Stressed and overwhelmed.

[RocksMama77]

I really need some moral support right now. Well on Saturday I drove to pick up 16 geckos that needed a home. Which is all good and I was super excited. I had the room and supplies so I figured why not. I got three cresties and rest were leos. Well I get them home and begin their set ups. Well first I take them out of the box and find three that are emaciated beyond belief. I was so angry and sad to see these little guys in such shape. Welll anyway, as I was checking them all I found that three are gravid. I had the room and resources for the sixteen but was completely shocked and unprepared for eggs. I will make room for the babies and have plenty of food for them but I am still overwhelmed. Two of the were not up to my weight specifications for breeding and one of them is still pretty much a baby. I already have fallen in love with all of them and with dealing with the ones that are grossly underfed as well as ones that are producing eggs I am really worried and stressed. PLease don't bash me, I should have asked more questions but I was so excited. The previous owner didn't make me aware of any of this so it was all a huge shock.

 

[Agui09]

MAN you got a HUGE problem, the previous owners must have been terrible! OK well First youll need to faten them up like BIG TIME, PINKIE MICE WAX WORMS SUPER WORMS ETC and but a huge bowl of calcium there get a lay box and an incubator. Then search on google how to incubate leopard gecko eggs and if you want to incubate them or throw the eggs away its your choice and if you want to incubate the eggs perfectly use a 1:1 ratio
Also if you cant take care of ALL the babys I can take care them.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[RocksMama77]

I do believe the previous owners were terrible. It makes no sense for them to be in this condition. I have been trying to fatten them up and so far so good. I have my incubator set up and I already have the two eggs incubating. I know pretty much what to do I just am so overwhelmed. Thank you so much for your advice and support. Right now I just want the skinny ones to gain weight and be ok.

 

[TripleALeos]

Glad to hear that they are doing good.. Sounds to me like they are in much better hands now. Where in NC are you located??

 

[T-ReXx]

Just to point something out, if you can't handle the babies you don't necessarily have to hatch the eggs.

 

[RocksMama77]

I am in Asheville. I had already thought about not trying to hatch the babies but I figure if they go to the trouble of laying them the least I can do is incubate them and see how things go.

 

[JordanAng420]

With all due respect, they're not "going through the trouble of laying"...they have no choice, quite honestly. You don't have to "feel bad" and incubate eggs that you're not sure you're ready for. The title of your thread is "stressed and overwhelmed". Do yourself and the industry a favor and hold off on hatching the eggs until you want them. Freeze them and throw them out.

 

[OhioGecko]

Just to point something out, if you can't handle the babies you don't necessarily have to hatch the eggs.

With all due respect, they're not "going through the trouble of laying"...they have no choice, quite honestly. You don't have to "feel bad" and incubate eggs that you're not sure you're ready for. The title of your thread is "stressed and overwhelmed". Do yourself and the industry a favor and hold off on hatching the eggs until you want them. Freeze them and throw them out.

This is good advise and you really should consider it. Best of luck with all the leos, I'm sure you'll do your best with them

 

[fl_orchidslave]

If the group is in such bad overall condition, there's a good chance the eggs won't be good, or worse- sickly babies. While you can't stop the laying process, you can avoid the additional anguish of dying babies. Not trying to be harsh in any way but right now it's more important to be focused on getting the group healthy again. Good luck

 

[Lady Hyena]

I know how that goes:/ I got 2 females and didnt expect them to be gravid being very young(and very thin) and well one supprised me with eggs(FERTILE!) and the other i see know is gravid. i already have 16 geckos and really didnt plan for more right now but i just dont have the heart to freeze and throw them out. Worse case secario i fail with the home made incubator i whipped up and the eggs never hatch the other senario is i have hatchings which wouldnt be so bad if its just the 2 clutchs. Like fl_orchidslave said if there in very bad shape it might be better if you didnt incuabte them that way you dont go threw the hardship of getting attached to the deformed babies(i have oneD: hes super cute but im just learning now his curl tail is very bad) that may die shortly after hatching.

Its a necessary evil. If you arent prepared then throw them out. If you do hatch tehm out, even tho it seems overwheming now, and they arent deformed then you have the joy of knowing you brought them into this world the RIGHT way not how they would ahve been in the pervious home.

 

[Keith N]

In my opinion I would freeze the eggs as they lay them. In a year or so you could breed them. You may also want to think about re adopting out some of them out to lessen the burden

 

[RocksMama77]

Hi all, just an update. Things are much better. They are all eating really good and I think only two of them are gravid. I have the eggs incubating so we will see how it goes. After all the stress of having so many(I went from 6 to 19 in a day) I have a system going now and things are actually working out great. They all are sweeties and the super skinny ones are looking so much better. I swear there is nothing like Dubia roaches to fatten them up. I wanted to thank you all for your replies and advice. I won't be freezing any eggs but now that everything is settled down I feel more able to handle what may come. Thanks again.

 

[Kristi23]

I'm glad you're doing better with them. Once you get a good system going, it ends up being pretty easy to take care of so many.

 

[goReptiles]

With the stress yore already under, just freeze the eggs. No need to intentionally put more stress on yourself if you can prevent it.