Wow!!! I can't believe how negative everyone is about buying hets. Unless you've got a lot of extra cash, hets are the way to go. There is one major misconception about buying hets. Many first time buyers believe that if they buy from a big name breeder they will get legitimate hets and have no problem. NOT TRUE ! I've been burned 2X by big name breeders that would not honor their guarantee. They had good reputations, good references, presence at shows, etc. One is in business at this time and can be found on the main page of KS. I had a 3rd incident last year with a het for ghost female that failed to prove out. Bred by a ghost, 6 eggs, no ghost hatchlings. Others have stepped forward and said that I may have missed the odds. One even missed with a 9 egg clutch with hets that they produced. So it is possible. I mention this because if you breed het X het and miss, most breeders will ask you to try again. They may even ask you to try again with a visual X het breeding depending on the size of the clutch.

What I would recommend is that you buy from someone that has references that will vouch for them.
References that will verify that the breeder has good customer service. (There are other problems besides hets not being hets)
If possible, references that have proven their hets to be legitimate hets.
Ask about their husbandry practices. I would not buy hets from someone that moves his females around to different recessive gene projects every year.
Look for a breeder that has been in the hobby / business for a reasonable length of time.
As far as ID, Authenticity certificates, etc. There is NO standard. I make my own and if you want to see one, email me.
One last recommendation. Ask, what if ....
Find out what the breeder will be willing to do if a het proves out to not be a het or if there is some other problem.

[ Hide Replies ]

• Buying hets - adogunnaike, Sat Jul 12 18:46:48 2008
• RE: Buying hets - boxienuts, Sun Jul 13 00:16:54 2008
• RE: Buying hets - teaspoon, Sun Jul 13 06:13:50 2008
• RE: Buying hets - brhaco, Sun Jul 13 07:15:17 2008
• RE: Buying hets - John Q, Sun Jul 13 09:56:02 2008
• RE: Buying hets - boxienuts, Sun Jul 13 11:16:08 2008
• RE: Buying hets - dean38, Sun Jul 13 11:21:26 2008
• RE: Buying hets - boxienuts, Sun Jul 13 17:11:55 2008
• RE: Buying hets - dean38, Sun Jul 13 17:19:38 2008
• RE: Buying hets - boxienuts, Mon Jul 14 01:16:44 2008
• RE: Buying hets - dean38, Mon Jul 14 09:33:42 2008
• RE: Buying hets - jmartin104, Sun Jul 13 13:13:34 2008
• My 2 cents! - HTDesigns, Sun Jul 13 11:25:34 2008
• Great advice. - steelcityexotics, Sun Jul 13 13:29:02 2008
• RE: Great advice. - jmartin104, Sun Jul 13 14:35:58 2008
• RE: Great advice. - HTDesigns, Sun Jul 13 17:03:10 2008
• RE: Buying hets - adogunnaike, Sun Jul 13 16:12:45 2008