Cultural difference?

[gothra]

In my country, the way people keep and maintain leopard geckos are so different to my understanding; that I'm the odd one out (I became the newbie). There are lots of info going around that I considered not good; I tried my best to give my opinions on those but all my effort seems fruitless. A lot of time my posts seems invisible to people and occasionally I get someone telling me that I'm wrong...Sorry, if you're not interested in knowing this, but I just need to talk...

Here is a list of what I considered to be bad info:
- Never feed too much to your gecko, because once a gecko regurgitates, it'll develop gastro-intestinal illness, and will never eat again. Suggest only feeding your gecko ~2-3 crickets every 2 days.
- Heating is not required at all unless its winter and is under 20 degrees Celsius (68F). Even if you want to supply heat, never ever go over 90F, the gecko will die from overheating.
- Mealworms are a big NO-NO, because they are not digestible and extremely fattening.
- Parasitic infection seldom occur.
- Geckos do not need too much space, plastic critter keepers that are 2 times the size of the gecko will do.
- Supplement every feeding with calcium+vit.D3; no plain calcium is required. Will not overdose with the D3.
- Quarantine?? What's quarantine?
- No (pocket)money for vet; when a gecko gets sick its hard to cure anyway.

However, after thinking about some of the points listed above, I'm starting to realise a link between them that makes thing work out.
--> No heat, therefore they won't get hungry, hence 2-3 crickets will fill them up.
--> No heat, the geckos can't digest properly, so, they will regurgitate the indigestible mealworms!!
--> No heat, when their system gets upset, there is no energy to boost their immune system and they won't get well easily.
--> Since they're eating very little, even dusting every feeding with CAL w/vit.D3 won't overdose.

Hmm...what do you think? Maybe I really should keep quiet and stop saying "Please provide heat and let your gecko eat as much as it'll eat..." once everyday...:main_lipsrsealed:

 

[marula]

hahahaah...i understand what you feel...
in my country people don't understand nothing about genetic and morphs and look bad me sometimes because for them morphs are "only the excuse for take money and sell leo for more"...
..but i love my leo for their colour (at the same way normal and super snow)and i think the genetic is really important to prevent some healty problem and for improve colours..
a lot of people in my country think leo are "simply lizzard" because snakes are more important and better...
with dogs i have the same problems too..
90% of the people don't know and don't whant really know the "right way" to take care of their animals....

 

[KiKi]

its not your country here in the us people can be very stupid also and dont listen to the right advice

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Bonnie, just convince them that THIS is the place to hang out to learn and share information about our leopard geckos. This forum has the absolute BEST breeders and keepers in the country (if not the world), to offer expert advise without making people feel stupid for asking questions!

 

[KiKi]

i totally agree with you marcia but sometimes people are to stubborn to listen or they feel you know too much. remember you can lead adog to water but you cant make it drink

 

[Sandra]

Mealworms are a big NO-NO, because they are not digestible and extremely fattening.

Lol, that rang a bell :main_laugh: That's the same myth you'll find here. And you will see lots of people arguing that they once fed mealworms to their geckos and they vomited or got a bad digestion. They advise you to fed only one or two mealworms every two week by far, and just to add more variety to the diet.

They arguments? That they aren't nutritous (of course, if you don't feed them a proper diet they are like empty bags, just like crickets), they are hard to digest (It's odd that my gecko never in her life vomited a mealworm... She hasn't been ill and when she was six months almost doubled in size and weight most one year geckos that I've seen in Spain... Maybe it has to do with health and care and not mealworms )

It seems that in the other aspects we are in a better situation than China. You won't see anybody telling you not to bring an ill gecko to the vet or that they are allright without heat :main_huh:

I'll have to agree with Marcia, reading from the 'big ones' is being very helpful to me

 

[Jeanne]

However, after thinking about some of the points listed above, I'm starting to realise a link between them that makes thing work out.
--> No heat, therefore they won't get hungry, hence 2-3 crickets will fill them up.
--> No heat, the geckos can't digest properly, so, they will regurgitate the indigestible mealworms!!
--> No heat, when their system gets upset, there is no energy to boost their immune system and they won't get well easily.
--> Since they're eating very little, even dusting every feeding with CAL w/vit.D3 won't overdose.

Hmm...what do you think? Maybe I really should keep quiet and stop saying "Please provide heat and let your gecko eat as much as it'll eat..." once everyday...:main_lipsrsealed:

I think you are are right. It makes good sense to me.

 

[GroovyGeckos.com]

I agree except letting your gecko eat every day. As much as it will eat especially can be a problem.

I believe if they are fed everyday there should def. be a limit, otherwise your gecko/s will become obese. I have had what I considered obese geckos maintain there weight, being fed once a week.

I could only imagine if I had let them eat more than that! OMG! :main_laugh:

And jeez, somebody should tell these "keepers" what is up. I dont think anythingbelow 90 degrees is enough.

Bonnie, just convince them that THIS is the place to hang out to learn and share information about our leopard geckos. This forum has the absolute BEST breeders and keepers in the country (if not the world), to offer expert advise without making people feel stupid for asking questions!

Yes, Marcia... in the world!!!! Dont be so modest. :main_laugh: