Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if you guys would give some hints on the things you look for when evaluating a Crested Gecko for purchase. We are going to a reptile show in Hamburg PA on the 26th (anybody else going?) and want to pick up a new Crested or maybe 2. Since I don't think any of the breeders here are going to be there, I'd love some advice. When the weather is warmer and shipping to our destination is possible (in April, it looks like) I'd love to get some little ones from you guys, as well! Are there any particular traits that I should be on the lookout for?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and have a great day!
-----
1.0.0 Uromastyx - Draco
1.0.0 Ball Python - Vilthrul
1.2.0 Giant African Millipedes - Cocoa, Vanilla, Millie
1.0.0 Crested Gecko - Hoolie
0.0.1 Eastern Milk Snake - Slither
2.1.8 Hissing Cockroaches - Diamond, Emerald, Ruby and kids

Well some of what your looking for is going to be completlly up to your own personal taste, such as color morph etc. But as far as everything else goes I personally look for one with pronounced crests, fat bellys, good color, and I dosn't hurt to look at them up close to check for mites (rare) or anything fishy about there stool. Well best of luck to you.
-Eli

whatever traits you think are the most attractive. as long as the gecko(s) look well filled out and don't have any missing toes ( or tails, unless you don't care) then they should be fair game. i would also definately suggest looking over for mites or anything unusual as eli said. for someone who knows a bit more you would also want to know how old it is to see if it's close to the weight that it should be for it's age.

I dont usually buy geckos from anyone who does a lot of importing. Many of these people arent very concerned with hygene and handle sick or parasitized animals frequently. This is not true with all importers.

Geckospot.com

mites/parasites can be tranferred from handling or even from being kept in the same room with " dirty" animals.

Pa is a state that has NO as in NONE regulations on HOT animals. As such, Hamburg is one of the biggest venomous shows east of the Missippi. I would expect 90% of the tables to be filled with cobra's in deli cups (my term) which means litterally thousands of venomous things in addition to cobras, mambas, rattlers, vipers, you name it.

I have no qualms with HOT shows, I have done them, just that if you have never been to one you need to watch what is going around you at all times. Such as escaped animals, someone with a laundry basket of rattlers behind you with a loose lid, that sort of thing.

Gex wise I have not seen a whole lot of selection, as it draws a different crowd due to the Hot snake venu. Not to say there will not be nice animals there, Don/Robby Hamper is usually there and they have nice animals. But expect it to be mainly HOT and snakey there.

The other thing to consider is to have or gain a friendly vendor that can point out the vendors to stay away from. Promoters promote shows to make $$$, and with the best intentions there are always "cherry pickers" with animals of questionable quality. Not to say they are all bad, but these need an extra close look. Tables with a little bit of everything are not breeders and are the ones to look at REAL hard.

Not putting down Hamburg in any way, it is a unique place. I live in PA, just trying to point out that is a bit different than your run of the mill reptile show. It is REALLY worth going to if you have never seen "cobra's in deli cups". Plus that green mamba may be the perfect ticket for the hard to buy for mum-in-law on mothers day...

-----
Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

I happened to go to your website just yesterday and thought to myself - 'I think I chatted for a while with that guy' - when I saw your picture. If you are going to be there this time I'll be sure to say "Hi".
I know what you mean about all the hot stuff - it can get a bit disconcerting...
I would be VERY interested to know of any other shows or anything fun happening herp-wise in the area. We live quite a bit north of Hamburg - it's over an hour for us to get there, but I don't know of anything else around. There is SUPPOSEDLY a herp society locally here, but I can't seem to get in touch with them. The next closest I know about is down in Philly, and that's just too far away...
You are right about having to watch with the vendors selling 7,000 different things at their table - alot of them don't know anything about anything they are selling... One thing that is good is that there's usually some cool insects as well, which is something else we like.
I'm like a kid in a candy store everytime I go, I have to be honest... My son isn't any better, either.

And actually, I hope that I get a snake for Mother's Day - or even better another crestie! LOL! Personally, my mother-in-law thinks I'm insane - we get along great, but whenever she comes we have to prove to her that nothing can get out. Ever since one of the big millipedes got loose and ended up being found by crawling across my neck in the middle of the night while I was asleep she's not taking any chances! LOL!!
-----
1.0.0 Uromastyx - Draco
1.0.0 Ball Python - Vilthrul
1.2.0 Giant African Millipedes - Cocoa, Vanilla, Millie
1.0.0 Crested Gecko - Hoolie
0.0.1 Eastern Milk Snake - Slither
2.1.8 Hissing Cockroaches - Diamond, Emerald, Ruby and kids

I have not done Hamburg, just visited it once to do a parking lot deal with a guy out of Philly, convenient place to hook up. So if it was as a Hamburg vendor it was not me.

I am out of Pittsburgh which makes Hamburg a bit far for me. I do the local show here, Buffalo (yearly in Sept) and used to go to Cleveland until the ODNR turned into reptile Nazis.

You should consider White Plains, have heard good things about it. I will probably try and do that one, or at least go to it instead of Daytona this summer. Daytona was disappointing last year and that was gek wise, not counting the hurricane.

There is also a show in the Lancester area, not sure if Pottstown still happens...
-----
Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

I had gone to www.deadrats.net and there was a picture of a guy holding 2 rats - THAT was who I think I spoke to.

Is that your Dad? He (if it was him that I talked to) was really very nice - kind of soft spoken?

I just went to your website - pretty cool.

Thanks muchly for the tip on the White plains show - that's like 2 1/2 hours for me, though. May have to try it...

Take it easy!

Toni
-----
1.0.0 Uromastyx - Draco
1.0.0 Ball Python - Vilthrul
1.2.0 Giant African Millipedes - Cocoa, Vanilla, Millie
1.0.0 Crested Gecko - Hoolie
0.0.1 Eastern Milk Snake - Slither
2.1.8 Hissing Cockroaches - Diamond, Emerald, Ruby and kids

The elderly gentleman holding the rats is myself. I look old for my age as I am only 12. Perhaps it is the haircut ???

I have not done Hamburg.
I have done Pittsburgh/Buffalo/Cleveland/Hagerstown.
I have been a spectator at Columbus/Daytona/MARS.

Best of luck finding great gex at the show. Actually 2.5 hours
is not a lot of travel. It takes me 4+ hours to get to Buffalo, then another hour to set up, and then the show opens up. Figure I leave here at 4AM just to make that schedule, others come from farther away...

Hey I have a local show here Sunday, what a milk run...

-----
Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

Now I'm really laughing! Too funny...

Actually, 2 1/2 hours in the car is only long if you've got a kid in the back going, "Are we there yet? How about now, are we there yet?" the entire time... If I was in the car with my tunes blasting I would love it! LOL

Anyway - thanks for the advice - and the laugh! I doubt I'm much younger than you, if at all. I've stopped counting since I'm old enough to buy wine - I figure that I don't need to keep track again 'til I'm old enough to collect Social Security. These days when somebody asks I just tell them the year I was born and let them do the math if they are that interested... LOL

Take it easy,
-----
Toni

1.0.0 Uromastyx - Draco
1.0.0 Ball Python - Vilthrul
1.2.0 Giant African Millipedes - Cocoa, Vanilla, Millie
1.0.0 Crested Gecko - Hoolie
0.0.1 Eastern Milk Snake - Slither
2.1.8 Hissing Cockroaches - Diamond, Emerald, Ruby and kids

Straight tail and spine, over bite,, does the gecko move normaly or does kinda twitch? what do its parents look like?

I think it is very important for new owners to buy from at least one person that they know/believe they will be able to get ahold of if they have any future questions or need any new advice. I know when I started out with reptiles it was very helpful. The best way to go about this is getting phone numbers or email addresses and asking the breeder how readily they respond.

Avoid impulse buying. While Cresteds are really easy to care for but many people buy animals w/o researching them (i am not saying this is the case with you or anyone here). also if you are at all unsure of the breeder or possible health of the animal then find another or as u said wait till later in the year and buy from someone you have heard good things about.

my 2 cents

Andrew Ellis

robbie hamper doe this show sometimes. she has a nice selection of cresteds!

vaughn