Pet Stores vs. Pet shows

[puckett26]

I got a question it might sound stupid to some but here goes. I have been to the Hamburg, pa reptile show various times, whether I was goin to get leos or turtles or just to look around. I have also been to pet stores countless times lol. But I have notice that when I go to shows alot of the leos there are female and if they arent of breeding size, they are "temp sexed" females. Now when i got to pet stores I find mostly males. I guess this could be just the area I am in or the shows I go to, but do any of you guys notice this? Maybe I just thinking to much, but i thought it was a little wierd. I also kind of noticed that my pet show bought geckos got acclimated much quicker. The one that I bought from the pet store seemed to be scared of his own shadow still after 3 months of being with me. I know he is still young but the two bought from hamburg werent. Just a few thoughts, what you guys think?

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

Normally if leos are too young to be sexed, they will be sold as "temp-sexed males" and "temp-sexed females". Leos normally have their sex detirmined by their incubation temperature. So if they say that they are "temp-sexed" one gender, it means that they were incubated for that gender.

Personally I think the geckos you will get from breeders are better socialized then ones from petstores. There is a quality to leopard geckos from breeders that you will not find at any average joe pet store.

 

[Bodon]

The two i got from a pet store was like that too, afraid of me for months, and i never got one from a breeder so i dont really know how they act, i thought they all were like that.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

It is always best to get ANY animal from a breeder reather than a pet store. Would you buy a puppy or a kitten from a pet store, or the person that has the parents and raised the babies from birth?

 

[puckett26]

yea i was just wondering, I know what temp sexed is. Was just a thought tho.

 

[rubym]

I think that most breeders spend more time with their animals so they are alot better socialized. The ones at the larger pet places usually come in quite young and haven't had a chance to get used to people.

 

[nicks]

The pet store bought animals probably come from some of the same breeders you are going to see at the show. They are probably more jumpy just because the number of people that will sit there and tap on the cage and all the people walking around. You see more males there because when breeders are trying to produce something new you will produce a bunch of offspring and you will keep more females and until proven you need to move the males without giving away what you are trying to make. Also most people buying animals at pet stores are buying pets not animals to be bred. So it makes sense for breeders to hold the females for shows where other breeders will be there looking for animals to breed.

Nick

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

Most chain stores get their leopard geckos from wholesalers, /very/ rarely from actual breeders...

Reptile specialty stores or "mom and pop" stores are a whole different matter though. The specialty store near me breeds their own leos.

 

[Haligren]

I got lucky with Tiamat I think. According to the store where I got her from, they get their geckos from a local breeder. I was excited knowing that there was a breeder in town and I tried to get his information but they weren't at liberty to divulge such. I'd love to go to a show though if only they had them up here....

Anyway, the next leo I get will most likely be from a breeder. Just because one is more sure of what he/she is getting with a breeder, especially if they have had time to spend and socialize with the leo. I try to be friendly with the leos at my store but it's difficult when they're all so tiny and young. The new batch we got in however seem very friendly and not easily intimidated (many are out and about hunting and exploring their tank throughout the day and appear healthy). Unfortunately, we got ours from a mass breeder in Ontario. :\

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

I try to be friendly with the leos at my store but it's difficult when they're all so tiny and young. The new batch we got in however seem very friendly and not easily intimidated (many are out and about hunting and exploring their tank throughout the day and appear healthy). Unfortunately, we got ours from a mass breeder in Ontario. :\

I try to do the same at my store. I handle the babies whenever I work and try to get them fairly used to people. So far all three we have right now are doing really swell, one will even crawl to the front of the cage to let everyone know when she wants her "out" time.

They are such cute little devils!
--
My major issues with buying from stores are not knowing the background history and etc... Plus I love that when buying from a breeder I will know exactly what I am getting and that the little one was born and raised in a caring and stable environment. Almost 100% of the time from a breeder you are guaranteed the health and genetics of the animal as well, and nothing beats that.

 

[nicks]

The wholesalers get their animals from breeders as well, leopards aren't brought into the country like ball pythons. 99.9% are going to be captive bred animals that a breeder is selling as surplus.

Yes, it is always better to buy directly from the breeder. But there are many people who prefer the convenience of going into the store and getting an animal. That and not every pet store animal is going to be as described, many will be nice and healthy but they will always cost more than buying breeder direct.

Nick

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

The wholesalers get their animals from breeders as well, leopards aren't brought into the country like ball pythons. 99.9% are going to be captive bred animals that a breeder is selling as surplus.

No worries, I know this. But still, the breeders and wholesalers are not like a lot of the ones I have met or seen at shows. Sorry, what I mean is that they operate on a much larger scale then a lot of breeders I have met.

 

[puckett26]

Thanks Nicks, I think you were the only one to actually answer my question lol. And it makes sense now that I think of it. I was supposed to go to hamburg but I couldnt make it and I had a new tank set up for a couple of new shtct I was gonna get. Since I couldnt go I bought a leo from a pet store. My lack of patients gets me into trouble sometime lol.