Petsmart/petco leopards

[ApplestoApples]

I am getting a leopard gecko in the near future, and was wondering if it is a good idea to buy from these companies? I know they keep inferior fish with bad genetics, is this the case with leopards? I might consider breeding them in a year or so, and I dont want to buy a bad animal. Also, is there genes in leopards, or just more desired types?

 

[ImNotYogi]

Buying from a big chain is a gamble because of how they house and care the animals. Any animals; not just fish. I bought my first (and currently only) gecko from a breeder to minimize the risk of parasites and poor eating habits. And to increase the likelihood of him adapting to being handled better.
I'm not a breeder but I've seen a lot say they would never breed an animal without knowing what genes they carry. And Petsmart can't tell you how to properly care for a leo let alone the genetic history. Genes are what causes all of the different morphs.

 

[featheredfamilyfriends]

If you are thinking about breeding, you should definitely go to a breeder. If you are only looking for a pet you could consider Petsmart or a private pet store that is familiar with their animals. I'd probably also ask to see them eat as a gecko in poor health isn't going to be as apt to eat but thats no guarantee. You definitely won't find any nice fancy colored gecko at a petstore like petsmart. Don't use Petco they generally use sand substrate and way too many babies to a cage generally and this means possible impaction in your baby and some skinny babies if one is hogging all the food. I did see a Petsmart that had a more knowledgeable reptile person but again small cage, hard to separate cool vs warm sides and keep temps right. With a breeder you know the animal hasn't been stressed a lot or poke/prodded at by customers.

 

[JayCap]

Petco/Petsmart

2 of my four Geckos are from a large chain petstore. They are both albinos (tremper I believe) but I can't be 100% sure of there genetics because they are from a petstore like that. Also a few days after I got them I noticed one of them acting a bit funny and a few days after that walking funny. She was walking on her forearms and not picking her belly off of the ground. Sure enough it turned out she has MBD. It has taken a lot of time and money to get where she is today, she still walks on her front a little funny but her belly is off the ground and she is now hunting again for her crickets. She is really pretty and has great yellow for a normal tremper albino but even if I wanted to breed her in the beggining I now wouldn't because of the MBD. Point of all this is sometimes they do not take care of them the way they need to be at petstores and you can't be sure exactly what you are bringing home. Hope that helps. Here is a picture of one of her weird legs.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

It completely depends on your local one and how good it is. I got my gecko from PetCo, and he's fine. But that particular store actually takes decent care of their animals. Some chain stores are complete shit. It depends who's managing that particular store.

~Maggot

 

[garner63080]

As stated before, Chain Pet stores and a lot of private stores are good for Pets. If you want to breed go to a Breeder. With a pet store gecko you never fully know what genetics you are getting and thats not good for breeding. I understand that cost is a big issue with a lot of people, buy I've found that a lot of breeders do have good quality lower end morphs for a reasonable price.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ImNotYogi]

It's a crap shoot on if an employee who knows reptiles and they're actually in charge of caring for the reptiles. One person at the local petsmart didn't know they made calcium without D3 and another recommended I get tiles and a better temp gun from the Home Depot. I thought about getting either a beardie or leo from the store before I noticed the beardie tank doesn't have a UVB/UVA bulb. Never mind the cramped quarters (around 5gal tanks) and irregular feeding schedule of non-gutloaded or dusted insects. The other pet store (locally owned) has slightly bigger enclosures and better lighting but I hate them more than Petsmart. Because they keep multiple snake species in big deli-type cups in the same tank. I feel like I'm kind of going off on a tangent.
In short: I wouldn't trust a pet store unless you've handled the lizard, cage, and inspect how their other reptile species are housed.

 

[athdaraxen]

From personal experience the Gecko I just got from a petco isn't doing to well and may have internal parasites or goodness knows what else.

If I had known the risks before buying Sparky I would have gone to a breeder, no questions asked. It's better to pay a breeder now than to pay a vet later. Save yourself the hardship.

Sent from my Samsung Captivate using Tapatalk 2.

 

[katie_]

We're not allowed to talk about specific companies on this forum.

 

[M_surinamensis]

is there genes in leopards

Awkward phrasing or sincere question?

And to increase the likelihood of him adapting to being handled better.

That's not how reptile behavior... works. Breeder, pet shop, wild caught; if all other conditions are equal (animal is healthy, specific conditions you keep them in are identical, you provide identical stimuli) then they will present the same responses to handling. "Handle better" is not a benefit that is associated with a specific source.

You definitely won't find any nice fancy colored gecko at a petstore like petsmart.

Who do you think people like Ron Tremper and the Bells sell most of their neonate geckos to?

With a breeder you know the animal hasn't been stressed a lot or poke/prodded at by customers.

That's not necessarily guaranteed. Shops certainly introduce some specific conditions that are generally not considered ideal, but... just as there are better and worse shops and stores, there is a great deal of disparity between the quality and qualifications of breeders. Buying from an intelligent, experienced and ethical breeder offers many advantages but not every breeder is intelligent, experienced or ethical.

In short: I wouldn't trust a pet store unless you've handled the lizard

Opinions will definitely vary on the subject of potential customers handling animals. There are some pretty compelling reasons not to see this as a positive.

 

[Lexi43]

Don't go to petco is all i have to say they are horrible i mean i would love to buy them all just to rescue them from there because they really don't know how to take care of anything in that place

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Buying from an intelligent, experienced and ethical breeder offers many advantages but not every breeder is intelligent, experienced or ethical.

True. Only person we have in my area who does any reptile breeding (albeit snakes) is horrid. I buy crickets from her because she's the only place to buy them from, but I wouldn't ever buy any animal of hers. They're kept in terrible conditions and fed food kept in worse conditions.

We're not allowed to talk about specific companies on this forum.

Why not?

~Maggot

 

[ApplestoApples]

I am going to try to buy from a breeder, just hate shipping cost so wondered if these were a viable option.

 

[SC Geckos]

Why not?

GeckoForums.net Terms of Service:

Personal Attacks Against Individuals or Companies
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[ImNotYogi]

I am going to try to buy from a breeder, just hate shipping cost so wondered if these were a viable option.

The shipping for a lot of breeders seems to be $45-$55 depending on locations. It just is what it is. But the likelihood of health issues is lower if you found yourself a good breeder.

 

[ApplestoApples]

Oh, didnt remembe that rule, you can delete this thread if you need to, its not a big deal.
Luke

 

[Embrace Calamity]

GeckoForums.net Terms of Service:

I meant why it's against the rules.

I am going to try to buy from a breeder, just hate shipping cost so wondered if these were a viable option.

Do you not have any other pet shops in your area? There are others besides PetCo and PetSmart, and pretty much anywhere will sell leos.

~Maggot

 

[SC Geckos]

I meant why it's against the rules.

"Posts and threads commenting on any business or individual with regards to their business and/or reptile husbandry ethics are only allowed in the Business/Inquiries forum."

I assume (by the way it reads) it's because there is a dedicated section on the forum for people to talk/give opinions about a business or an individual.

 

[J&K's Lemy]

save up enough to get a few (2 or 3) leos & pay the shipping.
you will have the hets of your leos listed

 

[DavidBeard]

Awkward phrasing or sincere question?




That's not how reptile behavior... works. Breeder, pet shop, wild caught; if all other conditions are equal (animal is healthy, specific conditions you keep them in are identical, you provide identical stimuli) then they will present the same responses to handling. "Handle better" is not a benefit that is associated with a specific source.



Who do you think people like Ron Tremper and the Bells sell most of their neonate geckos to?



That's not necessarily guaranteed. Shops certainly introduce some specific conditions that are generally not considered ideal, but... just as there are better and worse shops and stores, there is a great deal of disparity between the quality and qualifications of breeders. Buying from an intelligent, experienced and ethical breeder offers many advantages but not every breeder is intelligent, experienced or ethical.



Opinions will definitely vary on the subject of potential customers handling animals. There are some pretty compelling reasons not to see this as a positive.

Holy crap Seamus.....haven't seen you around in a looooong time, lol.