Reputable Leopard Gecko Breeders
Leopard Gecko Breeders
The first time I bought a leopard gecko, I did what most people do, I went to the pet store and made my purchased based on the recommendation of the clerk. My gecko turned out to be sickly and died not long after I got him home. Needless to say, when purchasing a leopard gecko, or anything else from a pet store, the motto “Let the buyer beware” definitely applies. The problem with a pet store leopard gecko is that you don’t know where it came from and often, neither do the people who work at the store. If the gecko was harvested from the wild, the likelihood that it will survive in captivity diminishes greatly. Leopard geckos that are born in the wild should probably be allowed to stay in the wild and pet stores should rely on breeders for their stock. Purchasing a gecko from a reliable breeder will ensure that you get a healthy lizard that was specifically bred from good stock and will survive in captivity. Breeders also keep track of their lizard’s age and health. This is important when you consider that a healthy leopard gecko can live twenty years or more.
Selecting a Healthy Gecko
When you go to your leopard gecko breeder, be sure you carefully examine the gecko before you buy. It is important that you become familiar with the species so you can easily tell if the specimen you are being sold is healthy or not. The last thing you want is a sick gecko! When you examine your gecko, make sure that it has clear eyes, a clear nose and a clear vent. Make sure the gecko is active and alert. A listless gecko with clouded eyes is not a good candidate for purchase. Leopard gecko’s store their fat in their tale,so make sure the one you are looking at has a nice full, fat tail. This is a sure sign that the gecko is being well cared for and being well fed. The gecko should also have nice, healthy skin. Unless it is about to shed, the skin should be relatively smooth and there should be no swellings, sores, bumps or abrasions on the gecko. The gecko should have a good appetite and eat regularly. It should also have a nice stool so checking for normal feces is a good sign of health as well. You also want to make sure that the gecko can move all it’s limbs and that there are no signs of paralysis in any of it’s limbs or in the tail. Also, the gecko should not have any mucous around it’s nose or mouth and it should breath easily. A tired, asthmatic gecko will not make a good pet.
Why you want a Healthy Gecko
While you are examining your gecko, you should notice that it is easy to handle and quite tame. Wild geckos are not used to being handled like domestically bred geckos. A good leopard gecko breeder will make sure that their geckos are tame. If you have an ornery gecko, that is a sure sign that the breeder is either not taking the time to tame his animals and is more interested in a quick turn over of his stock, or that he may not have actually bred the gecko himself but gotten it from the wild. This kind of breeder will not really care if you have a happy healthy gecko so you should immediately go and find another, more reputable breeder. This will ensure you get a pet that will live for a long time and be a wonderful pet. Once you find a good candidate, make sure you acertain the sex of the gecko from the breeder. Males and females do have different care needs and it is important that you know what you are taking home so you know the proper way to care for it. In addition, especially for new leopard gecko owners, figuring out the sex of the animal may be a bit of a challenge but an experienced breeder should have no problem telling you what you are taking him.
Where to Find a Reputable Breeder
One way to find a reputable leopard gecko breeder is to attend reptile shows in yoiur area. In recent years, reptile shows have become much more popular and people who are very knowledgeable about the leopard gecko will probably be in attendance including gecko breeders and other gecko lovers such as yourself.
Good luck in your search for the perfect leopard gecko pet. Using the information I’ve provided, you should be able to find a lovely specimen that has all the right traits and color patterns that you are looking for.
