Reptile & Amphibian Forums

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE)

Good luck with your new gecko, just make sure its healthy and eating before you buy it. People have bought from petco and never had a problem, it just the name that has a bad reputation. Try to see if they have someone in the store who specializes in herps, usually if they do the animals will be healthy.
I wasnt trying to sound mean in my other post just didnt want this to turn into a bad situation. Good for you though for asking all these questions you sound very responsible for your age. Just make sure you have everything prepared and ready to go before you it. good luck,
Mac

I thought it might be a good idea for my son, MacArthur, to get some advice on a message board about getting a gecko. His first experience on a message board. Never did I think it would have people putting ideas in his head that geckos from chain stores will be sickly and they'll have to go to the vet and get checked. Please be careful with what you say. He's been very excited about getting his gecko - it was a reward for keeping his grades up this past year. He's been researching about the nature of them and the care and environment. He's saved his allowance money for the gecko's environment and has it all set up in his room. Now, he's worried sick about getting it from a store and has been literally pestering us about having one shipped to him. I didn't want him to have a reptile to begin with, because I personally don't like them and didn't really want one in the house. But I wanted to do something nice for him because he deserves it. I am taking him on Saturday to get the gecko from a store. I'm asking that you all just be happy for him and share in his excitment. Now I'm the one that doesn't want to come across sounding mean or insensitive to all of you reptile lovers, but please, just let him enjoy the moment.
Thank you - MacArthur's Mom
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LEO MAN lLEO COMING SOON

"Never did I think it would have people putting ideas in his head that geckos from chain stores will be sickly and they'll have to go to the vet and get checked."

People are telling him the truth. Sure, not all chain petstores will have unhealthy and sick reptiles, but most will. Also, just because leopard geckos arent a dog or a cat, and just because they might not be expensive doesnt mean that they dont need just as much care as a dog or cat would. If your dog gets sick do you take it to the vet?? Of course you would. So, it should be the same for any other pet you might have, they are all living, breathing animals.
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Josh
My Email

Well, my son is quite naive and younger than probably most of you. He now thinks all pet stores don't take care of any of their pets and for sure it will die if he gets one there. I never said that geckos don't need a vet nor that they are not worth taking to a vet, I understand they are living, breathing creatures. But like I said, unfortunately the information given him as got him all worked up when I was hoping this could be an experience he can enjoy.
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LEO MAN lLEO COMING SOON

by making sure you get the healthiest pet possable for him. it won;t be very enjoyable if the animal you get ends up sick which a vast majority of reptiles bought from stores such as petco or petsmart do.

we arn;t making this stuff up we speak from first hand experiance. i have bought from petco and ended up with a sick animal.

do as you wish. but if your son ends up with a sick animal don't say you were not greatly forwarned.

i hope for the best for you and your child

mat price

Thank you. I'm sure he will keep you posted.
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LEO MAN lLEO COMING SOON

look at all the animals they have there in general. if ALL the animals are healthy and bright eyed, its probably gonna be fine. my petco used to suck, but its pretty nice there, and if they werent so expensive, or had morphs i didnt have a few of already, i'd by from them. if some animals are sick, and some arnt, it most likely was already caught by the one you want to buy, and just hasnt taken effect yet.
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your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it, and you'll ask yourself, "where is my mind"

hey,
I can see where your coming from, with just wanting him to enjoy the experience, but we're telling you this stuff because we want it to be just that. Not all petstores are bad, but most are, all we're saying is to be caeful and make sure its healthy before you spend a bunch of money on it and then it dies. THAT wont be a fun experience.
MacArthor has shown that hes responsible and knows alot about them, so if hes says it doesnt look healthy, then listen to him. Hes posted that hes picked one out, so theres probably no visible signs of sickness. All I can SUGGEST is that you get a vet appointment to make sure nothings wrong thats all, then you can rest at ease knowing that its healthy. Good luck
mac

You are not giving your son enough credit. The fact that he is mature enough to come here and do his research and spend the time preparing in advance of his purchase is far more mature than most kids his age. And yet, you would be surprised to learn just how many young children do visit this board and take care of their animals.

The fact is, a healthy leopard gecko is almost impossible to kill unless you were trying intentionally to do so. They are extremely hardy animals.

Unfortunately, MOST animals sold at MOST petstores are not healthy. Look in all the leopard gecko cages. Do any look emaciated? Do they have leftover shed on their heads, tails, feet? Is there water in the tank? Are there crickets roaming around that look too big for the size lizard? Is there a large amount of feces in the cage? Are any of the geckos missing tails? Any of these things should be a sign to run far away from this particular store when considering purchasing a gecko.

It's not a good idea to rescue even the healthiest looking gecko from a cage with animals like that. Also realize that the dormant, incubation period for diseases in reptiles is far longer than mammals and it could be months before you see any symptoms of illness.

The amount of attention required to properly care for a sick animal is a far greater responsibility to force on your son than is necessary.

But when it comes down to it, your son will certainly enjoy his pet. Leopard geckos take some understanding, like any reptile (and mammalian pets for that matter). But they make wonderful pets and definately are a good exercise in responsibility- just realize that they can live 20 years!

My first gecko I love as much as my 20th. No one here has forgotten what it was like starting out in this hobby. That's why we're advising your son the way we are- buying a sick animal unintentionally can be very discouraging.
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Steven Beckerman
E2MacPets

I am sure no one on here was trying to lead your son to believe anything but the truth. I give him more credit than I do most I have seen post on here in the last few years. The facts are that most chain stores do have very inferior animals breed by basically "reptile mills". They alot of the time are sick,malnurished and just generally unhealthy. Not saying that you can't and won't get the same from some breeders.
I am very sorry, myself and for all others if in any way he was mislead. It is actually the best that he is well informed by the fact that a leo from these places could be a bad prospect and not live a meaningfull life. How disapointed in himself if he gets a chain store leo and it dies and he thinks it is his fault. A healthy leo is a fabulous thing and make great pets. They also in long term can live around 20 years. If he thinks that all chain store leos are unhealthy he is not really missing the mark too much.
Help him pick one out, look at many stores,don't rush right out. Pick one or two out and watch them for a week or so keep an eye on there progress. I have seen many nice looking leos come into a pet store looking nice and within 2 weeks be totally wasted away. Frankly they make me sick. Have you thought of attending a reptile show near you maybe, very good prospects there. Sorry for the rant but it may just be that maybe he does know best in this situation, give him some credit when I was 12 I would not even know where to begin. -Geeboo
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Even if your on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there

That is exactly what we are all here to do, that is to make sure your son first reptile experience will be an enjoyable one. As you said you do not like reptiles therefore I assume you don't know much about them either therefore you should listen to people who have had first hand experienced with these chain pet stores. We didn't say you must have one shipped but if you can't find a local "breeder" than it's better to have one shipped from a reputable breeder.

I have to agree that your son is showing amazing responsibility by coming here and researching this before he purchases as leo. I am very proud of him.
I am sadly one of those people who have had a bad experience with PetsMart. I bought very healthy looking female leo. Well she now has developed Crypto and there is a good chance that my male has it as well. This is extremely heart breaking for me. But the more disgusting things is that there are kids that bought from this same store that will more than likely experience the same situation. Except they probably wont know what happened and will blame themselves for this. Before you go to a pet store, maybe you should call your local vet and see if he/she would recommend someone locally. I would hate for your son to have to watch what I have had to watch over this last week.
highest regards,
rav.
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Halo and Charlie

I am a mom of 3 and my oldest is the same age as your son, 12. I have been reading every thread that your son has started, and everyone's honest and helpful replies. Your son is a very bright and intelligent young man. You have every reason to be proud of him. I know what you've heard sounds harsh but the members here have been very parent-like with him and do not want to see him hurt because he ends up with a sick leopard gecko. In fact, a few of the members have noticed how dedicated and thought out he has been with this and have offered him a free one!

Let me explain a few things...

The fact is, with pet stores, animals come in and out with no quarantine period and the employees don't know everything about every animal there. Some know nothing at all and couldn't even tell you what kind of lizard it is! I am embarrassed to say that the pet store I used to work in had a bunch of employees who didn't feel it was their "job" to research any reptiles that came in and they were given improper care because of it.

I personally have purchased three leopard geckos from PetCo. One suddenly quit eating for no apparent reason and died shortly after. Another, that I still have, developed MBD (metabolic bone disease) just after I brought it home...which means the animal wasn't getting the proper calcium suppliments it needed at the store. She is now lame and walks on her elbows. (Come to think about it, I've never seen calcium dishes in a pet store and every juvenile leopard gecko should have access to one at all times.) The third, is one I just bought a couple days ago...I shouldn't have, knowing what I know now but I did anyway. I'm hoping for the best on this one.

Breeders and hobbyists, in general, specialize in the animals they breed and they give individual time to each individual animal. New animals aren't coming in all the time so there is no chance of "polluting" the entire colony with parasites or disease. They know the animals inside and out, know the warning signs for sick animals, etc. Therefore, it is much better to get a lizard from a breeder than from any pet store.

Here's another personal experience: I just bought a leopard gecko from Bill DiFabio, online. That 3 week old lizard is twice the size of the one I just bought from PetCo and one of the healthiest leopard geckos I've ever seen.

Please, let him make an informed decision on this and support him. Don't force him to buy from a pet store when he can have a healthy animal for just the cost of shipping. (Which ends up the same price or a little less for him as purchasing one from PetCo.) He's really trying and I feel he should be rewarded for all the dedicated work he's put into this. You may not like reptiles or want one in the house but it evidently means the world to your son...and none of us want to see him end up with a sickly leopard gecko.

It is better to be paranoid about getting a sick leo than to be caught up in the moment and get one that IS sick. Believe me, I am 16 and I was absolutely petrified about getting a sick leo when I bought my two. Even children may have to deal with leos or other pets getting sick with crypto or coccidia or some other sickness (my parakeet came down with a bronchial infection when I was 11 and I was force feeding him ammoxacillin two times a day. Eventually, he died in my hands one morning. I attempted to administer care to my dying rabbit who had gotten multiple bee stings somehow (age 8) and I watched as my other rabbit suffocated to death on her own hairball and I couldn't do anything). Not to mention the numerous other animals I attempted to save (victims of cars, cats, even idiot owners). I have watched more pets waste away before I was ten than most children will ever see in their childhood years and it bites...so I just didn't want a kid to start off with a higher chance of their pet dying. That's all.

Cleo
1:1 leos (7 eggs cooking)