What should I get?

[Leopardbreeder]

As some of you might know, I am going to the reptile show in Hamburg in August. I am going to get my breeding stock of geckos up, I am looking for Blizzards and Mack Snows. I am also looking for an incubator. I have been told that Havobators are great for rooms with steady temps, but the incubator will be in my basement with temperatures flux's of at least +-5. I am hoping now to spend more than $80 on the incubator. I don't need anything big, but I don't want it really small either. What do you think I should look for, that I might be able to get there.

 

[paulnj]

Well, get a hovabator and a trio of snows from Bob's geckos. The trio and hovabator will set you back $250 or so

No incubators in your price range there usually, but Bob should be there with some cool mack snows

 

[Russ S]

Something like this should suit your needs hovabator

Honestly you will more than likely have to order one from someplace or go to a local feed store for one. It is unlikely that they will be selling these at shows.
Best of luck.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Well, I already have one mack snow lined up (hopefully, Ryan still hasn't replied)

 

[Mel&Keith]

Breeding stock?

How many are you planning on breeding?

 

[Leopardbreeder]

I hope to have atleast 6 by the next breeding season, though I may not be able to breed so soon I still want to be ready. What I am hoping in maybe 1 male and 1 female blizzards and 1 female mack snow and 1 male mack snow (male lined-up is co-dom).

 

[Kotsay1414]

It all depends on what you want to make. I know me personally, I love Mack Snows, I picked up a Male Mack het Tremper from Albey and a Female Mack/Fasc from him. I'm currently using the male with a Patternless Female, the Mack Female, and a Tremper Female.

My girlfriend wanted to make bright orange geckos, so we picked up a nice SHTCT and a SHT.

It all comes down to what you want to make. Once you figure that out, you can figure out what to buy.

 

[robin]

I hope to have atleast 6 by the next breeding season, though I may not be able to breed so soon I still want to be ready. What I am hoping in maybe 1 male and 1 female blizzards and 1 female mack snow and 1 male mack snow (male lined-up is co-dom).

why do you want to breed?

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Are you asking that question making sure I'm not just in it for the money? Or do you really want to know? Mack Snows and Blizzards are my favorite. I want to get at least a few Mack Snow off-spring, and a couple of blizzards. I am planning on keeping about 1 Leo from each clutch, and selling the remaining. I know I will not make make much money (if I don't loose any), but it is just something I want to do, because of the joy I get from geckos. I have been doing a lot of research on it, and I think I am ready. Although I don't know too much on genetics, I think I know enough to get started. The co-dom that I am (hopefully) getting, will be bred with the female mack snow I pick-up. Within a few years, I hope to have a few blazing blizzards, and a few line bred Mack Snows, with as little yellow as I can get from (not sure the reptile term) selective breeding. Do any of my ideas of hopes seem too far off?

 

[Kotsay1414]

Are you asking that question making sure I'm not just in it for the money? Or do you really want to know?

I'm asking because personally I think one should buy based on what they like.

Mack Snows and Blizzards are my favorite. I want to get at least a few Mack Snow off-spring, and a couple of blizzards. I am planning on keeping about 1 Leo from each clutch, and selling the remaining. I know I will not make make much money (if I don't loose any), but it is just something I want to do, because of the joy I get from geckos. I have been doing a lot of research on it, and I think I am ready. Although I don't know too much on genetics, I think I know enough to get started. The co-dom that I am (hopefully) getting, will be bred with the female mack snow I pick-up. Within a few years, I hope to have a few blazing blizzards, and a few line bred Mack Snows, with as little yellow as I can get from (not sure the reptile term) selective breeding. Do any of my ideas of hopes seem too far off?

You seem to have answered your question on what direction you want to go... As far as getting Mack Snow's and Blizzards. Personally I would get a Mack Snow het Blizzard Male, a Mack Snow Female, and a Female Blizzard or Female Mack Snow het Blizzard. Depending on which combination you purchase, you can mack Super Snow Blizzards to Normal 50% het Blizzards. This would be a fun project.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

That is basically what I was planning on doing. No one that I know of, really "specializes" in Blizzards so I figured I could be that person if everything works out for me. I really like that they are so plain.

 

[robin]

Are you asking that question making sure I'm not just in it for the money? Or do you really want to know? Mack Snows and Blizzards are my favorite. I want to get at least a few Mack Snow off-spring, and a couple of blizzards. I am planning on keeping about 1 Leo from each clutch, and selling the remaining. I know I will not make make much money (if I don't loose any), but it is just something I want to do, because of the joy I get from geckos. I have been doing a lot of research on it, and I think I am ready. Although I don't know too much on genetics, I think I know enough to get started. The co-dom that I am (hopefully) getting, will be bred with the female mack snow I pick-up. Within a few years, I hope to have a few blazing blizzards, and a few line bred Mack Snows, with as little yellow as I can get from (not sure the reptile term) selective breeding. Do any of my ideas of hopes seem too far off?

i am asking because why can't you just keep a leo without breeding it? buy the kind you like and don't breed it. appreciate it for what it is first. people are in such a rush now a days to breed. why the hurry?

do you have the money to keep up all the breeders? and even the babies? yes you can buy them but for food and housing and all that comes along with keeping them and breeding them. do you even have the time? breeding and keeping many geckos takes time everyday. you need to learn genetics, even just simple genetics as well and get an understanding of it.
just some tips and questions and maybe a little something for you to think about.

 

[paulnj]

Robin has very valid points. I assure you that a 1.5 breeding colony can hatch out enough hatchling to keep you feeding and watering for 1 hour a day, not to mention 4000 mealworms a week Housing will be another fun thing, Do you have the room and $$ to get a 50-75 bin rack for hatchlings? Can you feed, house and properly care for 50 geckos that don't sell and become your pet?

Breeding geckos takes more $$ than you'll take in, a good amount to setup housing and feed.

I would suggest getting a 1.1 breeding pair if you want to breed (and however many others as pets). hatching 4-20 hatchlings will give you a taste of the positives and negatives of "breeding geckos" without getting you too far in over your head.

You like mack snow and blizzards.... get a MS het bliz and a bliz and hatch both(and normals).

 

[Leopardbreeder]

I do have the room, and my parents do help the $$$. What I was planning on doing is altering the leos every breeding season. I.E. one season I breed gecko A and B, next season I breed gecko B and D, next season D and A. This way I am not overwhelmed, and I can keep them limited. I have the food growing as we speak. I get about 1000 mealies a month, and the number is increasing by at least 10+ mealies more a day. I have tons of them in alien mode, and after these all shed and become beetles I will have tons more mealies.:main_thumbsup: I think I will have enough food, and room for a few clutches a season. Once I get the eggs, I will build the hatchling rack, hopefully a 24 box rack. If I need more, I can build more... I doubt I will.

 

[sacredcreatures]

Matt, I have alot of Blizzies. Even Blazing and the very dark ones(midnight) Stop by my table in Hamburg and see what I ve got I will have a few snows too. Deb