Questions for breeders

[Chewbecca]

Now, I am not sure how it works for geckos, but I know with dogs there is a WHOLE lot of questions one should ask a reputable breeder before deciding on purchasing a pup from them.

Is there anything similar for gecko breeders?
I know the expectations for dogs and geckos differ tremendously because they are two totally different animals, but I was just curious.

I am getting my own female gecko the week of the 24th (yes, we have four, and while they are "ours", my husband has had them for 8 years, this girl will be mine), and I will be responsible for her care. I looked over the breeder's site several times, looked at her geckos, and emailed her.
It was on the spot, so my mind went a little blank, but I had eyed the girl I wanted, so I inquired about her.
I asked about her appetite, and I asked about her temperament/personality.
Her lineage and weight were listed next to her, so that stuff was answered already.
Oh, and I also asked what type of diet she is currently on.

What other questions would you ask a breeder before purchasing a gecko?

Health/appetite is what matters most to me, so those were the questions I asked.

I also get a 30 day health guarantee with her.

 

[snowgyre]

With reptiles, the first thing I look at is the Board of Inquiry on Faunaclassifieds.com or I would ask people here if the breeder is reputable. The BOI can be a pretty ruthless place, so you sometimes have to sort through the pages of nonsense before you finally figure out what the story was, but it's good for at least giving you an idea of who you should avoid in the business.

As for asking the breeders questions, I think you've got them covered pretty good. Photos are great because with reptiles it's fairly easy to determine body condition from a photo, unlike with dogs where certain body features are obscured by fur. So, what you see is what you get in most cases, but this also ties into breeder reputability.

Questions I'd ask:
1. Age
2. Weight
3. Genetics - especially with traits like giant where the genetics aren't understood well, and people sometimes sell giant 'hets' when that's not possible, it's either giant or it's not. Knowing who the sire and dam are is crucial. Pictures are even better.
4. Food - roaches, mealies, crickets, etc.

I think geckos are much easier to purchase than dogs, because for the most part you don't have to worry about deleterious, hidden problems like hip displacement or allergies. But again, know the breeder. That's the most important thing.

 

[acpart]

It sounds as if you have everything covered. One other thing you can do if you feel the need is to go to www.faunaclassifieds.com and go to their BOI ("board of inquiry"). Then type the breeder's name (either personal name or name of business) into the search function and see what you get. There may be both positive and negative comments (if any). It's useful to read all the way through the negative threads if there are any because sometimes it can turn out that it's not a problem with the breeder, but with a buyer. Once you have that info, you can make a decision if necessary.

Aliza

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

It's GREAT to see someone asking questions and planing their breeding strategy before putting geckos together! Kudos!!!

You can also check out the fantastic breeders here on GF by checking their iTrader ratings. You will be able to read all the feedback from buyers that have purchased geckos from GF breeders.

 

[Chewbecca]

thanks, guys!

Maybe this thread could be made a sticky just in case others are here considering purchasing, and want to know how to go about finding reputable gecko breeders?

I'm going to check out that site.

The girl I'm getting, I decided to go through Gecko Ranch.
She's been very helpful, and VERY prompt with her email replies.
When my husband was looking in 2000 to purchase his first geckos, he strongly considered purchasing from her, but then he went to a show and just purchased his geckos there instead.

 

[THE WHISPERER]

I have bough from Gecko Ranch and I would Definatly recomened them.:main_thumbsup::main_thumbsup:

 

[EchoPet]

Personally I'd like to know hatch date, lineage/genetics (what morphs the parents were), diet, and temperament.

Also, just one little piece of advice since I'm not sure if you've read this elsewhere yet or not, but make sure you quarantine your new addition for at least 30 days.

 

[Chewbecca]

Personally I'd like to know hatch date, lineage/genetics (what morphs the parents were), diet, and temperament.

Also, just one little piece of advice since I'm not sure if you've read this elsewhere yet or not, but make sure you quarantine your new addition for at least 30 days.

Thanks. I know her lineage. Gecko Ranch lists the lineage next to the picture of the gecko.

She's not going to be put with any other geckos. She will have her own cage.


Thanks again, guys!

 

[EchoPet]

Ah cool. I like it when sites list a little more information with each gecko than just its morph and gender.

Good luck with her! How exciting. Post lots of pictures when she arrives.

 

[Chewbecca]

Here's her picture from the breeder's site.

She's so pretty!

ETA:
Oh believe me, I will provide a TON of pics of her, but I'm going to wait a week or so for her to get used to being here before I shove the camera in her face and snap away.