Dwarf

[ReptilianGems]

Hi all,

Just wanted to let people know that we have a link on our home page to a video of our Dwarf. Thought people might want to see her in action, lol. www.reptiliangems.com

 

[eyelids]

LOL! She really looks like a little midget or maybe a bit frogish...

 

[KiKi]

shes sooooooooooo cute

 

[Stitch]

Although the dwarfs are healthy, they do not walk like normal leos. One more reason why I woudn't want to see them mass produced. If they pop up in a breeding colony then so be it, but I'd change up who I'm breeding with the next season.

 

[LadyGecko]

Although the dwarfs are healthy, they do not walk like normal Leos. One more reason why I wouldn't want to see them mass produced. If they pop up in a breeding colony then so be it, but I'd change up who I'm breeding with the next season.

The dwarfs may not walk like normal leos BUT-
I honestly do not think that giant Leos walk like normal leopard geckos either -they sort of lumber around-lol

If a dwarf female could not carry and lay eggs safely and the young were not healthy then I would argue against breeding them

But if there were no problems associated with breeding the short bodied geckos-then I would say that it is OK to breed them

just my 2 cents

Sandy

 

[nevinm]

i havent read the entire thread....but i do only have one question and sorry if it was asked and answered aready. is that thing's head normal size?
dam cute though

 

[AntMan612]

Given the concern about risks of breeding dwarf leos, I have to wonder what risks the breeders of other miniature animals were willing to accept. Things that make you go, "hmmm..."

 

[fallen_angel]

Very interesting thread, we had never seen a dwarf gecko before!! I would assume that the head and tail are normal size? They are really adorable, I wouldn't mind having one at all

 

[JoshuaTrana]

I just read the entire thread. It would be interesting to see a dwarf line of leopard geckos. But I think it would be better if they were proportional dwarfs.

 

[AntMan612]

Yeah! Proportional dwarves would be really cool! :main_yes:

 

[StinaKSU]

Miniature horses

miniature horses are not actually dwarves (though there are are dwarf horses among minis)...minis were selectively bred for small size from ponies and small horses....a dwarfism gene is NOT involved normally. True dwarf horses tend to have many health problems.

 

[wout1977]

looks like she s missing some spine vertebrae
an x-ray would indeed be interesting

 

[syntheticreality]

I agree with those who have said that IF and ONLY IF they could be bred without complications to the parents or offspring then I would not argue against breeding them.

In order to do so, I think the parents should be x-rayed and a professional should determine whether or not they even MIGHT be able to carry eggs without a problem. Perhaps breeding a dwarf male to a non-dwarf female would give some dwarf offspring? If so, this would be a safe way to breed them as long as the offspring were hatched as males only and bred to normal sized females.

I know there is a dwarf breed of cats called Munchkins that are becoming increasingly popular. Some people might argue that this is unethical, but I disagree as long as they are in good health.

I also think that if breeding dwarves is opposed then breeding giants should be opposed. Giants seem to have a much shorter lifespan, do they not?

Every recessive gene mutation carries its complications. Enigmas have that dizzy neurological side effect. Albinism can cause extreme photosensitivity (is that not unnatural?). All of these recessive traits, if left alone in the wild, would most likely eventually breed themselves away. That is, however, unless one of those recessive mutations gave the species an advantage in the evolutionary process. In which case, many of homozygous forms of that mutation might survive and flourish over those not possessing that gene. Which would cause them to eventually outlast the non-possessing relatives and become the more common form of the species. This is basically the process of natural selection. By selectively breeding any animals for any genes, we are interfering with this process. Fortunately, these animals are kept as pets and breeders rather than being re-released into nature.

 

[Stitch]

I also think that if breeding dwarves is opposed then breeding giants should be opposed. Giants seem to have a much shorter lifespan, do they not?

This has not been proven. The most famous Giant Moose died at a young age, but I have yet to hear of this being a common problem with Giants. So I feel that it is premature to state that Giants have a shorter life span.

Plus we don't know why Moose died. If a necropsy was done the results were never published (to my knowledge).

 

[syntheticreality]

Fair enough. I have, however, spoken to other breeders who made similar assertions. They could have been incorrect as well, I suppose.

 

[Stitch]

Fair enough. I have, however, spoken to other breeders who made similar assertions. They could have been incorrect as well, I suppose.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, I just feel that it's too early to say for sure. Just look at people that are tall or big, they tend to have health problems. this could hold true for the Giant leos.

 

[thegeckoguy]

i think i may have a dwarf....though she looks very normal. I got her in a trade and right now she is about 5 months old. Not sure of weight but is only MAYBE 5 inches. My 8 week old hatchling isnt much smaller then her. She actually looks like a 10 week old gecko though i know she is not since ive had her since january. She is very healthy, eats great and all. She is also very sweet and calm. Ill post some pics of her on my hand.

 

[RoyalCityReptiles]

I would try and breed her to another dwarf... smaller female leos usually lay smaller eggs, and super giants lay massive eggs. You can never succeed if you dont try. and sometimes things just don't work out. I for one would love a dwarf line to be available.

-Nate

 

[NickOC]

An isolated breeding project would be neat. Maybe breed a couple gen's and see how they do in the long run. Funny how they remind me of "little people". I wonder if any would come out proportionally small?

 

[sbord_tom]

well this is interesting but first the little guys are vary sweet looking but just think if ron had thought that the giant gene was a defect would we have giants today ???? maby we are looking at the other end of the spectrum??? i have seen some huge giants but thay have not been around for long enough for us to make judgements abould health but i would love to see some mini leopard geckos as long as the Gene was kept for the mainstreme gene pool of normal size geckos cause i have seen mane people asking if thay have a giant or not cause the gene is getting out of control so with that being said the right steps should be followed. after all the US is pumping out mini every thing right now Smart car, Mini cooper, Mini muffins, mini cell phones,it's like we are bent on makeing everthing smaller but maby that is a good thing??? well thats my two dollars oh side note i would buy a mini leopard gecko if it was for sale but not to produce just as a pet