cruelty or not?

[zookie]

hi everyone,

today i found out that some breeders of leo gecko actually nip the tails of there geckos on purpose. (i guess for looks or some reason) if you breed leos geckos and have done it can you explain to me what is the purpose of it. im not judging you i just want to know why?

 

[acpart]

I have never heard of this. ANyone else?

Aliza

 

[shadowx362]

nope

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

The only time I have ever heard of this is if a gecko is born with a kinked tail, and the breeder doesn't want buyers to know... which IMO is totally unethical and dishonest, not to mention cruel to the gecko!

 

[Halley]

I believe I have heard of this once or twice. But I have heard it is for kink tails like Marcia said, and I agree with her opinions on the matter.

 

[gothra]

I recently saw an ad in the classified section, all the young geckos have half broken tails, I was wondering why all of them have nipped tail, now I see why. Poor things! That's very cruel!

 

[ReptileMan27]

I have never heard of this before. I would say its defently cruel

 

[Mel&Keith]

Totally cruel and unnecessary. Since Leos store fat in their tails the only reason to amputate part of it would be because of a necrotic wound and hopefully the vet would make that decision. Purposely nipping a tail would only imply trying to hide a tail kink IMO.

 

[mynewturtle]

Another reason they could do it because two tails grew back when it regrew and the gecko is haveing troubles walking because of all of the weight.

I personally wouldnt take a geckos tail off on purpose.

 

[zookie]

yeah thanks for your guys and womans for your opinions. i was just curious to know why some one would purposely cause pain to there geckos. now i know because of a little kink (WHICH I DONT THINK AFFECTS THE GECKO ANYWAY). do you GF members know if the kinks are genetic or just a birth defect. OH AND I APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THESE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE. i know that i may be asking to many.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Kinks are believed to be genetic. That's why seller's usually disclose tail kinks and many times sell them as "pet only" geckos.

 

[goReptiles]

I'd agree genetic, but this year I've had a small handful kinks in my hatchlings. Could this be attributed to the mealworms the breeders had at the beginning of the season or something underlying in the male used for those particular females?

Either way pet only definitely, there's no reason to nip the tail purposely to hid a kink. Too much stress on the gecko. And as a pet only gecko the kink won't affect it one bit.

 

[Tanner505Geckos]

i agree pet only

 

[shadowx362]

PET ONLY!! I have only had 3 kinked tail geckos out of 40+ babies this year and I always said pet only and had a pretty fair price. Most of the time if I see geckos with the tips of the tails regenerated I get a bit suspicious. Plain cruelty and too much for the gecko to go through.