Dilemma

[Alusdra]

Ok- that thread about gecko dreams has really started to make me think about this issue... plus the cold weather.

I guess first- the issue. So this person (that I usually call friend...) anyway- we were at this party a while back and chatting about pets and she was telling me about how she goes hiking with her dog and how he needs a sweater as he has short hair and everything and I was gushing about my geckos and my bird and saying how much fun exotics are... Then she mentions that she has a gecko, too. I'm very excited, of course- I love chatting geckos! But then she reveals he's on sand substrate with a hot rock and how she feeds him "when she remembers"! (This would be why I'm reserving the name of friend a bit...) I tried to tell her sand is no good. I tried to say that hot rocks cause all kinds of problems and really she should have an UTH and a lamp, besides the different hides and dusting, etc etc etc. Well- she said that the sand "had never been a problem" and her vet had told her it was ok (!) and that she had no intentions of changing.

I've been trying to get her to change every time the subject comes up but she refuses. And recently I was mentioning how it sucks a little how warm I have to keep my house for my exotics (since I like cold and low electric bills ) and she said "oh, well, my gecko has made it the past 3 years no problem and I keep my heat at 50. I mean, he has his hot rock." AK! I tried to tell her that cold can make them have digestive problems and that they really do need warmth, etc etc again and she just laughed and said "well, if I don't feed him his metabolism will be low anyway, right?" (Which I'm pretty sure is a joke...?)

She's been pressing me to take him... but I kinda think that the three I have is 1/2 a gecko too many already (meaning I like having three but it's been making me have to reconsider housing). I was definitely not thinking about getting more- I was going to wait until my current guys pass on- 2 are 7, so like in 10 years, hopefully (and maybe by that time Enigmas will be selling for $20... one can dream).

On the one hand, I'm really worried about this poor guy. I mean, obviously this person can do better- her dog has a coat and his own backpack for crying out loud! I'd like to think she's joking and making it sound worse and she really wouldn't let it get that bad... but what if she's not joking?

Maybe I could get her to sign him over to me and then try to find a home? I certainly can screen better than she can, Ms. Sand's-just-fine-as-substrate and it's not like I don't have enough mealies to feed him...

But space... and quarantine... and erg! I'm trying to improve my own gecko's habitats (eg- before coming to this site I had no idea what a "humid hide" was and my geckos just got the hang of them like a week ago...) Plus if he is a male, I already have a male, so I would definitely need two tanks rather than probably-should-have two tanks (my girls get fat and thin, respectively).

Not to mention my landlord/roommate has gecko heebee jeebees. (I'm bringing her around, my geckos are really nice.)

I'm not sure what to do... I feel like if I show interest there might be a frozen gecko on my doorstep the next day (she does know where I live). I had this dream the other night she shoved him at me in this tiny cage with carefresh bedding with dead mealies in it (carefresh? I know, it was a weird dream) and I had to dig to find him and his poor tail was pencil thin!

I'm thinking that the best option might be to take him and rehome him. I guess I can find some temporary room...

Am I crazy? What should I do?

 

[Ipsl]

You should show her yours and show off there color and tail and everything like that for starters. I dunno but I'm the type of friend that would tell her like you said to us... How is it that your dog has a sweater but your gecko is in substandard living conditions. But than most people don't like to have there cards pulled like that.

 

[Alusdra]

Maybe I can be more direct about it, you're right. I just feel so awkward talking about it at all when she's pressing me so to take him. I keep wanting to ask why she's doing such a bad job when she should know better... but I have to work with her for at least the rest of the semester if not next one, too. (We met as lab partners).

 

[Ipsl]

Well it seems to me that she has the ability to raise it right and you don't cause of your over extension. She's not 10 so she has to deal with her actions, thats not fair to you for her to impose her decision on you. But good luck either way. I '[m gonna stop now cause I think I'm instigating.

 

[acpart]

I would guess that her being so direct about how she's not taking care of this reptile might also be a way of her trying to get you to take it. If you feel strongly about finding this gecko a good home and don't feel you can do that yourself at this time, you might want to consider putting it in the classifieds here as an adoption (with her permission, of course).

Aliza

 

[Alusdra]

I don't think it would be terribly hard to find a home other than myself- I know at least 1 other person in my class has geckos, for example (though not who specifically) and I think there are some people around who are breeders, even. Maybe I should just suggest to her that she ask around to more people to see who can take him? But that's why I was thinking maybe I should take him then adopt him out- she could send him off to someone unsuspecting telling them sand's ok or whatever. You can hope people will research, but they don't always... (obviously in this case- she really started to want to get rid of him when I said they could live 20+ years- thought they lived 5).

Thinking about it makes me (more) stressed out and grumpy. But doing nothing doesn't feel like a good option.

 

[rubym]

A gecko can be a big commitment and unfortunately alot of people see a cute little lizard and act on impulse. I agree that maybe you should ask her if it would be ok for you to post an adoption on here and find a good home for her. She would be doing the right thing by the little guy. They deserve the same treatment that she gives her dog. Once you take on an animal it is your responcibility to see that that animal is taken care....in the PROPER manner. I am sorry but if you can afford yto get your dog little sweaters and backpacks you should be able to run a little heat for a gecko!!!!!