I have been wondering...

[Riyo]

That is one thing I think many people who wish to leap into breeding don't think about..is what to do with severely deformed hatchlings that have a very bleak outlook (ones that would be cruel to keep alive.) I also don't think many people consider the sheer costs and what to do with all those little ones..

 

[e_cupcake26]

That is one thing I think many people who wish to leap into breeding don't think about..is what to do with severely deformed hatchlings that have a very bleak outlook (ones that would be cruel to keep alive.) I also don't think many people consider the sheer costs and what to do with all those little ones..

that's exactly what I've been thinking about too. Especially after I saw those images in the hatchlings thread. I'm glad you've opened this can of worms. Maybe it'll impact the way we do things. :main_yes:

 

[Riyo]

that's exactly what I've been thinking about too. Especially after I saw those images in the hatchlings thread. I'm glad you've opened this can of worms. Maybe it'll impact the way we do things. :main_yes:

Thanks I hope it at least will make some people ready to jump into it with no knowledge of what they're doing think a little bit and realize..hey, maybe I should wait, learn as much as I can about the species, and appreciate the one(s) I have for now and save breeding for later.

 

[paintedlizards]

I applaud you. you've thought it all out and really, seem to have a grasp of what it will cost ect. should something go wrong ( for EITHER litter). I belong to a dog forum and it drives me batty when everyone gets on their high horse about breeding and shelter pets. No, not every animal deserves to be bred but if you health test( obviously not the cats ) and go through the proper channels then you are not doing a HUGE HORRIBLE thing. people should get their panties in such a twist about the CHILDREN that people are having and not caring for. You are willing to take all the animals if the proper homes do not come up.

my advice? go for it and breed her once and spay.

 

[Alliemac]

I applaud you. you've thought it all out and really, seem to have a grasp of what it will cost ect. should something go wrong ( for EITHER litter). I belong to a dog forum and it drives me batty when everyone gets on their high horse about breeding and shelter pets. No, not every animal deserves to be bred but if you health test( obviously not the cats ) and go through the proper channels then you are not doing a HUGE HORRIBLE thing. people should get their panties in such a twist about the CHILDREN that people are having and not caring for. You are willing to take all the animals if the proper homes do not come up.

my advice? go for it and breed her once and spay.

Thank you. That's exactly how I feel about it.

 

[Bellalee]

I bought my gecko with eggs (unknowingly) and I refuse to breed, I don't have the time nor money. I bred my dog, and it was an awful experiance, she had to have a 2000 dollar c-section, lost the only female, and we had to spay her because the vet ripped her uterus apart. The 3 males we had left barely payed for the surgery. I researched, and had homes for the dogs. I almost lost my baby, I would NEVER forgive myself. My dog is also a new breed, my male and female (who are both fixed now) are short legged jacks with extremely calm temperments. I know and have met 3 generations back from my female, and my male is registered with the ckc. I still get calls and e-mails asking when we are going to breed again. AND this was an unwanted pregnancy from her, I was not going to breed her until her next heat, this is what happens when someone my dad and my boyfriend are in charge.

Working at a vets office, I agree with Catvettech(i dont remember it) to some degree. Sorry off on a tangent. I joined this website, and looking at everyone's sigs, it seems like EVERYONE is a breeder, all I could think was why is everyone doing this? What are they breeding for if everyone else is breeding? Are there any collectors out there? Where is the market for these geckos? Are they doomed to be starved in a major chain pet store?

People want to breed their animals because it seems fun, most don't research it, and researching it online can only prepare you for so much. I understand breeding geckos may sound easy, and I have NEVER done it, but I can only speak for myself when I saw those eggs, I was shocked confused, and had no one around me who knew what to do.

And don't even get me started on the unwanted children issue.

All in all I think the world is getting overpopulated with many types of creatures. The economy is bad right now, I wish people would sit back and really think about what they are doing.

I'm not attacking anyone, I was just shocked at the sheer amount of breeders here. Breeders everywhere, I've been on my friends behind because his family has bred their dogs, I think they are overpriced for what they are, and they already have 10 dogs from the unwanted dogs out of numerous litters. Whats going to happen when this current litter doesn't all go.

 

[goReptiles]

The main thing that bothers me is seeing people that obviously know nothing about the species and just want to jump right into breeding..

This is probably a pet peeve when it comes to reptiles... I have talked to one kid, who purchased a crested gecko, then the next week a leopard gecko (or the other way around), then decided after a whopping 2 weeks of combined experienced he was ready to breed. He started buying up loads of reptiles, and then trying to resell many of them that he decided he didn't "need." But what kills me is that he was selling for probably more than he purchased them for which is a great way to make a profit, but doesn't really work when the reptiles weren't quality and the kid didn't have a reputation in the hobby except for asking "how to care for my reptiles" questions.

I have No idea :-/ Just like people that take it upon themselves to breed dogs/cats and not know how much money is in it if somthing were to happen to the mom. :-/

This is another issue I have... lol... I think many people new to the hobby want to breed to make a profit, but they don't realize how much money really goes into it. I don't think I'll ever catch up, especially when it comes to buying supplies and feeders. I'll probably always be in the hole, but I don't care, it's too much fun. Ha.... As for breeding dogs/cats that's a whole other issue; a lady at work asked me about breeding her Pit Bull, but she didn't know anything about bloodlines or even whether she could have 2 APBTs in the same house without medical problems (IE some vet told her that and she kinda believed him). She can't even say the word 'heat' but wants to breed her dog. Silly if you ask me.

I think in many people's mind, it's an easy way to make money, but they don't realize the true costs that it entails.

 

[missdragonxo]

My perspective on this topic. So I plan to eventually get into breeding leopard geckos. And I won't be until the summer. I know personally that I am not ready to jump into breeding my geckos right now. I have been doing research on breeding for the last few months. I've gone through the breeding section on here multiple times. reading the posts that are posted from people and asking my own questions when i find something confusing. I am ready to handle babies, I've had tubs and tanks set up for them for a few months even though i do not intend on using them until much later. Hopefully I am doing this the right way by waiting until I am ready to breed and doing as much research that I possibly can. I also research all the herp vets within my area just incase. But this was my plan on getting into breeding by waiting. hopefully this is what you expect from a new breeder. Any tips or anything you think i should read please let me know.

 

[williammce1]

I got into it for the same reasons I have 10 kids to be responsible for. Two of them disabled. Chew on that one for awhile. Bottom line, I wouldn't have it any other way and am one of the "richest" men in the world for it. The ability to overcome and adapt is an ongoing process, but the non-monetary rewards far outweigh the negatives. P.S. Being a little over the edge and on the brink of insanity is a plus!!

 

[Bodon]

I think its easy that a lot of people say, "i can do that!" Then they come to a site like this and see all the great morphs and projects and say, "that will be me in a month!" And they just don't sit down and realize what they are getting into. It just seems really cool to say, "ya, im a breeder!" Then they talk to breeders at reptile shows, who are always really nice and it gets them into it. I think its the glamor of it that gets people not thinking right.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I think its the glamor of it that gets people not thinking right.

I honestly do not understand how someone could think that being a gecko breeder is a glamorous job! LOL! If anyone considers spending 20+ hours a week cleaning poop, dirty bowls and tubs, and feeding disgustingly gross crickets and worms 'glamorous', then they need to Google the word! Not to mention the number of hours spent with phone calls, emails, private messages, website maintenence, and perusing GeckoForums, it's a wonder that I even have the time or inclination to put on make-up. During breeding, egging, and hatching season, it often means 12-16 hour days.

Vending at shows might appear to be glamorous to those attending, but it means spending a day or two packing up geckos, pricing them, loading up booth equipment, driving for hours, then having to unload and set up everything up. After that, it means standing on your feet for 8-9 hours often without time to get anything to eat, talking until your voice is hoarse, answering the same questions over and over and over again... only to do it again the next day. Then, there is the tear-down, pack up, trip home, putting unsold gecko back up.

You gotta love these animals to go through all that without a steady paycheck!

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Oh come on Marcia, you know you live the life style of a rock star. bah. at least i know the truth.

 

[mynewturtle]

I think that people do it because they see how easy it is to care for there 1.1pair how much harder for 10+ more?

Personally I think if people want to breed right away within months of owning there leopard geckos and limited research there usually the ones that we see gone after a season or two. Just my opinion.