Chicago...looking for a male..not sure what to buy...

[xray328]

Hey guys. We want to breed our leo and it's our first time doing this. Do we need to buy one of these $300 geckos I'm seeing online? My daughters trying to do this with her allowance money (and help from dad of course) She's a pretty girl and I'm not sure what morph to breed her with. Any suggestions on where we can find a mate for her? Were in the chicago area and are limited on availability. One place only has females and the other doesn't have a clue about morphs etc. I was told she's a raptor, but after looking online at other raptors she doesn't have the red eyes I'm seeing on those. Her eyes are solid black. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[katie_]

I would buy another raptor if I were you.
Remember to quarantine your new arrival, and keep the two seperated when not breeding - so your daughter may have to save up a little more money. A new gecko means a new enclosure too.
Also both have to be at proper weights to breed, so you may be looking at a year or two before you can try.

 

[xray328]

Thanks for the info. Do you think she's a raptor? Her eyes looks too dark to me, but I'm just guessing. Not sure if they're just so dark red they look black? I'll get a better picture of her eyes later today.

 

[katie_]

Yeah she does.

 

[Zeetrain]

Also breeding means enclosures for all the babies and buying an incubator for the eggs.

 

[ChristinaJ]

you have to remember you could end up with 20 hatchlings or more, and each one needs it's separate enclosure. Also, I know it's tough but chances are you could have to cull some of the hatchlings because of deformities, and there are a ton of risks to the parents as well. Females need to be AT LEAST 50 grams to safely breed. If they are not at that weight chances are they will become egg bound, with is most often fatal. Even at 50 grams or more this can happen as well. Males can prolapse, which can cause them to never be bred again, or have to be culled if it is severe enough. Breeding is not something to just jump into as a "project" or "experiment". There is a ton of research and basic knowledge that goes into it, I suggest researching for at least a year, having a hatchling rack set up and ready to go as well as an incubator, making sure any new geckos you purchase have been quarantined for 60 days.

Based on your other posts, your female is only 35 grams. She cannot be bred this year, end of story. Since you don't have a male yet, he would also need to be quarentined by himself for 60 days. Like I said, I suggest you take a year to get everything set up and do research before you start this project with your daughter. There is alot that can go wrong that you need to be prepared for, and there will be alot of little geckos from just one breeding.

 

[xray328]

Good points Christina. Thanks for all the info!