What is the smallest size gecko you would sell?

[HugeGenes&LoLa]

Personally, I don't even buy geckos unless I can sex them. Usually that doesn't happen until about 20 grams anyway. I don't really trust temp sexing on the geckos I need for our projects, like snows. Also (I could be complete wrong), but I like to think that the bigger/heavier they are, the sooner they will be ready for breeding (if male). Just my two cents.

 

[Kellyr]

I think I would sell at 15 ship around the same...

 

[OhioGecko]

I sell very few a 15 grams and I will only ship if they are 20+ grams.

 

[fallen_angel]

I always thought that 15 grams was the basic way to go, but I have sold and shipped as small as 10 grams. It's not something I like to do on a normal basis, though (just an exception).

I prefer to hold geckos until they are close to adult size, but if they get sold sooner, that works too

Selling at 5 grams seems a bit ridiculous, considering that the most important thing for geckos that young is "stability" (not being moved from home to home)

 

[Daidra]

I would never ship a hatchling under 15g as it is very stressfull on them and you also need to make sure the baby is healthy,eating and shedding properly before shipping.I will alow people to put a deposit down on the baby and then I will put them on hold until they reach 15g and then they can pay the rest of the money and I will ship at that time.

Also whoever is selling babies that young shouldn't be in this buisness/hobby as it shows that they don't care about the health or wellbeing of the animal they only care about the money.

 

[PacHerp]

Also whoever is selling babies that young shouldn't be in this buisness/hobby as it shows that they don't care about the health or wellbeing of the animal they only care about the money.

Very well said. :main_thumbsup:

 

[CSMGecko]

This thread was very interesting to read all the different view points. I had always assumed it to more of an age thing, such as 4-6 weeks. I would guess though that is about the right for healthy hatchlings though to be over 15 gms at 4 weeks.

I personally wouldn't want to sell any no matter what size that weren't 100% healthy. I garantee all my geckos, so I make sure there aren't any problems before shipping or selling. I am planning on posting all my hatchlings as I get them and updating status weekly, until ready for shipment but I may put a price on them prior to being shipment ready so customers can purchase them with the knowledge they would have to wait for shipping. If the customer wouldn't want to wait for shipping then the garantee would be voided and I would make a judgement call on a case by case basis.

I see that places like ***** get their leos from quantity, not quality breeders. At least in my area. That is what got me started with this business and hobby because I purchased some and they turned out not to be healthy. My goal once I grow some more is to try and get ***** and other pet stores in my area to quit using those breeders and use me. I would set up a breeding colony just for that purpose and give ***** my garantee. I think it would push those irresponsible breeders out of business. Those breeders are the equivilent to Puppy Mills in the reptile world, but because they are reptiles and not furry puppies, no one seems to care. It's really a shame.

 

[thestack510]

I recently had a gecko shipped to me at under 10g and it made it fine, but I was very nervous. I opted to trust the breeders judgment. I would prefer 15g minimum, but I like to have them heavier than that. At or around 30g is ideal IMO, that way I feel safe that the animal can handle being shipped and that it's breeding career (for lack of a better term) hasn't yet begun.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Personally, I don't even buy geckos unless I can sex them. Usually that doesn't happen until about 20 grams anyway.

Very good point! Since customer service is very important to me, I want my customers to have what they want. Being able to guarantee the gender as well as the health is a critical factor in my own business as well as who I purchase from.

 

[crotaphytidae]

not until they are 20 grams for me, at that point you can know that the animal is well established and won't give the new owner any problems.

 

[PacHerp]

not until they are 20 grams for me, at that point you can know that the animal is well established and won't give the new owner any problems.

exactly. The only time I would even consider letting an animal go that was under 20 grams is if it's to someone I trust that I know is experienced in growing up young geckos. aka, another breeder friend.

 

[spykerherps]

Have to agree no less then 15 grams out the door not shipped to someone I trust and if shipping 20 grams minimum. Although I like to hold on to them a bit myself I can kind of predict what a certain gecko is going to look like but you never know. for me sell and ship and hold back to at lest 25 to 30 grams to watch them grow and develop. Also I think it is better for the costomer they can get a better understanding of what the animal will look like fully mature.

I have a couple geckos that I was not going to keep. ended up not selling them and holding on to them and know they have developed into some nice geckos. as fair as personality, structure and color.

 

[rubym]

We sell ours once they are 20 grams or over. I did buy a little one at a show that was 4 grams. She is 52 grams now ( we have had her 5 months) and doing very well.

 

[paulnj]

I see 4-7 gram geckos on 5 or so tables at every show.....

I prefer to sell them at 25 grams or so, but have sold SEXABLE males at 12-14 grams and they shipped and grew just fine.

 

[Kristi23]

I won't ship until they're 20 grams. I would probably sell one locally at 15 grams if I knew the person well and they were good with reptiles.

 

[R.E.F]

Not until they are 20gr. here!
Think its to small to sell it under 20gr.

 

[Gary Orner]

I have not sold anything I have produced yet but I am not selling anything under 15 grams. I may hold some back untill 20 grams. Not sure. I am not in a rush to start selling at all. And when I am at shows I see a few babies being sold But the customers realy like the breeders that bring the larger animals.

 

[EchoPet]

I don't breed/sell yet, but personally I wouldn't mind buying a gecko between 10-15grams if it was a local pick-up or something like that, or to reserve it until it was bigger. But even that would probably be a case-by-case basis, like if it was from a breeder who was well-known and trust worthy so I could be sure they were being honest about it eating well and such. If I had to have one shipped to me, I'd want it to be 20grams+ to be safe.

 

[DarthGekko]

I sell or ship them at 25-30g. I give a 30 day health guarantee so I wanna make sure the gecko(s) are well started and healthy. I also like to wait to see what their visible traits are so I can price them accordingly. Selling them for a quick buck or to "make room" when a gecko is 5g is out of the question. The health of the gecko being sold is the first priority. Other than that, my rep as a breeder is on the line with each transaction so I would rather have each gecko grow up a little so that I know the geckos are established, healthy and they represent my best work.

 

[paulnj]

So, a private vote isn't private anymore?