Buying from a petstore (part 2 and a hide question)

[TattooAngel]

So I went to another pet store today, one that wasn't as expensive as the one mention in this thread:
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=70219

It's a small city petstore (Pet Universe) that has helped my mom and I out with pet foods and pet care before (they are always ver helpful), and I was suprised that they even had a leopard gecko. This pet store got bad reputation from one of my friends before though because they housed some of their guinea pigs with rabbits and she didn't like that. I tried to do everything that Bbugs mentioned in the last thread. I checked his tail (which was nice and fat), his eyes (which were clear), but I didn't ask for age (he looked to be a juvenille). He had strong legs (he actually tried jumping into the air more than once when I held him, tough little guy). I didn't exactly get to check for breathing because he started getting jumpy, but he looked to ve very happy and healthy. (The only thing I didn't like is that he had clay-like sand at substrate.) I also held the African Fat Tail they had their so I could compare them, and that little guy passed the majority of the check points that Bbugs mentioned. (He was a lot calmer than the leo so I got to check him out a little more.)

Their leopard gecko was about 40 dollars and their African Fat Tail was about 50 dollars.

I even talked to the guy a little for advice and he told me the leopard gecko they have likes to cilmb a lot. So they did know their animals a little. So what do you guys think? I might buy from that store. (It's owned by two people by the way.)

Secondly, I have a question. I am planning on building a hide because the one hide I was given was originally ment for mice and is a little to high for my taste. I was wondering if regular clay (like the ones you fire in a kiln) is okay for making hides. I wouldn't fire this one but keep it as it is and use it as a moist hide. I was going to spray the inside to keep it moist and let the outside dry. Would that be okay? What are your thoughts? (I can get my creation fired if I have to fire it and just use moist moss if this doesn't work.)

Edit: The guy I talked to told me he knew the morph of the gecko he was selling and if I wanted a specific one or a sepcific gender he would order it for me.

 

[Dog Shrink]

First if he says he can order the morph you want I would think one of 2 things... he either gets his leos from a warehouse breeder type that has to unload their non-holdbacks somewhere and he's one of many small shops they supply (or even big chains for that matter). OR it's a more reputable shop that gets their leos from a select few local breeders who have to get rid of their non-holdbacks. Hoping for the latter. I would ask more questions about where they get their leos from if you're not happy with the one you looked at and how committed to buying the one they order for you? What if it comes in and looks horrid? are you stuck with it?