Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sounds a teeny bit cramped to me.

I've been to his web page, and I thought it looked cramped too. I keep my gex in 28 quart boxes, which really isn't too much smaller, and they get stressed if I keep more than 3 adults in one box. I can't imagine keeping 6 in one box.

maybe 1.3 but not 1.5... alot of people will justify for him or im sure he will but plane and simple its too small for 6 geckos
-----
-robin day
Geckoheads And Geeks

Leopard Geckos don't need as much room as we all think. Six adult geckos are perfectly fit in the 22x16x6 plastic shoebox. Many breeders house like this, I believe Kevin Hanley houses his geckos like this, and of course the pioneer in Leopard Geckos, Ron Tremper. Although you may say that the breeders useing this method are huge breeders and they need the space, but its not like their breeding only normal geckos. There are some very valuable geckos that they are producing, especially Tremper and they need them in top shape, and in perfect health. I don't think they would risk the health of the thousands of dollars worth of geckos for space. I have house geckos in similar quarters, a vision cage measuring 24x22x6 with 8 adult geckos and they were in top health the entire time they were in there. I havn't got my new shelf up yet, but when I do I plan on using the "Ron Tremper Method of Housing", and I'm confident my geckos will be in tip top shape.
-----
Bradley Baquial

just because tremper does it doesnt mean it's correct. use a little common sense, a 16 x 22 in space equals 352 square inches (amt of floor space) divide that by 6 geckos whichs comes out to about 58 2/3 sq inches per gecko... which is smaller than a shoe box hatchlings and juvis are kept in those are about 72 sq. inches thats a 6 x 12 inclosure. now do you think this size is acceptable?? plus any water dishes hide boxes anything else that takes up more floor space. and takes away from the ADULT BREEDERS enbclosure... if you went to Petco and saw an adult gecko in a 6 x 10 enclosure living in its own filth you would call the humane society or whomever..... so whats good for the goose aint good for the gander?
-----
-robin day
Geckoheads And Geeks

You need to add the area of the lid on the shoebox in there to your total. It is actually larger than you calculated because you have the area inside the box, which is part of your total and the area of the lid. It's like a second level. Besides the cage being more soiled than I would allow, I think the gecko in the pick looks pretty damn healthy. I agree with Monte, that before bashing someone on the forum, why don't you ask him about his husbandry methods?
-----
Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

I beleive Ron Tremper leaves the feces in their during breeding to stimulate the females to increase breeding. Like Monte said, I believe he has a reason for leaving them in there. You say that his geckos must be parisite heaven, but have you ever bought one of his geckos and have the hard evidence that they do. Houndreds of people buy from him and I havn't seen one person say that they recieved a "paristire infested animal", in fact the only disatisfied comment I've heard of one of his animals is the fact that some of his animals used to brown up as they got older.

He has been using this method for years and to date I have not seen one person say that they have recieved unhealthy animals because of it. You guys seem to think that its too small just because you think it is. Have any of you tried housing like this? Do you know for a fact that its unhealthy, or are you trying to use "common sense" and assume that its too small. I have housed similar to this and found no problems. Ron Tremper should know how to house properly because of the fact he may be one of the few who have been breeding leopard geckos as long as he has, and I think he may have the housing down.
-----
Bradley Baquial

I purchased two albinos from RT a couple of years ago and why they were and are beautiful animals, they BOTH arrived infested with worms and required well over $100 vet care to get rid of the worms. I did have them quarantined from Day 1 so they did not transmit to my other gecko.

Now worms are common and very curable with Panacur, and it is not serious as long as treatment is prompt, and the geckos were just fine after treatment. And worms can be transmitted by crix. And even the best breeders have animals get worms from time to time, especially if they feed crix. Though as RT said he fed only mealies I never understood why his animals would be infested. Now I have a better idea. Leaving feces to build up, especially in multiple-gecko enclosures, is a good way to allow high levels nematodes to build up.

Still I am very pleased with the animals, and would do it all again. I would just remind any one buying from RT or anyone else that quarantine is essential no matter how great the breeder's rep is.

I think Tremper's got some sweet looking geckos, but I'd have to agree with you as well... The caging pictures are a bit of a turn off, and it does make you wonder just how many of them have parasites of some sort... 1:5 does seem way too much for that size enclosure and only cleaning it once or twice every week or two doesn't sound very healthy either. Think I'll stick to my one gecko per enclosure routine, takes up lotsa space in the room, but gives my critters ample space to roam around. If they're happy, so am I.

Richie

. . . why he leaves it like that during breeding season, before you pass judgement.

It never ceases to amaze me - the desire people have to chop somebody down . . . .
-----
Monte Meyer
Updated Powergeckos
Email

Mealworms . . . .you can't eat just one

I bred Leopard geckos for 4 years and I used 1.6 per 32X18X4. I haven see no problems and I have to save some space for top projects and all are fat. I leave fecal for 3 month to get them breed better than clean once a week. Also, I got none parsites problems.
-----
Preston Beery
www.coolgeckos.com

Tell me how leaving fecal matter gets them to breed better.
It's just seems very very wrong to me.
-----
Israel