Buying From A Breeder vs Pet Store

[LovelyLeopards14]

I was thinking of starting a discussion. I know tons of "pet" owners (not breeders or hobbyists) that purchase geckos from pet stores. My local shop has leopard geckos frequently. Is it really safe to purchase a gecko without any background info? Most pet stores house them on sand -_- Even if the gecko LOOKS healthy, they could still carry mites if they are wild-caught, correct? I just wanted advice whether you guys think it is at all safe.

 

[KashMoneyExotics]

I believe it’s really up to the owner. If you’re currently breeding leopard geckos than you should have no reason to purchase a petstore gecko. If you’re deciding you want to breed leopard geckos and getting into the hobby, then guess it’s okay to breed pet stores gecko just to kind of get you’re for in the door and really make sure if this is what you want to do and make enough money to get more purer and higher quality morphs. You don’t want to spend like $150-200 on each gecko then realize you don’t want to get into the hobby. But not big chain pet stores like +++++ or ++++++++.

This is my opinion.

 

[stager]

I think if they are well cared for pet store geckos can make nice pets. But I would never breed any gecko that was not from a breeder with a good reputation, so you know what your getting. And even some of the well known breeders will sell some low end geckos in the 30 dollar range so no reason for anyone with breeding plans in there future not to by for a breeder.

 

[Phoenix1115]

I have two pet store geckos that are healthy and happy and wonderful pets. I see no problem buying them from a store that takes care of them. As tempting as it is to "save" them from bad conditions, you are just encouraging the store to continue their bad husbandry. I've found that the "Co" chain has better set ups, but it varies from area to area. I wouldn't breed them though, for the reasons of unknown genetics, as well as that they probably didn't get the best start in life so there could be some health issues surrounding breeding.

 

[acpart]

I assume by "pet store" you mean the big retail stores. There are small pet stores that sell geckos they breed themselves or that they get from breeders where they're well cared for and their genetics are known. As mentioned above, there's always a risk in breeding pet store geckos because you don't know what you have and won't be able to give the people who buy the offspring reliable genetic info.
Other reasons to think carefully before buying a big chain gecko:
--they are usually shipped to the pet stores when they're pretty young (much smaller than any I'd sell)
--they're frequently (but not always) overcrowded leading to bullying and increased chance of disease

With that in mind, it can have a good outcome. I have 3 pet store geckos myself, including my 2 oldest geckos who are close to 10 years old.

Aliza

 

[tb144050]

Other reasons to think carefully before buying a big chain gecko:
--they are usually shipped to the pet stores when they're pretty young (much smaller than any I'd sell)
--they're frequently (but not always) overcrowded leading to bullying and increased chance of disease

Aliza

I agree completely. I have had 7 geckos in my first 2 months of gecko-ing.....all from big chain stores. 5 of those 7 were nothing but problems....wouldn't eat, vomiting, diarhea, losing weight, died-or-dying when returned. My wife and I only have 2 that seem healthy and have healthy appetites.

My next ones will be ordered from breeders.

 

[LovelyLeopards14]

Thanks everyone! You're all making great points and i agree 100%. As far as i know, my local pet store doesn't breed their own, and unfortunately sometimes they are crowded. I think i might steer clear just to be safe (when I'm buying breeder geckos anyway).

 

[tb144050]

Thanks everyone! You're all making great points and i agree 100%. As far as i know, my local pet store doesn't breed their own, and unfortunately sometimes they are crowded. I think i might steer clear just to be safe (when I'm buying breeder geckos anyway).

Remember to always QUARANTINE each gecko separately for several months in case you get one with parasites, etc. Once you are sure they are healthy, then you can try to put the females of same size together. I put 3 (of the 5 we have had bad luck with) into a tank....so far 2 have died and the other is still not eating.

 

[Phantom240]

I don't see a problem with buying a pet store gecko, assuming the gecko is a pet. As breeding stock, it's iffy, due to lack of genetic background (thus taking a good many seasons to prove genetics).

 

[sausage]

my collection consists of both store bought and breeder bought geckos. when buying an animal you should always asses it before buying whether its from a store or a breeder. in the past i have had geckos die from pet store due to crypto infections and a breeder bought gecko die from unforeseen genetic problems, and another from a breeder thats still alive but has developed genetic problems.
so in my opinion there are equal risks involved in purchasing from both, but as already said you need scrutinise the said gecko before you buy it.
lots of places dont like you to handle the animals before you buy, they just like you to choose and they box it up. you really need to take a close look at it physically, watch it walking, look in its eyes, check pooh ect ect.

 

[Wheels47130]

There is a huge difference in a chain pet store and a local owned operated store. We have 2 stores with different owners here at Daytona Beach. These reptile stores carry all types of reptiles. They can tell you when each one was born, well hatched They prequalify you before selling you one. They actually care of their pets. I have no problem buying from them.

 

[sillysticks247]

I have a total of 4 leopard geckos and 3 of them are from a "pet"/reptile store. I have one from a breeder and the one from the breeder is actually the only one that has given me trouble. She's eaten 6-7 worms in the month and a half we've had her. NEVER had any trouble with the ones from the reptile shop. And the male I have from the shop has a really nice personality.

 

[Nynecho]

I have geckos from big name stores, breeders, and reptile stores, and the ones from petstores are the ones that eat the best. Second are the ones from breeders, then the ones from reptile stores. I got my best eaters from pets mart, my second best from pet co. The ones I got from reptile stores don't hunt very well, and i have to hand feed them. The one I got from a breeder is very pretty and sweet, but she is very finicky about eating. Most of the time I have to hand feed her. I guess the ones from pet stores that I've bought are the ones that have survived there for a while. The baby I have now from pet co was the only one of his shipment that lived for the month he was there, the male i have from pets mart lived almost a year there, and the female from pets mart was just their best eater and biggest one. I guess what you really have to do is research on the individual gecko you are planning to buy. Get an idea of how it acts and eats. I always called ahead or went the day before buying to see how their geckos were. And if the gecko doesn't try to run out of your hand when you first handle it, chances are it isn't going to be the best eater.
This theory has been tested and proven on all of my geckos. Just take time before buying them, even if it is from a reputable breeder. (and note i did quarantine most of my geckos when i first got them until they started eating normally and i had already tested them for salmonella and made sure they didn't have crypto/parasites)

I still have 2 males under quarantine and one who is about to be cleared to breed ^^ I have only had one gecko that I brought home die, and I knew it was going to before I bought it. Otherwise, most geckos I've gotten from pet stores have done alright, it just depends on which ones you pick.

 

[Ozy]

I have had my leopard gecko, Ozy, for almost 2 years now. I got her at the "Co" when she was a little baby and have never had a single problem with her. She's always had good sheds, been a good eater.. *knock on wood* If I was going to breed though, I would definitely purchase from a breeder though. I don't want to be breeding unknowns.

 

[tb144050]

I mentioned above that I have had a total of 7 Leo's all from "chain stores"....5 of which wouldn't eat, were returned, and/or eventually died. We have 2 of them that have successfully stayed alive for 2 months now and 1 of them is not eating alot, but is eating a couple a day...(same tank & UTH, but maybe it's colder in his part of the room??)

Anyway, after having 5 returns, exchanges, or deaths, I am sad to say that I am all tooooo familiar with the fact that chain stores do not quarantine. I returned on "truck day" to use my return-credit and get a gecko that spent very little time with "the icky group." Sadly, I saw the ones that I returned (diarhea, not eating, occational vomiting) were back in the cage for sale with the general population. It disgusted me. This gecko is the one that only eats an average of 1-2 Large crickets every 1-2days...he's unpredictable, but he doesn't eat much at all, and has regular poops (no diarhea/vomiting).

But I still bought my blizzard from another chain store because he looked so different and it was love at first sight. He is doing great, eating 5Large/day and GIANT poops. (tmi??)

I'm gonna choose to try to only buy from breeders because they are less likely to have any "outbreaks" in captive bred colonies. (My wife said that she thinks the chainstores pay foreign children 5cents for every lizard they catch and sell to the wild-importers...lol)