tips on buying from pet store?

[daniela]

i am just about to buy two albino geckos from my local pet store and was wondering if anyone has any tips/ things to look out for before i buy?

[Tim_Cranwill]

Tips... try to find a breeder in your area... :p lol

But seriously, try to find one.... :)

You'll save yourself a TON of money and get a better animal...

[daniela]

does anyone know any breeders in the uk

[meow_mix450]

same, but buying at pet stores your encourging them to get more WC animals and selling unhealthly reptiles, thats not good. So i suggest you find a good breeder, there probly is but i dont know any sorry, and good luck

P.S Also not all petstores are bad but if you think the conditions are perfect then go for it, and make sure you know your stuff

Meow

[thunder]

the best leopard gecko breeder in the uk would be ray hine, in my opinion. i'll bet he has a website. just do a search.

[Samba]

No one here has answered your question so I guess I will. Generally speaking, it's a lot better for everyone involved, including the animals, to buy from a breeder. They will obviosuly know the history and preferences on animals you pick.

Now, to answer your question: You sound like your pretty much sold on these particular geckos, so make sure they are of appropriate weight for their age and have nice, large tails. Make sure they both aren't male, and if they currently don't live together, keep animals separate for the quarentine period then introduce them gradually. Actually, quarentine them anyways, that way you can observe eating habits, and make sure they do ok while adjusting to a new place. As for introductions I do this by letting them 'meet' in a neutral place, like on my living room floor for a few minutes a few times a week. They probably will ignore each other, but this makes a big difference in putting them inside the same enclosure later. There's a lot more to it, but those are the basics.

Make sure their eyes are bright, shiny, free of mucus or other signals of illness. Their feet, face and tails should be free of retained sheds. If you are able, or have a vet do it (don't trust pet store staff) look into the mouths of the geckos. A lot of feeding problems can start here. The gums and surrounding tissues should be pink and not pale. Look for abscesses and other abnormalities.

The best way to ensure a good purchase: Have a vet check the animals right after you get them, and make sure the animals can be refunded or replaced should something come up. I hope this helps.

[Ixidor]

Originally posted by Samba
. They will obviosuly know the history and preferences on animals you pick.


I wouldn't be to sure about that, you'd be surprised at what the petstores know about what there selling, the most they usually know is the species of the animal and sometimes they don't even know that, petstore was advertising a gecko as a Bibron's Gecko which isn't allowed to be imported from Africa. Like some people said above, don't buy from petstores, Ray Hine is a great breeder in UK and probably one of the best, k i n g s n a k e . c o m has his website without the spaces though. If you insist though on buying these particular geckos, politely ask the manager to throw in some crickets and watch to see if the geckos right away dart at the food, look at what there housed on, if there on sand or bark you probably want to stay away from them, make sure there eyes are clear and the appropriate size in proportion to their bodies and make sure their tails are nice and fat.


Ix


PS If you do get these make sure they get a checkup and a fecal immediately