Question for all of the Breeders out there

[KTyne]

I'm planning on breeding AFTs in the future as well as Leos, small scale.

I want to make a plan on how to start out, obviously going to start small with only a few breeders. But, I would like to know how you guys started out?

I would love to start out with some high quality animals and morphs but I just don't have the money to spend hundreds to thousands on Leopard Geckos or AFTs (especially AFTs, since they are still so expensive) when just starting out.

Did you start out breeding Normals or other cheaper morphs? Save up for the more expensive ones? Did you start with a few breeders or more? Did you keep your breeders in racks or tanks?

Any and all advice is appreciated.

 

[acpart]

I started with 1.2 leopard geckos. Here's what I have had to say about breeding:
http://www.geckotime.com/breeding-leopard-geckos-on-a-small-scale/

The latest Gecko Time article is an excellent one about how to choose breeders.

Aliza

 

[KTyne]

Thanks. I've read the Gecko Time article, it was great and definitely helped. Pointed things out I wouldn't have thought of myself.

 

[stager]

I think it would be hard to even break even with cheaper morphs. Just caging food and suppliments on a hatchling by the time its old enough to sell would be more than you'd get for them. You have to spend money to make money.

 

[KTyne]

I think it would be hard to even break even with cheaper morphs. Just caging food and suppliments on a hatchling by the time its old enough to sell would be more than you'd get for them. You have to spend money to make money.

That's not what I was asking, I'm not looking to breed to make money.

 

[stager]

That's not what I was asking, I'm not looking to breed to make money.

Sorry. I guess it wouldn't matter than. But I'm sure they is huge amount of unwanted low end morphs as it is, they would be hard to get rid of.

 

[acpart]

I still meet lots of people at shows who just want an attractive healthy leopard gecko and they area frequently very happy with "low end morphs" which I can sell to them for $25. I anticipate every year that my breeding outcomes will include some of these geckos that aren't really special in terms of morph, but that attract people who want a nice pet. Once some people came to my house to buy a gecko and really wanted one of the "low end" ones that I was hoping to save for a show. I tried to put them off but they really wanted that one and kept offering more and more money for it (I gave in and sold it to them for $25).

Aliza

 

[katie_]

No point in starting with cheaper morphs

 

[ebower]

hey i have 2 leos a female super hypo carrot tail baldie and a male high yellow that im going to breed. the only things is my male isnt very interested. he'll rattle his tail and nip at her neck but just walks away after that. how do i make him breed?

 

[KTyne]

Sorry. I guess it wouldn't matter than. But I'm sure they is huge amount of unwanted low end morphs as it is, they would be hard to get rid of.

Actually, low end morphs are quite easy to get rid of from what I've seen. Most people who are looking for Leopard Geckos or AFTs for pets can't afford the higher end morphs anyways.

I still meet lots of people at shows who just want an attractive healthy leopard gecko and they area frequently very happy with "low end morphs" which I can sell to them for $25. I anticipate every year that my breeding outcomes will include some of these geckos that aren't really special in terms of morph, but that attract people who want a nice pet. Once some people came to my house to buy a gecko and really wanted one of the "low end" ones that I was hoping to save for a show. I tried to put them off but they really wanted that one and kept offering more and more money for it (I gave in and sold it to them for $25).

Aliza

Exactly. I know when I first got into Reptiles and wanted a Leo I wasn't even considering getting a morph. Not because I wouldn't want one or that they weren't attractive but because they were just way out of my price range. Normals will always be able to sell.

No point in starting with cheaper morphs

Agreed. I was thinking about it more recently and yes Normals or Albinos are cheaper to buy but the higher end morphs while more expensive would also bring more return.

hey i have 2 leos a female super hypo carrot tail baldie and a male high yellow that im going to breed. the only things is my male isnt very interested. he'll rattle his tail and nip at her neck but just walks away after that. how do i make him breed?

Please create your own thread to ask your questions so that mine doesn't get off topic, thanks.