Sore subject

[mmsi1002]

I know that none of us want to think about this but i really need to know. How many people have ordered a leo from a breeder & had it arrive DOA? I'm asking bc although i have some awesome breeders at my local show (white plains) i see leos on some of your websites that are just what i want but am leary about shipping them. I've never lost a reptile & would be devastated if i opened a box & found a DOA. Also i can't get used to the idea of an animal scared inside a sealed box that may or may not be thrown around by some idiot. Maybe i'm just a worrier. Please share your experience or opinion on the subject.

 

[Okee Reps]

Mike, I've bought probably 99% of my geckos online and have never ever had one arrive DOA. I've even had one get lost and not arrive until a day or so later then expected and still was fine. As well I have shipped countless geckos and haven't had a problem either. I think if the sender does everything correctly there is no reason for concern.

 

[yellermelon]

Ok, well first let me say, Ive ordered ALOT of geckos online also. Never had a DOA. I think this depends Mostley on the person you are buying from. If your dealing with someone wjo knows how to pack and ship a gecko, then you should have no problems. But if you were to buy (I highly doubt you would) from a bozo idiot that didnt know what they were doing then yeah you run a risk. So just stick to GF memebers and you should be fine

 

[DAWNoftheLEO]

No DOA for me also.. One close call due to ice storm last year, still turned out great!

 

[malt_geckos]

we have never had a DOA. The geckos I don't think are too terrified in the box since it is nice and dark. The movement may scare them a bit but for most of the trip, they aren't being handled, they are being shipped. We did have one problem with UPS and mishandling a box. The gecko had a broken leg when we got it (not the breeders fault), but was UPS's fault (it was a few weeks before Christmas and they don't pay too much attention to the boxes that say "handle with care"). I wouldn't be too scared of getting a gecko off line from a reputable breeder. The DOAs that usually happen are because of the temperature outside or the shipping companies fault. It rarely happens.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I think I am just old fashioned. I like looking at the geckos then handling them before I actually buy them. That helps me pick which gecko because you get to see the temperment and personality of them. I have bought other stuff on-line and had it shipped with no probs but not any live animals. The thing also is I am going to have to get some geckos I like one of these days. Too many of our great members here back on the East coast are producing geckos I am drooling over lmao

 

[bohannbj]

I've never had one arrive DOA, but I have recieved two that were sick. Fortunately they never made it out of quarintine so the sickness ended with them. I won't publicly name that breeder, but I will suggest GKO and Preacherman. I have spent most of my money with those two breeders and couldn't be happier. They both have great service and pricing is excellent.
Brent Bohannon

 

[Mel&Keith]

We've never had any problems with geckos we've received or sent out.

 

[Pacific Gecko]

I've shipped and received many geckos and the only problems I've faced were some delays that the geckos made through just fine!

 

[efx*]

Never had a DOA, Every thing has shipped fine


Dane

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I have been shipping geckos for nearly 10 years, and never had a DOA. I have had only 2 problems with geckos I have received, one DOA and one survived.... but it was the breeder who shipped them in winter without any form of heat pack.

 

[acpart]

I had one day gecko arrive in a cold coma after USPS lost the box for a day in 14º weather but it recovered fine. I've had geckos shipped from as far away on the mainland US from me as possible (WA state area) with no trouble.

Aliza

 

[paulnj]

I have recieved atleast 30 shipments this year alone and over the years 100's of others..... never had one single animal DOA...

 

[mmsi1002]

Thank you all for responding. I'm assured now.

 

[LeopardGeckoMom52688]

I have never recieved a DOA. And I was really scared the first time I bought from a breeder. My first one was from JMG. And I was so happy I delt with them again and again and I don't mind it. I still get scared about shipping but I really don't think the gecko knows what is going on!

 

[mmsi1002]

This may be a stupid question but, how do they not suffocate in a sealed box?

 

[Ishtar]

Never had a problem.

Just sent 4 leos yesterday that are across the states doing fine. Also received to ball pythons this morning doing great.

 

[DanTheFireman]

I always put at least a small pencil sized hole. Some people think it defeats the purpose of the styro but not so. A heat pack utilizes a chemical reaction to produce heat, which requires oxygen. Four years ago I had one DOA in a box of five that got lost for three days in the summer, that's out of hundreds of shipments. The many reputable breeders on this forum also guarantee your satisfaction, ask ahead of time.

 

[malt_geckos]

This may be a stupid question but, how do they not suffocate in a sealed box?

The box isn't air tight. They get some oxygen in it. But like Dan said, punching one hole in the box helps with some oxygen flow. :main_thumbsup: