Biggest regret in breeding leopard geckos

kmills123 · 08-09-11, 01:14 AM

My biggest regret when I used to breed leopard geckos was letting go of a baby leopard gecko from two high yellow leopard geckos male was nearly 9 1/2 in and female 9 inches. The baby when hatched was at least 4 inches long a lot bigger that its clutch mate ( I had to buy another cage because he was so large compared to the other.) I nicknamed him BFC (big fat and chubby for good reason) when I sold him at 3 months old he was about the size of my 5 month old baby. Since I sold it to a friend of a good friend of mine I got told a year later it was 11 or more inches and around 130 grams. They it was around 11 and a half but I find that hard to believe. So was this what you'd call a giant? Both parents were from a pet store but the pet store claims they've never had any giant leos. Can you get random giants? I wish kept this baby now and bred it to another big leo.
Kirsten

NennaMeerkat · 08-09-11, 01:39 AM

I was unaware that large Leopards came straight from the egg. Thought it was all about diet. I have seen pictures of some real monsters considering they were leopards. Wonder if said person would be willing to allow you to buy it back? And are you sure that it isn't just obese? I know you said it came out of the egg big but I have to wonder if the individual(s) might be feeding it a really fatty diet. Have heard of people deliberately making their leopards rather fat. Feeding them...what are they called? Super Worms or something? Can't remember.

Sorry for my useless rambling if you consider it so.

Onyx Cross · 08-09-11, 01:59 AM

Leopard geckos can grow up to about 10 inches, but some males can grow to nearly a foot if it's of the Giant bloodline, from what I've read. I have had a leopard gecko that was about 10 inches.

kmills123 · 08-09-11, 02:31 AM

Well I fed it more than its clutch purely because it was bigger. I never tried to over feed it but when it was that big at 3 months I'm not surprised it got above average. I've seen a couple photos of it when it was an adult and it seemed large but giant I've been told have always have had a large girth compared to average leopard gecko. But both parents are a good size. I mean a 9 inch female is quite large and she is I'd say at least around 70 grams when she has not just laid eggs. The male giant I sold is now at least 6 years old so probably not worth buying back since its past its breeding prime? So was 30 dollars a bargain for a normal giant leopard gecko? Because thats what I sold it for I think. Maybe 35 and thats Canadian dollars. Also I fed it mealworms and the odd crickets and I think they feed them a mix of the two and the odd waxworm. I feed the father some superworms (kingworms here) because if I feed him purely crickets or mealworms it would cost me a lot more (he's a pig) but average weight.