buying from and get to ask questions face to face. here is his web site
http://www.palmettogecko.com/index.html


dale

 

[PacHerp]

Great questions... hopefully my answers below will help....

1) How do breeders keep the Leopard Gecko alive and uninjured when they ship it to your home?

It is standard when shipping reptiles to use an insulated box with Styrofoam insulating the inside of the box from the outside temperatures. The inside of the box will then be packed tightly with newspaper(or whatever the breeder uses) to make sure the animal doesn't get tossed around while in transit. Most importantly, the breeder will make sure the animal is in an appropriately sized sealed deli cup to keep movement to a minimum until the animal arrives. Sometimes if the temperatures are cooler, the breeder will include a heat pack in the box to keep the animal warm, the same goes for cool packs when the weather is hot.

Here are two images of how I pack my boxes -

2) What age and size leo should I be looking to purchase?

Usually you can purchase an animal around 15 grams and it will be safe to ship.

3) I've noticed that some breeders charge up to $300 and more for leopard geckos (I guess it's a rare breed). What can (or what is typical) I expect to pay for a healthy (not rare) leopard gecko shipped to me?

Each breeder prices their animals according to what they feel is fair, I would say you can pick up a normal leopard gecko for about $35 or so... and an albino for around $50-$75 depending on quality. Shipping usually ranges between $45-$55.

 

[snowgyre]

I think it's safe to say that the majority of breeders on this site have a great deal of experience shipping geckos, and wouldn't ship if there was any great risk of the gecko dying in transit. I used to be leery about shipping/receiving geckos as well, but now I almost exclusively receive and ship out my geckos via UPS. In most cases, the geckos spend less than 14 hours in the box, so it's just like a long night for them.

As for size, I don't ship any geckos unless they've reached the 10-15 gram mark. The bigger the better. Also, keeping the gecko in a small container within the box is crucial since it won't get jostled around as much if the box gets mishandled. It may look uncomfortable, but geckos can be pretty contortionist, and it's better for them this way.

 

[Mel&Keith]

1. We use boxes with at least 3/4" thick foam inside and usually line that with reflective foil bubble insulation. This is a great time of year to ship a gecko because temperatures are pretty moderate all over the country. They should always be shipped Priority Overnight so they're not in transit too long. Not all addresses have a guaranteed morning delivery time but most do. You can ask the seller to check the delivery time for your address.

2. Keep in mind that the younger the gecko, typically the more spastic they are. So if you're looking for a calm gecko consider an adult.We ship geckos once they reach 20g. That's usually the minimum size we feel comfortable shipping.

3. Geckos range in price by size and genetics. Shipping for one gecko usually runs around $50 so you should be able to find a nice Leo from a reputable breeder for about $100 shipped, maybe a little less.

Be sure to check out the breeder before you buy to help ensure that you have a good experience and get a healthy gecko. On this site you can check member's iTrader ratings to see comments left for them by other buyers.

 

[TripleB]

Be sure to check out the breeder before you buy to help ensure that you have a good experience and get a healthy gecko. On this site you can check member's iTrader ratings to see comments left for them by other buyers.

Thanks for the help and information.

Excuse my ignorance, but how do I see a company's iTrader rating? When I use the pull down menu and hit iTrader I see my iTrader rating. If I click on the breeder's avatar and then goto iTrader I get my rating again.

Thanks to everyone for your help and especially your patience. I feel like I keep asking questions that should be common sense or that I feel are just a waste of your time. Thanks for your guidance.

TripleB

 

[TripleB]

Thanks for the help and information.

Excuse my ignorance, but how do I see a company's iTrader rating? When I use the pull down menu and hit iTrader I see my iTrader rating. If I click on the breeder's avatar and then goto iTrader I get my rating again.

TripleB

I'm more ignorant than I thought...I now see the iTrader number (and link) below each person's avatar...sorry about the post above.

TripleB

 

[LizMarie]

I'm more ignorant than I thought...I now see the iTrader number (and link) below each person's avatar...sorry about the post above.

TripleB

Don't worry. I've been here how long and I forget its there, :main_laugh: You should see me searching like a mad woman trying to find it. . .

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Keep in mind that according to the Federal Law (Lacey Act, 1988) ALL animals and plants shipped in the US must be labeled with: "Live, scientific name, common name, quantity, and environmental requirements". For example"

LIVE - HARMLESS REPTILES
(2) Eublepharis macularius
Leopard Geckos
Keep at 50-90 degrees F

 

[Alusdra]

Another great place to find a leopard gecko is on Craigslist or other local classifieds. Usually they come with the full set up (which you will probably have to tweak by chucking out hot rocks and pouring out sand) for $50 or less. I got two of mine free, actually, with a 20 long tank. They're both really, really old but super sweet! When people come over to visit they are the favorites.

 

[Bellalee]

Most of the reputable breeders her are very willing to work with you, and make sure it is the exactly right time to send the gecko.. Most of the breeders here I found care so much about their geckos, and that in turn makes a buying experiance from them wonderful. Honestly.. I would never go to anyone who hasnt bred the gecko themself to buy from again, they know they from hatching to the day they are shipped out.. anyways.. I just started to ramble! But yes it is a little bit more money.. but think about the amount of gas you would be spending trying to find that right certain gecko.. and you know they are healthy!