Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know how I can contact a herpotolgist regarding a "leos found in nature" question? I would like a professional point of view to help settle a long-standing debate on the maternal instincts of leopard geckos, if there are any at all. I'm trying to prove to someone that reptiles are incapable of maternal instincts, and they want a professional statement for proof.

Thanks in advance!
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), Trixie and Kayko (0.1.1 leopard gecko)

Kelli H is one of the most well known breeders of these animals. She will be able to answer ANY questions you have.

http://www.hisss.net/contact.php

She likes when people call her. So I would do that over mailing her. Say Austin told you to call her for me.
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Austin-WiteLeo
Leopard Geckos
3.5.1
2-Blizzard
2- SHTCT's
2-Stripe/Choc. Albino's
1-Het Albino
2-High Yellows
LOTS of BABIES!
Brothers
2

I was having a similar talk with my boss. My roommates are jerks who don't think animals have feelings (and don't think that neglecting or abusing animals is really worth punishing). My boss and I were discussing that anything that displays parenting instincts, that raises its young, clearly has feelings.

That got me thinking about birds, lizards, and dinosaurs. Birds and reptiles are descended from dinosaurs, right? And almost all birds raise their young (exceptions like the cowbird), hence have feelings. But then I ran into trouble with reptiles. Reptiles are descended from dinosaurs as well, right? But there is the alligator, where the female raises its young, protects them in her mouth; and then there is the leopard gecko, which lays and leaves.

Makes you wonder why some animals have that parenting instinct and feelings, while others don't. What is the advantage in not raising them, etc.

All in all, fun to think about!
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0.1.0 Normal Leopard Gecko: Mala Ala
1.0.0 Tangerine Leopard Gecko: Lazar
2.1.0 White's Tree Frogs: Wabo, Mermit, and (no name yet)
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon: Igor
3.0.0 Bettas: Ghost, Misty, and Cobalt

Reptiles are not capable of human type emotions.... Any action or reaction you see in reptiles is purely instinctive behavior.... They lack the parts of the brain that are responsible for emotions.... And reptiles are not related to dinosaurs.... Birds are much more closely related to dinosaurs, but in actuality dinos are in a class all their own.... Although there was some reptilian life during the age of the dinosaurs......

Crocadilians protect their nest and young to preserve their species.... It gives neonates a head start and helps more young to have a better chance at life..... That is and instinctive behavior.....

Why do some reptiles leave the nest and babies to fend for themselves??? Well there are a few reasons..... One good reason is because most reptiles do not eat while they are gravid.... Once the eggs are laid, they may stick around for a day or so, then they must go off to hunt for food..... That is self preservaion, which is another instinctive behavior.....

That's what I believe also. Where I would love for any of my reptiles to be like my cat in the emotions aspect, it's not going to happen. Also, if geckos were maternal, they probably wouldn't sometimes eat their hatchlings...
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), Trixie and Kayko (0.1.1 leopard gecko)

Well you can't use the "if geckos were maternal, they probably wouldn't eat some of their hatchlings" argument, just because mice mothers eat their babies a lot. (yum)

I totally agree that leopard geckos do not have feelings or maternal instincts though. Anything they display is driven by hunger and instinct. (but it just winked at me! it must like me!)

And yeah, it seems I got it backwards, dinosaurs descended from early reptiles. But I swear my beardie thinks she's a dinosaur...she gives anything that walks into the room this look, like she's sizing it up to eat it.
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0.1.0 Normal Leopard Gecko: Mala Ala
1.0.0 Tangerine Leopard Gecko: Lazar
2.1.0 White's Tree Frogs: Wabo, Mermit, and (no name yet)
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon: Igor
3.0.0 Bettas: Ghost, Misty, and Cobalt