Check out craigslist

[-_Mindless Destruction_-]

So I have looked on craigslist in the dallas area, there are a lot of leopard gecko's and others that are for sale because people can not keep them.

So check that place out if you want to get another one, bet you can make some of the offers go down.

Just don't want something bad to happen to those gecko's...

 

[IonBaller07]

I was checking on there a few days ago around my area in VA and I could not find any. I had gotten a 10 gallon from a pet store for just $10 and figured if there was any leos that needed rescuing I could help them out. But there was none so now the 10 gallon will help me breed crickets.

 

[Nigel4less]

Your not exactly rescuing an animal if you are paying someone for it, whether its an individual or a pet store. You are encouraging them with the disposable pet mentality, of... " If I don't want it I can sell it and get something else"...

 

[nrich]

There is a guy near me that posts in the adoption section of craigslist. He is obviously a breeder and charges an "adoption" fee that is comparable to some of the prices I've seen listed in the classified section here. I've flagged him a couple times just because I don't like the fact he is taking advantage of the Adoption Etiquette of Craigslist.

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Your not exactly rescuing an animal if you are paying someone for it, whether its an individual or a pet store. You are encouraging them with the disposable pet mentality, of... " If I don't want it I can sell it and get something else"...

Word...

 

[IonBaller07]

Your not exactly rescuing an animal if you are paying someone for it, whether its an individual or a pet store. You are encouraging them with the disposable pet mentality, of... " If I don't want it I can sell it and get something else"...

True but if hes selling the animal on craigslist its probably not in great condition. Sure it might be encouraging him if you buy it,but should that one thats for sale have to suffer/die if you could easily give him a better life.

 

[pandress]

I was checking on there a few days ago around my area in VA and I could not find any. I had gotten a 10 gallon from a pet store for just $10 and figured if there was any leos that needed rescuing I could help them out. But there was none so now the 10 gallon will help me breed crickets.

What area in VA are you from? Try checking the craiglist in a few surrounding areas. There are almost always leopard gecko posts on my local CL.

 

[pandress]

Your not exactly rescuing an animal if you are paying someone for it, whether its an individual or a pet store. You are encouraging them with the disposable pet mentality, of... " If I don't want it I can sell it and get something else"...

This is a really complex issue. Even if you get an animal from a legitimate rescue, you are going to pay some sort of fee. Obviously in a rescue, you are (hopefully) paying for feed, supplies, etc. Most rescues take a loss, regardless.

I will admit the majority of people on craigslist are not responsible and consider animals (especially reptiles who aren't snuggly like a kitten) to be throw away pets. However, there are also people who genuinely realize they are overwhelmed by either money, care, whatnot. I see no issue of 'adopting' from those people as long as you realize what you are getting into. It's definitely not for everyone and could lead to a lot of heartbreak.

I recently 'rescued' 3 leos from a craigslist post. Yes, I did pay the person for the animals. The amount I paid was a fraction of what they were listed for, because the person re-homing them realized that I could hopefully offer better care than she had. I have definitely spent way more money on supplies for them than the geckos themselves. (40gallon breeder tank, uth, extra hides, etc)

In the end it is up to the individual. I would never ever spend money on a purebred dog or cat purchased from a breeder, no matter how reputable. There are too many shelter animals who die every day. So maybe it eases my conscience a little to take over the care of an animal who might die eventually due to poor husbandry or neglect.

Please keep in mind I am not arguing with you, just adding another perspective to the issue.

 

[IonBaller07]

What area in VA are you from? Try checking the craiglist in a few surrounding areas. There are almost always leopard gecko posts on my local CL.

I live in Front Royal, VA..most of the sub-regions are over an hour away. The one I look in is Northern VA, but they didn't have anything.

 

[pandress]

I live in Front Royal, VA..most of the sub-regions are over an hour away. The one I look in is Northern VA, but they didn't have anything.

Go to the Wash DC section and you can search there, or in the surrounding regions. (Southern MD, Northern VA, etc) If you can drive, sometimes making a mini roadtrip is the best idea. I found a couple ads that are about 1-1.5 hours away.

 

[IonBaller07]

Ohh god I was looking around and found this http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pet/1053707770.html

Not only does the iguanna appear to be unhealthy-ish looking but he wants to trade for another reptile.

 

[-_Mindless Destruction_-]

I bought my Lillith off of craigslist for 100 with the 20 gallon and everything that came inside it along witht he lamp, and there was a lot of stuff. The people were moving and could not take her with them.

Most people on craigslist that post their pets can't financially keep them or they are moving and are unable to transport them with them or their new place wont allow it. Then ones that are for rehoming down by me all look healthy, but my father would kill me if I got anymore.

But with that guy with the iguanna, that is when you offer him a really low fee. He really does not look to good, that breaks my heart.

 

[IonBaller07]

Yah my mom was mad that I spent all my money on geckos and then she was madder when she found I was breeding crickets in my bedroom in too large crates.

 

[acpart]

Craigslist can work if you're careful:
--be prepared to pass on an animal that doesn't turn out to look healthy unless you decide to be in the rescue business and are prepared to risk the health of your current animals (if it has a contagious condition)
--keep looking over a period of a few weeks if necessary
--exchange some emails and/or phone conversations with the "seller" and if you don't get a good feeling, don't do it.

I adopted my beloved beardie from craigslist and it was a great success. In the Boston area there are at least 5 leos, and even a few fat tails, believe it or not, listed this week. One person I know is listing her leo because she bought it as a juvenile and is now sexable as a second male (she doesn't want to keep it in a separate enclosure).

Aliza

 

[larry26]

If you are looking to adopt a reptile or any other pet from a resque you may want to go to www.petfinder.com you can choose the kind of pet you and to search for and the location.

 

[IonBaller07]

If you are looking to adopt a reptile or any other pet from a resque you may want to go to www.petfinder.com you can choose the kind of pet you and to search for and the location.

Wow nice site, I just love HUGE Iguanas, I wish I had the room for these, heck he would probably have to take my whole room:

This one looks mean/bad*** like a raptor:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/photoView.cgi?petid=5752449
This one looks HUGE/thuggish/brute:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11025946

I think they would make quite the pair.

 

[pandress]

Ion ~ I forgot to add.. Maryland has an awesome rescue! They typically have a decent variety of lizards to be adopted.

Their website is here: Reptile Rescue

Again, worth the drive most of the time!

 

[Alusdra]

Hey Aliza- I saw that listing!

I cruise craigslist all the time, in my area and the Boston one (as they have more stuff). There aren't a lot of geckos around here that I don't get a 'breeder' vibe from- that is, they say morph and hets, breeding age, and have market value "rehoming" fees. But- when there is a gecko that seems like a genuine attempt to rehome, I try to contact the person. If for nothing else than to give some pointers (sand everywhere... stuck shed... argh!) but if they are willing to give them to me (with all supplies) for free, I will take them and either keep them myself or find a new home.

Well... so far the 'find a new home' part isn't working so hot, as they're all adorable and it's not like it's a huge pain to house a couple more geckos. Plus almost all came with various medical problems that are taking a while to resolve... I hope my first adoption is going to happen this weekend, though- woo hoo! And I've been getting some nibbles on a couple others. I'm not trying terribly hard, though. But 10 really is too many to have as pets. But I'd like to know who they're going to- preferably rehome them to friends...

I definitely will be taking a financial hit on these guys as I'm adopting out for free with proof of cage... and some have had extensive medical workups including radiographs, attempts at bloodwork, fecals, etc. If I factored in my time spent and the feeders eaten, that would be quite the chunk of change. But I breed the insects, so no biggie.

 

[larry26]

Sad thing about craigslist is that some people are asking outrageous prices for animlas that are in really bad conditions and most likely the main reason they are trying to sell it is so that they wont have to pay a vet to see what is wrong with the animal. Then people feel bad for the animal and pay how ever much the person is asking for it and end up with an expensive vet bill.

 

[Halley]

True but if he’s selling the animal on craigslist it’s probably not in great condition. Sure it might be encouraging him if you buy it, but should that one that’s for sale have to suffer/die if you could easily give him a better life.

What about the geckos that are going to replace the gecko you just “rescued” should they have to suffer because you felt one needed rescuing (This is more about pet stores and maybe some classified dealer.)? You rescue one (which might die anyways) you might sentence more to death in the end…

This is a really complex issue. Even if you get an animal from a legitimate rescue, you are going to pay some sort of fee. Obviously in a rescue, you are (hopefully) paying for feed, supplies, etc. Most rescues take a loss, regardless.

I will admit the majority of people on craigslist are not responsible and consider animals (especially reptiles who aren't snuggly like a kitten) to be throw away pets. However, there are also people who genuinely realize they are overwhelmed by either money, care, whatnot. I see no issue of 'adopting' from those people as long as you realize what you are getting into. It's definitely not for everyone and could lead to a lot of heartbreak.

I recently 'rescued' 3 leos from a craigslist post. Yes, I did pay the person for the animals. The amount I paid was a fraction of what they were listed for, because the person re-homing them realized that I could hopefully offer better care than she had. I have definitely spent way more money on supplies for them than the geckos themselves. (40gallon breeder tank, uth, extra hides, etc)

In the end it is up to the individual. I would never ever spend money on a purebred dog or cat purchased from a breeder, no matter how reputable. There are too many shelter animals who die every day. So maybe it eases my conscience a little to take over the care of an animal who might die eventually due to poor husbandry or neglect.

Please keep in mind I am not arguing with you, just adding another perspective to the issue.

I think there’s a big difference between a rescue shelter, or a person who takes care of the animal and just doesn’t have the means to do so anymore, and somebody looking to make a profit on these animals without putting in the proper work, and neglecting the animals.