Change in Plans/Rant

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

So today I was taking pictures of Mio(will post once I get them cropped) and I thought, "She's so amazing. I'm so glad I have her. She deserves the best care possible."

I don't know if I mentioned it, but I was going to buy a pair of top-quality leopard geckos next month. I love leos, but I've never had a totally healthy one. So I wanted to have a pair. I even thought I might breed them later in the year. But those geckos are guaranteed great homes. The ones in the pet shop aren't.

There are 3 pet shops around me. One is great, one is meh, and one is absolutely deplorable. Not to go onto too much detail, but everything they do is just so they won't get in trouble. So they don't house the hamsters in cups, they'd get in trouble. Instead, they put 4 in a Crittertrail. No one is going to get in them for putting the hamsters in a "hamster cage"!

The geckos are the worst though. They're housed in the smallest size Kritter Keepers, they have one rock and crickets are eating their flesh. They sit with their heads down 24/7.

So I decided, with the money I saved up for my pair, I will rescue 1-2 of these geckos. I don't want to endorse them. But I feel like they need to be saved, and honestly they'll be replacing them anyway, whether I buy some or not.

There is a soft spot in my heart for geckos with disabilities and problems. I can make a difference in these geckos' lives.

So here's the plan:

-I'll buy the geckos next month, and try not to make eye contact with the owner, so hopefully I won't slap them/lecture them.

-They will stay on the other end of the house from Mio, Toasty, and from the turtles. I know, being reptiles, they will be the ones that could easily catch things from the new gecko/s.

-I don't want to overwhelm them with space. They'll both get 10 gallons to start, I'll upgrade if I need to.

-They'll be skinny, so I'll need to give them plenty of food. I'll let them settle in first.

-I won't take them to the vet except for if I really need to. I don't want to stress them. I will take some feces to have checked for parasites.

So that's the change of plans part.

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Now the rant.

How on earth can someone who treats geckos like that sleep at night? I mean, I bet 80% of them die there. How...? I just don't get it. Mio is such an outstanding, amazing, perfect little one. Bandit was too.

Mio is my happy leopard gecko story. It's going well. Bandit is my sad gecko story.

Bandit was a gecko-mill gecko. He'd never been loved. He'd never been right. His brain was messed up. We still don't know what was wrong. He rarely walked straight. He didn't understand a lot; you could tell. He put up a good fight. He tried. But he couldn't do things like eat, or use his legs correctly. He needed help with everything.

But it started improving. He was able to eat on his own. He walked okay. But one night he started screeching. He looked horrible.

So at the age of 9 months old, Bandit died in my hands. I attached a pic of him.

Any who, I never want anyone else to go through that. But that, sadly, is a goal out of reach.

So I'm going to do my part. Suggestions, questions, rude comments, nice comments, advice, etc?

[RedSky]

I understand your want to 'rescue' these little ones who are suffering but I personally don't believe that buying them is the right way forwards.
I'm going to sound really harsh, but many people do what you are planning, buy from the worst pet shops in order to 'save' the lives of the animals, and while I think that in a way is amazing especially since you are aware what you are getting yourself in for that at the same time it's not aiming for a better future for the shop and the animals being sold.
Yes they may replace them anyway, especially if the poor things keep dying, but that is at a loss cost wise to them. To have someone buy 1 or 2 would be a big profit to them, and they may be likely to replace the bought one with 2 more in hopes of selling more.

At the same time, a decent breeder can offer you a healthy animal, with full history and provide support if you need it. The money you would pay them is to help towards the upkeep of good breeding and care.

I hope I don't seem cold but I try to see it as the pet shops do and it's all about money money money. As long as they can sell enough to make a profit and off-set any loses from the ones who die in their care they are going to carry on doing it. If everyone boycotted them they would soon change their ways in order to continue making a profit.

Also if you want to rescue, why not get a rescue gecko, I know of a few reptile rescues in my area who have a large number and are stuggling to rehome since people don't think about rescuing a reptile (after all we all know it's only dogs and cats that get rehomed...)

Sorry, rant over... And again I do like your intentions, but I don't personally agree with your plan. Sorry

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, this is why I posted on here first.
Let me go into more detail.

First and foremost, if there were any rescue geckos I'd take them. Sadly, there aren't. Nobody cares enough. They take them to the pet shop.

Also, I know that I make an impact when I buy anything, but not much here. There going to do it no matter what. God only knows how long those geckos live. They make plenty of money selling $2400 maltipoos, selling a $5 gecko doesn't make a difference to them.

I guarantee they sell maybe 2-3 geckos a year. Maybe.

Also, I'm a bit wary of breeders. This is because my gecko, Mio, is a breeder gecko. But she has so many problems...

Anyway, I totally respect your opinion, and will consider it. It's a month away, Im willing to change my mind, depending. Thank you for responding!

[RedSky]

Only $5 for a gecko! That's crazy.
There is no way that decent breeders can compete with that, and at that price I am baffled at how much they must pay to get them in.
Maybe you could try to offer them a reduced price, like maybe $10 for 3... If they are that desperate to sell they might. Of course only if you have the room and money to care for 3, rather than 1 or 2.

I'm so glad that you didn't take my comments personally, I love it when people are so open to others ideas. And regardless of where you get your little friends from I'm sure you will give them the best home possible and I hope you share lots of pictures.
Good luck.

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

Originally Posted by RedSky

Only $5 for a gecko! That's crazy.
There is no way that decent breeders can compete with that, and at that price I am baffled at how much they must pay to get them in.

I know right! I will say they range from $5-15 though, adults being more.

Originally Posted by RedSky

Maybe you could try to offer them a reduced price, like maybe $10 for 3... If they are that desperate to sell they might. Of course only if you have the room and money to care for 3, rather than 1 or 2.

I might do that. They're family owned so they decide the prices, rather than a big-named thing. They're incredibly rude though. When you walk in, the lady picks up the phone so you won't talk to her. You can't handle an animal before you buy it, and they will yell at you. It's like you bother them by shopping there!

Originally Posted by RedSky

I'm so glad that you didn't take my comments personally, I love it when people are so open to others ideas. And regardless of where you get your little friends from I'm sure you will give them the best home possible and I hope you share lots of pictures.
Good luck.

Oh don't worry about it; like I said everyone is entitled to their opinions, and to be truthful you were right about a lot. And thank you