Tremper Giants; What's In A Name?

[Haligren]

So I'm interested in getting a giant (most likely in the spring) and I wanted to know a few things about this morph. Firstly, how big does an average giant get? I'd like a male, so I'm assuming they get a bit heftier than the females. (I've read that super giants can get up to 160g!) How long can they get? What about temprement? Are they like any other gecko as in, it just depends, or are they more prone to be gentle or vicious?

What colors are available? I've mostly seen them in sunglow, tangerine, and blizzard colorations. (I'd like a tang myself though, but I'm not really that picky. )

Are there any defects associated with this morph?

And lastly, this question is slightly unrelated but, from the websites I was looking at giants usually go for about $200-$600. How does a breeder determine what to charge for a gecko? Are these guys more expensive simply because they get bigger?

 

[Slager]

I recently asked Marcia from Golden Gate Geckos about this over a PM, as I too was interested in them. She had said to contact Kelli Hammack at HISS as she is very familiar with the genetics of the whole thing. From the looks of it the MOGL knows her stuff and I would definitely trust her advice. I am new to leos myself and was looking at getting a giant as my first leo. I have heard that there may be some discouragement in breeding them though because of certain health risks for the animal, and possibly that the genetics may not have been completely proven out. Please correct me on this if I am wrong as I am still quite new to this, just trying to pass along some information that I have tried to research myself. Good luck and I hope this helps!!!!

 

[Haligren]

Honestly, I'm not interested in breeding them. I just want one as a pet, and I'm attracted to their size. lol

I was just looking on the leopard gecko wiki and it mentioned something about how the genetics of the morph weren't perfected yet so to speak. But it didn't mention anything about how it was risky to breed them. Hopefully the legendary MOGL will grace my thread with her knowledge then. Or perhaps I'll PM her.

 

[fallen_angel]

So I'm interested in getting a giant (most likely in the spring) and I wanted to know a few things about this morph. Firstly, how big does an average giant get? I'd like a male, so I'm assuming they get a bit heftier than the females. (I've read that super giants can get up to 160g!) How long can they get? What about temprement? Are they like any other gecko as in, it just depends, or are they more prone to be gentle or vicious?

I believe the average giant can get to be 90-109 grams. Super Giants are over 110 grams I am not sure of the weight difference between male and females. As for their temperament, they tend to be very gentle, gentle Giants!

What colors are available? I've mostly seen them in sunglow, tangerine, and blizzard colorations. (I'd like a tang myself though, but I'm not really that picky. )

I don't know all of the morphs that have been introduced into the Giant line, but RAPTORs and other combos with Tremper albino are popular.

Are there any defects associated with this morph?

I honestly don't know that one

And lastly, this question is slightly unrelated but, from the websites I was looking at giants usually go for about $200-$600. How does a breeder determine what to charge for a gecko? Are these guys more expensive simply because they get bigger?

I think a lot of things come into play when determining prices, but one thing that we do is just compare the competition's prices, then go with your reputation and quality, etc.

 

[nevinm]

male giants are ussually around 90-110 like jess said females are ussually around 90-100. male and female super giants are ussually over 120. all of my giants and supers are awsome. theyre not the slightest bit skittish, and are increadable pets.

 

[Paco]

Prices depend on the Quality of the Animal you are looking at, also who the breeder is, the bigger breeders can allways get higher prices because they have the name and reputation. Look around there are a lot of people working with the Giants. But make sure you buy from someone who has been working with the Giants for a while, it will make sure you are guaranteed of getting a true Giant and not a possible giant, also buy an Adult if you can so you know it's a giant or not. There are a few threads on the subject that have some good information about Giants and their genetics.

 

[rubym]

I have a male TAG that is 112 grams and our female is 104.Our reverse stripe giant is male is 111 and Our Super is 136 grams. I LOVE my giants. We did breed our male and female last season but only got 1 fertile egg out of 8. I am hoping for a better season this year. IMO the giants are big fat squishies. Eben my super loves to get on the bed with you and he gets as close as he can ( yeah I know it's just for body heat but its adorable!!!!).

 

[nevinm]

and to add on to what paco said...... alot of people dont work with giants because they have to wait for them to be worth anything. you cant sell a giant or super giant as a baby (unless it comes from a super giant X giant or super giant). you need to wait till they get bigger to make them worth more money. i dont mind becasue i love working with them. i hatched so many giants last year that i forgot what a normal sized baby looks like. back to where i was going with that, in order to make them worth money you need to wait for them to grow and alot of people dont think its worth it.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I have MANY geckos that are over 100 grams that are not 'giants'. I am not completely convinced that these are a true genetic morph.

 

[OhioGecko]

I have MANY geckos that are over 100 grams that are not 'giants'. I am not completely convinced that these are a true genetic morph.

Very interesting, are any of them not Trempers or het Trempers? I really like the giants and just started working with them.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

are any of them not Trempers or het Trempers?

Actually, my biggest male (118 grams) is a Bell. My RWPA male is over 100 grams, as well as my SHTCTB female at 101 grams. I have several others over 100 grams!

 

[Nigel4less]

Actually, my biggest male (118 grams) is a Bell. My RWPA male is over 100 grams, as well as my SHTCTB female at 101 grams. I have several others over 100 grams!

I`m pretty sure most of your Breeders could take down a Big Mac if they really wanted to

 

[Next Level Geckos]

I`m pretty sure most of your Breeders could take down a Big Mac if they really wanted to

So could I, as fat as i am.

 

[OhioGecko]

Actually, my biggest male (118 grams) is a Bell. My RWPA male is over 100 grams, as well as my SHTCTB female at 101 grams. I have several others over 100 grams!

Marcia, very nice leos. You must be feeding them those large mealworms injected with growth hormones :main_laugh:. JK

Are they fat or do they have the length with them? :main_robin:
I'm really curious.

 

[whkrazyk]

the founder of the giant gene says that in order for them to be giants they have to hit the 80 gram(male) or 60 gram(fem.) mark by 1 year of age. supers are 110(M) and 90(F) by 1 year of age. i have a tremper fem. giant annd she is very tolerable to handling.

 

[Nigel4less]

the founder of the giant gene says that in order for them to be giants they have to hit the 80 gram(male) or 60 gram(fem.) mark by 1 year of age. supers are 110(M) and 90(F) by 1 year of age. i have a tremper fem. giant annd she is very tolerable to handling.

Then half my collection Must Be Giants then :main_laugh:

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Then half my collection Must Be Giants then :main_laugh:

Mine, too!!!!

Are they fat or do they have the length with them? :main_robin:

That particular male is around 10-11 inches snout to tail tip. I got him as a yearling proven male, and he was only about 9 inches in length and weighed around 75-80 grams. After living here awhile, he just became, well... HUGE.

 

[OhioGecko]

Mine, too!!!!That particular male is around 10-11 inches snout to tail tip. I got him as a yearling proven male, and he was only about 9 inches in length and weighed around 75-80 grams. After living here awhile, he just became, well... HUGE.

Any offspring available from him soon?

 

[nevinm]

Mine, too!!!!That particular male is around 10-11 inches snout to tail tip. I got him as a yearling proven male, and he was only about 9 inches in length and weighed around 75-80 grams. After living here awhile, he just became, well... HUGE.

im with you guys.... almost my entire collection falls into that... on the other hand i do know what ones are giants and what ones arent. theres a nottable difference.

 

[Haligren]

Thanks for all the info, guys! It's interesting reading the debate about whether giants are an actual morph. Makes me hesitant to pay more for a larger gecko, but atleast I'd be assured I'd get my big, fat gecko (given I get it when it's a bit older and proven to be a big 'un). I've always had this fascination with big lizards (musta been because I was raised on Godzilla. ) And the bigger they are the more cuddlier they seem to me, I guess.