To Breed or Not to Breed

[goReptiles]

So I'm a little stumped. I really want to get a Chewie, but I really just want a pet.... Same with with the one leachie I wanted, and ended up buying two. Well, the thing is, these guys are about $500 each, and I really want a pet, but I wouldn't mind trying to breed them (I know they're harder to breed) since I'm spending so much on them..


What's your opinion. When you spend a good bit of money on one gecko, do you breed or keep as a pet only?


I've seen a few people with just one leachie or just one chewie. Not sure if they plan on more or what, but either way, what do you guys do?

 

[acpart]

For me the big question is --what kind of market will there be for the babies and how will I house them. In my case the answer is that I have no room to house any babies that need anything besides a leopard gecko type set-up (I can't set up multiple crestie or day gecko type cages). Also, the kind of people I sell to are not even really likely to put the time into care and maintenance of a crestie environment. Consequently I have a single member of a number of species (P. laticauda, P. klemmeri, crestie, garg, bearded dragon [who has laid 120 eggs this season and I haven't been tempted even once to breed her]).

Aliza

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

Why dont you keep it as a pet for a year or two and ensure you even like working with that species. If after a year or two and your husbandry is spot on and you still want to breed...then go for it. There is no rush to begin breeding something just because you have one already. Enjoy a reptile as a pet for a while (I have a few geckos/snakes that are just pets so I can enjoy them without the added work of baby care and selling of offspring). JMHO

 

[goReptiles]

Oh, there's definitely no rush to breed. I was just asking.

I have two leachies I'm waiting on. I don't care if I breed them or not, although it would be nice; it's not a priority. I just love the species. I may end up with two males or two females and oh well. I'm in love with them, even just the pics, since I haven't been able to have them shipped in yet. I didn't intend to buy two leachies and even turned down a second gecko from the first breeder, but I fell in love with the picture of another gecko that someone else had available, and I knew that I couldn't turn it down.

I have several reptiles that are pet only. I was just curious about others in their thoughts on spending a good bit of money and just keeping it as pets or should it be bred just because you spent a lot of money on it. I guess I worded it a little wrong.

 

[thegeckoguy23]

So I'm a little stumped. I really want to get a Chewie, but I really just want a pet.... Same with with the one leachie I wanted, and ended up buying two. Well, the thing is, these guys are about $500 each, and I really want a pet, but I wouldn't mind trying to breed them (I know they're harder to breed) since I'm spending so much on them..


What's your opinion. When you spend a good bit of money on one gecko, do you breed or keep as a pet only?


I've seen a few people with just one leachie or just one chewie. Not sure if they plan on more or what, but either way, what do you guys do?

Well If i was you I would keep them as pets and breed them if you got the money but they well still be pets just they well breed also sorrta like some dog breeders keep there dogs as pets but also breed them on the side.


Jake

 

[goReptiles]

To me a pet is one to enjoy. One that doesn't have a job, doesn't compete, and doesnt breed. Yes, competition dogs are still pets, but to me its still a little different.

 

[M_surinamensis]

I think there are some times when an owner has an obligation to try breeding their animals.

There are some animals which represent something rare and something natural that has a very small population present in captivity. Captive breeding of those types of animals strengthens and grows the captive numbers- which is a great thing when there is an available market for the offspring.

Some of these are hard to find in collections because they are rarely or never imported or tend to be much more delicate captives which have a tougher time with the transitional period after collection. There is a market for them, people want them, but captive breeding efforts aren't producing the kinds of numbers that the market demands. Maybe there is not as much known about the breeding behaviors or triggers as is the case with other species. Captive breeding should be attempted with this kind of animal though, to further establish captive populations and to provide healthy, CB offspring that won't have that transitional period during which losses can be incurred.*

Some animals represent something that simply cannot be replaced. Australian species provide some examples there; legal exportation of Australian species has been cut off. The animals that exist outside of Australia itself are now an isolated breeding population. Some of those populations are quite large (bearded dragons) and some of them are quite small (some of the gecko species, Aspidites, some of the monitors). The small ones need to be bred by pretty much everyone who owns them or they won't necessarily be around in twenty or thirty years for anyone to enjoy. Also in this category are subspecific and locale specific animals who can be verified as pure. Pure diamond pythons, pure Hog Island boas, pure leopard gecko subspecies- the genetics of these groups have largely been lost to indiscriminate breeding and those which remain identical to the wild state are precious and valuable as a result.



*I should mention that I don't have the slightest problem with legal, responsible wild collection for the pet trade. Which most wild collection is. However, wild caught animals always add an extra dimension to the required care- for some species this is not a big deal and they adapt readily, others are more sensitive to the changes and tend to do poorly after collection unless they are in the hands of someone who is quite adept at environmental manipulation and maintaining reptile health. Captive bred animals tend to be a better bet from the perspective of the average end consumer when they are available.

 

[goReptiles]

Thanks surinamensis... I'm still undecided as what to do, but I did buy a Chahoua. I know that there aren't too many breeders that let out their hatchlings. One guy was only selling one this year, and the breeder I bought from had released 6 out of 8 that he hatched. I haven't decided, but I have time. If I decide to it'll be one pair, so that I have more time enjoying them than anything else.