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 #1730898


LearnerVet
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 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

Hi Everyone, well just basic background then I am a vet student who is interested in exotics, but without massive practical experience. And we all know that when it comes to exotics experienced owners outrank the vets in the knowledge stakes!!! Which is why I am taking to U :). I am lucky enough to have the uni’s library for research on the veterinary side of things but am now looking for the owner’s and breeder’s views on things.

But that’s enough about me. My real question is about the Gecko’s. Now living in the inner city I am sorely missing the company of any pets. I have been researching into possible getting some Geckos ideally more than 1 and hopefully getting them as young as humanely possible and growing on, so I can watch their growth and life stages (also helping my studies). And gaining a fascinating pet on the way. Ideally I would like some small to medium sized geckos or something that isn’t going to grow too big in the first year of life so I can give them as much space as possible and interesting characters and patterns (they don’t have to be incredibly attractive, we are not all blessed!) But rest assured anything I do get will be properly cared for and get all the treatment and set up the specific species needs.

Are there any breeds you would recommend for the size and situation?
Is there anyone experienced in bringing on eggs/ young lizards that could give me any hints and tips? On either where or when to get young/ incubating eggs or the best worked way to do things??
Any comments gratefully received.
:)



05/10/08  06:01am

 #1731036


KrazyKelli
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   Message To: LearnerVet   In reference to Message Id: 1730898


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

You should aim for leopard geckos. They are one of, if not the, most popular gecko species out there right now. The geckos are terrestrial, you can keep them one to a 10 gallon tank (or 20 when adult), and they can be handled to make study easier on you. Petstores usually sell them as Juvis, but you should know that some stores sell sick geckos. Look at various caresheets for the basic info and ask specific questions when you come up with them.

You will not be able to sex the gecko until it’s 6/7 months to a year old. Males kill eachother, and if a male breeds with a female too early (if either are under a year and under 55 to 60 grams in weight), they can both fall ill. A young female getting gravid could result in the gecko getting eggbound, and a young male mating too early can result in a prolapse. The geckos can have up to 16 eggs in a clutch - two at a time. I can’t tell you much about incubation.
05/10/08  11:12am

 #1731350


Squee
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   Message To: LearnerVet   In reference to Message Id: 1730898


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

i recommend leopard geckos, or african fat tail geckos if your looking for terestrial geckos, or crested geckos if your looking for arboreal geckos. any one of those three are good beginners..

as for were to get them you wont be able to find any eggs for sale due to the fact reptile eggs, unlike bird eggs, cannot be tipped or turned durring their developement in the egg otherwise the embryo will drown. as for young geckos most reputible breeders dont sell babies under 4 weeks of age(most dont sell under 6 weeks actually) and with that said its mainly personal prefrence on what to get and cilor possibilities..

crestedgecko.com sells all 3 of these kinds of geckos, rainingredstripe.com specializes in leopard geckos, and acreptiles.com does cresteds and leos. theres also a big listings with all 3 kinds of geckos from different breeders on kingsnake.com classifieds section
05/10/08  07:56pm

 #1732452


S.
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   Message To: Squee   In reference to Message Id: 1731350


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

I agree with Squee. But IMO, I think that the crested geckos or any/all of the Rhachodactylus Sp. is much more interesting than the terrestrial geckos. I have been keeping reptiles of all types for over 20 years now (I feel so old putting the exact number of years down so don’t ask ♥ ) and I find my self with mostly that Sp. I also keep a few uroplatus and they really are not as hard to take care of as people say. Also you may want to look in to phelsuma if you want a diurnal sp., all the others mentioned above are nocturnal.

If you end up getting a tropical gecko you really should look into natural vivarium set ups. I have kept each in the past and I find that the geckos seem MUCH happier and healthier in such environments.
If you have any questions that you think I could help with feel free to PM me.
Good luck!
05/11/08  09:23pm

 #1734042


Xpantherx
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   Message To: S.   In reference to Message Id: 1732452


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

I agree with S, though the one draw back on Uroplatus is the fact that they are predominantly imported freshly caught, and often have parasites on top of being expensive. Besides Rhacodactylus, I would say Gekko gecko, specifically captive bred and acclimated, Paroedura picta, or a viper gecko. Lygodactylus is also a genus very similar to Phelsuma, and make a good starter gecko as well.

K
05/13/08  12:37pm

 #1736068


Guido1090
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   Message To: Xpantherx   In reference to Message Id: 1734042


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

i think you should get either a crested gecko, leopard gecko, or an african fat tailed gecko. but in my opinion the crested gecko (or other Rhacs) are way more fun to take care of and watch jump around their cage. the leos and AFTs are so slow and lazy. minimum cage for an adult crested gecko is a 20 gallon tall.

xpantherx isnt Gekko gecko the tokay gecko? i wouldnt recommend a tokay because they are hard to tame and will bite. they can even cause the person to need stitches.

here is a picture of my crested gecko. i got him/her at dirtystinkystuff.com they are a really good breeder.





05/15/08  08:55am

 #1736184


LearnerVet
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   Message To: Guido1090   In reference to Message Id: 1736068


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

Thanks for everyones advice! There is no substitute to experience and i will take all of your comments on board! :)
05/15/08  11:44am

 #1736666


Guido1090
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   Message To: LearnerVet   In reference to Message Id: 1736184


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

im glad we could help! keep us updated on what you decide.
05/15/08  08:01pm

 #1745272


Smurfzilla
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   Message To: Guido1090   In reference to Message Id: 1736666


 Vet student looking for experienced owners/ breeders help!

in the event that you may want to breed them in the future i would narrow it down to cresteds or leos. afts can be very hard to got to hatch and arent recommended for beginning breeding. in all honesty i would lean towards cresteds in your case. they are very colorful and their tanks make great additions to a room. (im not saying you cant make attractive tanks for other lizards.. but a nice tall large corner tank filled with greenery looks quite spiffy.. plus the geckos are so much fun). they are also very easy to breed and care for. plus if you are going to study them and write papers about them, they are a very interesting subject.. and since they are not as commonly known as leopard geckos you can earn some originality points.
check out crestedgecko.com for more in depth care information.
i keep leos, afts, and cresteds.. and i love them all very much.. lol.. i just think crested might be best in your situation.
05/24/08  06:52pm


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