need help getting rid of geckos

[fl_orchidslave]

I definitely agree that this should not have been allowed to happen. However, it has, and we all know it was irresponsible. I would rather offer possible solutions by pointing the OP in a different direction, than to alienate him from the learning process.

All phases of breeding should stop until current and potential future offspring are properly dealt with.

 

[T-ReXx]

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise. If you don't put them out there people can't buy them. Try the classifieds here and other sites like fauna. Hell, even Craigslist can be a source. Check with local petstores. Setup a website if you don't already have one. If all else fails and you really need them gone, you can usually wholesale them to a larger dealer at low prices. Like Robin said going to shows is a BIG help in moving animals and also helps get your name out in the community.
If you are having trouble moving animals you may want to consider scaling back on your breeding next season. You really need to consider the fact that many reptiles can take months, even years to sell depending on the market at the time and your asking price, so plan to house ALL hatchlings, both holdbacks and sellers, well into adulthood. Keep your breeding groups smaller and only produce what you can afford to house and feed for a potentially long time. With reptiles, and ESPECIALLY with leopard geckos, developing a customer base takes time and a lot of effort.

I'm quoting myself because I've already mentioned scaling back and perhaps rethinking breeding practices if this is going to be a problem. I'm the first to complain about people who start breeding animals(any animals, not just reptiles) without fully planning out what to do with offspring that don't sell immediately. HOWEVER, the idea is to offer helpful suggestions, not just a lecture on the ethics of the situation. The reptile market is a business, and businesses rotate around supply and demand. "Byproducts" are a part of any breeding project involving genetic morphs, not every hatchling is going to be the number one end result 100% of the time. Ask some of the bigger breeders how many "extra" animals they produce on a yearly basis. The import thing is these breeders also ensure facility space to house those animals for the duration needed before they sell, if ever. So better planning in this situation was obviously called for, but now that we're at this point deal with the current problem and learn from the situation, reduce breeding stock or possibly take a break from it altogether if you aren't able to house and care for ALL the potential offspring for a long period of time.

 

[Sol]

This is sad...

thanks.......

 

[Sol]

Would this be an appropriate place for a lecture about responsible planning and management before initiating a breeding project?

no, thank you very much, i'd like everyone who has something negative to say to think about it first. judging by your avatar, i can see you're a reasonable and kind-hearted person.... i'm 16, i posted them on the classifieds and i've had several people interested..... i'm not in dire need of getting rid of these geckos, it would just make my life a little easier. I've thought about all these things, the consequences and benefits and whatnot, and so far i've had a lot of fun breeding them and not many problems. I've been raising reptiles since i can remember and i've read every article on the subject i could find. my geckos are as happy and healthy as any of yours, i'm just new to the actual sport of getting them out there. i just need to sell some for the expenses of feeding mostly.

i'm sorry i even made this thread......

 

[Sol]

I think thats a step too far. Just because he has a few extra geckos isn't an indication to throw out the project. He's bred them so he obviously knows how to care for them.

However, my local pet store takes in geckos from any person. I'm 13, Pretty young eh? But have sold geckos and bred them succesfuly. Sold them and made a small profit.
Age is not a problem. It's just he has extra geckos.

Try private pet stores.

thank you..... i actually don't feel like getting on this forum much at all anymore..... i just wanted some advice on how to sell geckos, that's all people.... i don't call that BS

 

[fuzzylogix]

i think some of you guys are being too hard on Sol. he's produced some really nice animals and i think everyone mistook what he was getting at. he was looking for an outlet to sell his animals he wasn't holding back, not getting rid of all his offspring. he's beginning to breed just like most of us did and may have gotten a little overwhelmed. instead of putting him down and berating him, maybe we should be explaining to him how to manage his breeders based on available space, the market, business practices, etc. he's just trying to focus on the projects he wants to work on the most and make rack space. we've all been there haven't we? i understand the big picture here, but give the guy a break. and if you guys weren't so focused on why he shouldn't breed, you would have seen he actually has some really nice geckos for sale at some great prices...

 

[T-ReXx]

i think some of you guys are being too hard on Sol. he's produced some really nice animals and i think everyone mistook what he was getting at. he was looking for an outlet to sell his animals he wasn't holding back, not getting rid of all his offspring. he's beginning to breed just like most of us did and may have gotten a little overwhelmed. instead of putting him down and berating him, maybe we should be explaining to him how to manage his breeders based on available space, the market, business practices, etc. he's just trying to focus on the projects he wants to work on the most and make rack space. we've all been there haven't we? i understand the big picture here, but give the guy a break. and if you guys weren't so focused on why he shouldn't breed, you would have seen he actually has some really nice geckos for sale at some great prices...

I agree. The fact of the matter is there is nothing wrong whatsoever with selling geckos to a wholesaler at wholesale prices, where do you think most petstore animals come from? It doesn't "devalue" the animals, frankly a het rainwater or tremper is a low price animal that can be difficult to sell to the general public, that's just a fact of the market. If you can't get to shows(something that would obviously be difficult to a younger person in some situations) and have difficulties shipping a petstore is your best bet unless you can find a local wholesaler. I do think the OP might have been a bit more explanatory in the original post, but he does state the fact that these are "byproduct" animals later in the thread. Byproduct is just part of the process and not everyone can keep all those animals(though IMO you should be prepared to, but that's neither here nor there). I stand by my original advise of a wholesaler or petstore. That's your best bet if the classifieds doesn't work out and you need to move them out sooner rather than later.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

i have a bunch of geckos i need to get rid of quick, can anyone help me out?
i'm new to breeding and i'm only keeping the best for my projects.

Sol, the way you presented your situation, it reads of desperation to be rid of some gex. Some here have offered you some good advice, without jumping on you. On a public forum you will often get many different opinions to one question. So now you are trying to learn how to market and sell. That isn't what you initially asked, but some folks did point out various selling options.

 

[M_surinamensis]

i need to get them gone fast

i just don't want them

Those are the lines that set the tone.

 

[Theinfidel]

ROFL M_ surinamensis. I thought this was a troll at first from the first post but i guess not from his last post.

 

[ajveachster]

Since you are in high school I was wondering if maybe somebody in the science department might be interested. I doubt you would get any money from it, but you might be able to donate an animal. I'm not talking about something to be experimented on. I just remember that back in high school and college both some of the science professors had different animals in their classrooms for the heck of it. The one college biology professor had a large python as well as a couple smaller lizards of various sorts (I think it was a burm but memory is a little fuzzy). He liked to use some of them to explain evolution and whatnot (Now you know how much I paid attention in those classes..zzzz).

 

[herf]

ROFL M_ surinamensis. I thought this was a troll at first from the first post but i guess not from his last post.

Agreed!! I strike my last comment

 

[Jordan]

Just a few points id like to make.

This is you saying no to a lecture about responsibility.

no, thank you very much

This is you proving you need one

i just need to sell some for the expenses of feeding mostly.

This is you contradicting yourself.

i'm new to breeding and i'm only keeping the best for my projects.

and then:

I've been raising reptiles since i can remember and i've read every article on the subject i could find.

Then you say this:

i'm not in dire need of getting rid of these geckos

really?

i have a bunch of geckos i need to get rid of quick

i need to get them gone fast

i just don't want them

and lastly...

i'm 16,

And... the responsibillities still must be taken on. Age doesn't matter.

Just what i got from reading through the read.

 

[Sol]

i've got it sorted out. i sold all of them on the classifieds here and they will be picked up by tuesday next week, now i have extra space and money for food and materials to build a new baby rack. I posted them on the classifieds right after i started this thread and i'm not completely sure why i started it, but everything worked out perfectly..... and thank you all for your suggestions, they'll definitely come in handy in the future.