New - What to get, ideas?

[JdiLb]

Full edit : everyone is misunderstanding.
I'm looking to start breeding, I have the knowledge, supplies, and everything I need besides the Geckos. I'm starting slow, with a pair of relatively non-expensive leopards. My question is - what's a good idea for a pair to start with? A solid pair that has POTENTIAL to sell well (I'm not looking for a job, just a hobby that I can recycle funds with and get more, as I'm sure many of you started). Also, is there a document or page where I can find the traits and which are dominant/recessive..etc?

 

[Russellm0704]

Do not breed. You are inexperienced in the leopard gecko world. I don't understand why everyone who joins these forums has to breed their geckos the first year they get them

 

[Russellm0704]

And if you can't afford the quality morphs that actually do sell(sometimes), then you definitely can't afford to take care of babies, feed them, provide housing, heating, and care for them. One female can have up to 20 babies.

 

[JdiLb]

I breed snakes and insects regularly so don't assume that I'm stupid? I have plenty of cages, I have everything to support as many as I want, and I'm sure that I have a place for them either way. I just can't afford to spend $150 on 5 geckos at once. It's simple, if you can't answer, don't. I've bred everything from insects (Saturniidae - silk moths) to snakes, to birds, I'm not dumb here buddy. I'm just looking for an economical starting point, sorry that I don't make as much money as you, it's a shame, I know - trust me.

 

[scm133]

Breeding for profit? I hate to disappoint you. Leopard Gecko breeding on a small scale will only be a hobby. The big time breeders spend a lot of $$$ in top notch morphs;racks; feeders; and vet bills. Research the husbandry; Find a pair that you think is outrageously gorgeous; and enjoy!! My personal favorites are Bandits; Mack Super Snows; and Sunglows, but everyone has their own personal favorites. Sometimes our hobbies, and passions turn to profit....

 

[Russ S]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Anyone that thinks they will make money breeding on a small scale is in for a big surprise.
Most breeders don't even come close to breaking even unless they have hundreds of producing females. Even then, they end up wholesaling out most of the babies to pet stores.
Best of luck to you.

 

[sunshinegeckos]

if your looking to do it as a hobby awesome! If your looking for profit your in the wrong business. Even if you had the money to spend on the top notch genetics you probably wont even break even for a few seasons. But as far as a hobby it is great. I still suggest buying the best that you can afford. It is better to starr with one pair of awesome genetics then a bunch of cheap geckos. You can usually find a good deal at shows. As far as for what to get that is all depending on what you want to produce. For me it is all about color and pattern but others like something else. Do your research into different morphs and see what interests you. There is a good morph calculator in the morph section. Once you see what you like look into finding what you want. Good luck! What snakes do you breed?

 

[JdiLb]

I think people are understanding me wrong. I'm not in this for the money, I love exotics. I have a SURE sale of at least a few dozen geckos. I simply want to sell some so I can get my Ambilobe Panther Chameleons, and continue to have these. THEN, once I'm seasoned with both, get into more serious breeding. Obviously I'm not going to start with two and expect to have an income, I just want to make a few side bucks to save up for my Panthers and maybe more snakes.
I do corn snakes personally but work with my friend who does everything from Amazons to pythons.

 

[gixxer3420]

I will never understand this forum. He wants to breed a pair of geckos and doesnt want to spend a lot on the high end morphs. This doesnt mean he cant afford them it just means he/she is being smart and starting slow with not high end morphs. I good pair to start with would either be a pair of tremper albinos or a pair of mack snows. Good luck and if you have any quesitons along the way please feel free to pm me.

 

[Russ S]

Hello,
I plan to breed these and eventually when I sell enough babies and save up, get some Panther Chameleons too.

I simply want to sell some so I can get my Ambilobe Panther Chameleons.

It is statements like this that make us believe that you think there is money to be made by hobby breeding. I'm not trying to discourage you from pursuing your dream, just trying to let you know the realities of it.

 

[JdiLb]

I will never understand this forum. He wants to breed a pair of geckos and doesnt want to spend a lot on the high end morphs. This doesnt mean he cant afford them it just means he/she is being smart and starting slow with not high end morphs. I good pair to start with would either be a pair of tremper albinos or a pair of mack snows. Good luck and if you have any quesitons along the way please feel free to pm me.

Thank you very much, someone with sense..
---
Why should I spend so much money on high end morphs now? That doesn't make sense. If I have a 100% made deal to sell geckos, my point is I want to start slow, and practice, then move on. Just because I've never owned a gecko before doesn't mean I need to spend 5 years researching and owning one before breeding. I know people who started breeding some of the hardest snakes around to breed, never owned a reptile before, and they were successful. People are verging away from the point way too much. I'm not trying to be nasty but stop telling me there's no money in it!!, because I have pet stores close by that would be interested for sure, they have no geckos at all and wouldn't even think twice about which variation it is.

All I want to know is a good beginner pair to start off with. When I'm experienced, and once I've built up a little bit of money (I'm not even talking about $1k), then I'll look into more high end morphs and my chameleons.

I love lizards so this IS a hobby for me, but obviously I'd like to make a little bit of money too, NOT A PROFIT, just some saving money to use in this area, like a continuum to keep it even.

 

[JdiLb]

Breeding for profit? I hate to disappoint you. Leopard Gecko breeding on a small scale will only be a hobby. The big time breeders spend a lot of $$$ in top notch morphs;racks; feeders; and vet bills. Research the husbandry; Find a pair that you think is outrageously gorgeous; and enjoy!! My personal favorites are Bandits; Mack Super Snows; and Sunglows, but everyone has their own personal favorites. Sometimes our hobbies, and passions turn to profit....

In your case, maybe so, but pet stores around here would be happy to buy a small clutch of home-bred reptiles any time.
I'll keep looking into different variations though, and I understand this isn't a sure profit but that's not what I want it to be, I just want some Geckos, some babies that I can make some money off, and then more reptiles. Then, once I have everything set up, I can go into it for profit. This is just building up, understand?

 

[JdiLb]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Anyone that thinks they will make money breeding on a small scale is in for a big surprise.
Most breeders don't even come close to breaking even unless they have hundreds of producing females. Even then, they end up wholesaling out most of the babies to pet stores.
Best of luck to you.

Thank you, and yes I understand that this isn't going to be a profit with just two, obviously. I just want to build up, and if I have sales, why not go for it?

 

[Russellm0704]

I apologize for jumping on you so quickly. There are just so many people on here that come home with their first reptile and automatically want to breed. Just hoping you understand it will take years to even break even(if your even that lucky)

 

[JdiLb]

if your looking to do it as a hobby awesome! If your looking for profit your in the wrong business. Even if you had the money to spend on the top notch genetics you probably wont even break even for a few seasons. But as far as a hobby it is great. I still suggest buying the best that you can afford. It is better to starr with one pair of awesome genetics then a bunch of cheap geckos. You can usually find a good deal at shows. As far as for what to get that is all depending on what you want to produce. For me it is all about color and pattern but others like something else. Do your research into different morphs and see what interests you. There is a good morph calculator in the morph section. Once you see what you like look into finding what you want. Good luck! What snakes do you breed?

Thank you, and I'm hoping to find a good deal at the show I'll be at. I too love pattern and color. I'll check that out, thanks for letting me know.

 

[JdiLb]

I apologize for jumping on you so quickly. There are just so many people on here that come home with their first reptile and automatically want to breed. Just hoping you understand it will take years to even break even(if your even that lucky)

I understand man, no hard feelings. I know how you feel, I have had the same experience MANY times in other areas
Anyway, yes I understand that, I'm really not looking to make anything at all, just to keep a recycling fund to invest more into this hobby. Later on, I can get into serious breeding for profit, if I decide.

 

[Thorgecko707]

I agree with the fact that You are better off saving money if you want to buy something else. You will spend way more in housing and supplies the first couple years. This is definitely not the money making hobby. Good luck on your quest. There are many wonderful morphs to start you out. A pair of sunglows with good ct would be my recommended morph for petstore resale. Everybody loves orange geckos.

 

[KelliH]

Do not breed. You are inexperienced in the leopard gecko world. I don't understand why everyone who joins these forums has to breed their geckos the first year they get them

When did you get your first leopard gecko and how long after that did you decide to breed them?

 

[KelliH]

By the way, welcome to GeckoForums JdiLb!

 

[NinjaDuo]

I apologize for jumping on you so quickly. There are just so many people on here that come home with their first reptile and automatically want to breed. Just hoping you understand it will take years to even break even(if your even that lucky)

I disagree, I started with a 1.3 group. And broke even my first season. It helps when you have a self sustaining food supply. Feeders are what brought me down. But then I found dubias....