Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are herp shows the best places to buy leos? Many folks say so, but some are against it, because they declare that you're unable to return the herps you've bought, since the sellers will disappear as soon as the events are over. Also, are pet stores really that bad? I heard many tales about the leos in Petco carrying coccidias frequently. I wish I could buy my new leos in herp show, and the next herp show here in Oregon will be in 2/28-2/29. But there isn't going to be any herp shows in Oregon after this one. I can't buy leos in the middle of school year, since it interferes with my studies. Therefore, pet stores would be my only choice. I'm looking for many opinions, and is this a bad idea to get leos in local Petco? Or should I wait until the next event is scheduled?

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

A ton of people breed leos right now and at least one of them must live within a half hour drive of you.
I'd look into tracking down a nearby breeder, or maybe even getting one shipped to you even though winter is coming on. If they're packed well it should be fine.
good luck with your search!
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The following sentence is true.
The above sentence is false.

4.4 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Marbled Gecko
1.1 Red Eared Sliders
0.2 Siamese Mice

Not to mention that I think (at least this is the way it is at
reptile shows where I live) that there has to be someone at the reptile
show that is local. You could go and just search out the local breeders
and get the gecko later.

Just a thought.
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0.1 Leopard Gecko (Kai)
0.1 Spiney Soft Shelled Turtle (Berta)
3.1 Cats (Lancelot, Galahad, Orion, Mally)
1.0 Husband (Greg)

Granted they are closer but I sould either get one from an expo or get one shipped to you from a reputable breeder. I have bought a total of 11 leos and now only have 9.... why you ask? Because I had bought 3 from a petstore. 2 from petco and 1 from petsmart. They all were about 50 bucks so I was all for it and they were so cute. The first I bought (Ziggy) died a few months after I got her from Coccidia (Petco). The 2nd (Winky) I bought from Petco also before I new Ziggy was sick. well after 5 or so months I noticed he wasnt growing or gaining any weight. I spent over 100 bucks at the vets for fecels and medicines. He has a lot of parasties and have been working with him since then. He suffured a prolapsed Coloaca (Sp) a few days ago. This can also be caused by inbreeding in reptiles (He still alive though). Then the 3rd I bought from Petsmart (Ally) she also died from Coccidia. She was an albino. Ever since then I havent bought anything froma petstore except for cage decor.
Yes petstores are a lot closer, but they are usually more expensive than bredders (Sometimes). Think of it this way though. You will spen an extra like 35 bucks to get a leo shipped to you form a great breeder. I can almost stat that 100% if you get one from a petstore you will be spending more than that in vet bills.
Just my opinon though.
Alicia
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2 male leos: Winky HY & Lenny TangCT & 6 Female Leos: Sunshine Super tang,Starburst, & Daisy Super tang carrot tail, Serenity Tremper HY Jungle Albino, Skittle Hypo-Golden, and Banana Patternless.

I pretty much agree with you. Stores can be a bit risky, so therefore, it's a better idea to buy one in expo or an expert breeder.

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

Not all petstores are bad. The large chain stores are genrally bad because they hire people that have no idea how to take care of the animals and also because of the rules the company imposes. I work at a localy owned pet store that is great! We rarely lose animals, and when we do it is almost always the distributors fault (lately they have been sending us some crap). And we always make sure that the animals are healty before we put them out for sale. Any way, like I said in my other post, check out the store you are thinking about buying from for at least a few weeks. Make sure that the cages are clean and the animals have everything they need. Also look at the healh of their animlas over a period of a few weeks. You chould talk to an employee and quiz them about the animlas you want to get to make sure they even know how to care for them (sounds stupid but I have talked to a lot of "reptile experts" that could not take care of a gecko if their life depended on it). Any way, give local pet stores a chance!
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3.1 Frilled Dragons
1.0 Adult Albino Corn
0.1.1 Normal Corns
1.1 Creamcicle Corns
0.0.1 Crimson Corn
0.3 Normal Leopard geckos
1.0 High Yellow Leo
1.2 Albino Leos
0.0.8 Baby Bearded Dragons
0.0.4 D. Leucomelas

Maybe if I have no choice, I can get a healthy pair in petco. Yes, giving pet stores a chance is appropriate, because if no one's doing it and everyone demonstrates, why should they exist?

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

I have never been to a herp show, I would like to go to one someday but there are never any in my area. Anyway, I get most all of my lizards from a reptile speciality store in my area. The only time I have bought lizards from Petco was when I got my 3 leos about a year ago. Apparently they were in the store for about 8-9 months (there were 5 of them) & the manager was very eager to get rid of them b/c they weren't selling & were taking up space, so they were only 50% off. So I got my girls (an albino that turned into a tang, a high yellow & a nice looking normal with a lot of lavendar) for only $25-35 each. They are very sweet & very healthy. I am worried about the babies that Petco sells b/c they look unhealthy & are not well cared for, poor things but the only time they sold adults was when I got mine, and I am very happy with my purchase even though I HATE Petco.

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Danielle
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1.0 Chinese water dragon, 0.3 leos, 1.0 adopted iguana, 0.0.2 beardies, 2.0 green anoles, 1.0 blue anole and 2.2 bettas ~My Pets~

I have bought 4 of my leos from petco, all of them grew up to be great looking healty adults. I have a petco in my area that always has nice animals, but I do admit that a lot of others I have seen have crappy half dead to fully dead animals. I would not buy anything from petsmart. I have yet to any good healty looking reptiles at any of them except a day gecko (what a suprise!) that they had just got in.

If going to a local petco I would watch their gecko tank for a few weeks before you get one. If the animals don't look 100% healty, or if they are going through a lot of them then don't get one. Also, you may want to wait until eggs start to hatch because for a few months each year they have leos for $20.

Also, about ordering geckos on line. Make sure you buy from a company not an individul. I traded a red-tail boa for 4 jungle leos that came in with tails twice the size of lead and all of them ended up dying in about a week. The other thing is that you will not get to pick your gecko unless you really want to pay $$$. You could get a great looking gecko that picked out on the net between $100-$1000 with shiping.
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3.1 Frilled Dragons
1.0 Adult Albino Corn
0.1.1 Normal Corns
1.1 Creamcicle Corns
0.0.1 Crimson Corn
0.3 Normal Leopard geckos
1.0 High Yellow Leo
1.2 Albino Leos
0.0.8 Baby Bearded Dragons
0.0.4 D. Leucomelas

It just depends on if there's a real herp person working there. The one that's in the town 45 minutes from where I live takes great care of their hatchlings. You actually see the babies acting healthy and walking about with their cute little baby leo inquisitiveness. Their leos are also supplied with real humid hides that are misted regularly. Substrate choice isn't the best, but whoever works there was making do with what was available (a la for sale).

However, there are three Petcos in the city where I live that just absolutely suck. All the leos are sleeping, and it's a whole bunch in different sizes crammed together.

Use your best judgment. If you do get your leo from Petco, I recommend getting a fecal done as soon as possible so you know in the beginning whether he/she is ok instead of waiting for signs to develop.
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chickabowwow

3.2.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 1 more egg a' cookin'