Im quitting the crested gecko hobby.... for green anoles!!

[rollinkansas]

I think one overlooked(and thus overpriced) group are the small geckos. I would pass up cresteds to get a group of some species of Sphaerodactylus or Gonatodes albogularis. For some reason, even though they are small and quite abundant in their native lands they are awful expensive.

good man right here. I think the largest gecko in my collection is under 3 inches long, but realistically 95% of people who keep reptiles will never see one in real life because they will never look beyond what they see in a petstore or on kingsnake.com

 

[syndicate]

I will admit I'm getting very interested in the Crested geckos.No way will I sell all my spiders haha but I think I'm gonna get a pair.There pretty cool!Also seems there very easy to care for and breed as well.

 

[pouchedrat]

I've always been a fan of flying geckos myself.

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

Cresties, Leo's, Corn snakes, heck I can remember growing up in the eighties and Iguana's were all the rage. With the exception of Iguana's, the attraction of these animals comes w/ their ease of care. They are awesome animals that make great first time herps for children and novices alike.

I've been keeping herps and amphibians now for over 25 years and I went through the same phase as a lot of people who are expressing their opinions here on this thread. I totally dug them in the beginning and then when I felt that I needed to prove I could keep more exotic herps I thought that they were "less than cool." Now that I have the experience and feel comfortable enough to keep even the most exotic of herps I've came full circle and have a totally new appreciation for the simplistic care of these animals. I've sort have fallen in love w/ them all over again.

Personally I'm a big Red Tail Boa buff, always have been. But I re-introduced a Corn Snake and a Leopard Gecko into my collection for my 5 year old daughter and she loves them because they are easy to handle. Of course kids love to touch things and explore them by interaction which was my another point.

As far as all the morphs and what not going on. It's always been like this. If you're breeding animals solely for the financial aspect. You'll always come up short. But if you're breeding because you love that particular species and really get something else out of it, than you'll probably produce some top quality animals.

This is a great hobby. It's a ton of fun, and I totally see where you guys are coming from. But whether their right or wrong don't let someone else's idea of what's cool and what's not ever get in your way and ruin your fun. At that point it's not fun anymore and why should you waste your time doing something that isn't fun?

Anyway this is a great thread. Brings back a lot of memories for me!

-Ian

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

If they like them, then more power to them. Popularity shouldn't be a driving force for or against a gecko. Get what interests you. If an uncommon knob-tailed gecko or any other species tickles your fancy, then by all means go for it Though others prefer a more common lizard, it isn't all bad. Those that are serious about the lizards will keep them even when they become the next cornsnake or leopard gecko and the vanity or "for profit" keepers will then ditch them and jump on the next rising star.

This makes a lot of sense. I've never understood it when contempt forms over something just because it becomes popular. Are exotic animals pets or status symbols?

 

[stevetastic]

This makes a lot of sense. I've never understood it when contempt forms over something just because it becomes popular. Are exotic animals pets or status symbols?

depends who owns them.

 

[dtknow]

I think part of it is how the animal when it becomes common in the pet trade becomes seen as a pet, and not as a wild animal.(this is especially so when they've been all morphed up!)

Example would be the Boa constrictor. They are a common snake in the pet trade. It sure isn't a common day when you get to admire one in the wild! A remarkable find out in the rainforest gets labeled as a beginner snake or "investment quality reptile."

I have trouble seeing cresties out their in the wild myself. I do recall they feed mostly on fruit etc.

rollinkansas: Awesome! I looked into small geckos when I was setting up a terrarium. But I could not find a source offering them at a reasonable price. I take it since they are not popular they are not imported and thus the supply is very low(but not lower than the demand).

It seems we in the hobby are mostly into big animals, not those that make the best terrarium subjects.

 

[Jmugleston]

This makes a lot of sense. I've never understood it when contempt forms over something just because it becomes popular. Are exotic animals pets or status symbols?

Sadly some see them as status symbols. I work mainly with monitors and many are purchased for the wrong reasons. It becomes "cool" to have a huge lizard so inexperienced people go to the pet store and purchase a lizard that will make them the rage of all their rookie herp friends. Then in a few months they grow tired of it and they try to dump it on someone else.

 

[LeilaNami]

Sadly some see them as status symbols. I work mainly with monitors and many are purchased for the wrong reasons. It becomes "cool" to have a huge lizard so inexperienced people go to the pet store and purchase a lizard that will make them the rage of all their rookie herp friends. Then in a few months they grow tired of it and they try to dump it on someone else.

Same with iguanas. Pretty much reptile rescues nowadays are filled with igs, beardies, BPs, and red tails. I deal with a surprising amount of customers that have suddenly found an iguana in their backyard/on their land.

 

[pouchedrat]

Yeah, the large issue with popularity is it tends to go hand-in-hand with impulse buys and careless people who don't do research and simply shouldn't keep exotics to begin with. I've dealt with a lot of rehomes, and they almost always have medical problems (and of course the original owner doesn't even realize that yes, there are exotic vets out there, but you have to search for them. a dog or cat vet most likely will not look at your exotic. OR the original owners just don't want to spend the extra money on proper husbandry needs or vet care).

Now that pouchies have been legalized again, I sort of fear for them when they do become more available in the pet trade. While I definitely want a pair again, I know plenty of people who want them and probably couldn't care for something as high maintenance and demanding, thinking it'll be like a larger version of the domestic rat when they're definitely not. And the original breeders don't want them back once they become aggressive from lack of handling and improper care. It's not like a small mammal or reptile you can stick in a cage and forget about, more like a monkey or large parrot that demands attention.


I RAMBLE FAR TOO MUCH, I appologize in advance.

 

[rollinkansas]

rollinkansas: Awesome! I looked into small geckos when I was setting up a terrarium. But I could not find a source offering them at a reasonable price. I take it since they are not popular they are not imported and thus the supply is very low(but not lower than the demand).

It seems we in the hobby are mostly into big animals, not those that make the best terrarium subjects.

There are at least 3 ads, if not more on geckosunlimited.com right now with sphaerodactylus and gonatodes for sale.

I guess reasonable price though is depending on whose saying it. Probably my reasonable price will be higher because I enjoy them more than someone who just wants to keep something small.

 

[dtknow]

rollinkansas: Haven't been on there lately. I remember Gonatodes being prohibitively expensive as far as I'm concerned. Simply cannot shell out that much for one animal. Sphaeros seem to be dropping in price to the point I've seriously considered getting a group together, though the more common species tend to be those from dry environs.

Btw, on the last sentence it really doesn't matter so much how into or not into something people are(up to a point). As a college student it doesn't matter how much I am in to Gonatodes(esp. after seeing them wild in Costa Rica) simply cannot afford a pair.

 

[rollinkansas]

rollinkansas: Haven't been on there lately. I remember Gonatodes being prohibitively expensive as far as I'm concerned. Simply cannot shell out that much for one animal. Sphaeros seem to be dropping in price to the point I've seriously considered getting a group together, though the more common species tend to be those from dry environs.

Btw, on the last sentence it really doesn't matter so much how into or not into something people are(up to a point). As a college student it doesn't matter how much I am in to Gonatodes(esp. after seeing them wild in Costa Rica) simply cannot afford a pair.

I dont know where you get your prices from but they are similar in price. A nicer pair of sphaeros will be 250-300 or so and a nice pair of gonatodes will only be a little more depending on the species. Even if they are more dry or more tropical an environment the care is very simple. The ones you want from Costa Rica (albogularis) are the cheapest and I have seen them for as little as $75 each for juvies.

I keep a few gonatodes species and dont think I paid that much more for them than sphaeros.

 

[dtknow]

The species that occur in Florida(I think notatus and one more) are offered for around $35 each.

 

[rollinkansas]

The species that occur in Florida(I think notatus and one more) are offered for around $35 each.

So at that price there is no reason not to be able to afford a pair...same price range as florida sphaeros.

 

[vvx]

How long is the life span of a green anole?

 

[LeilaNami]

How long is the life span of a green anole?

I have a friend who has a couple going on 7 or 8 years now

 

[Dave]

I like pet rocks...

 

[UrbanJungles]

I like pet rocks...

Mine is het. for granite.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Mine is het. for granite.

I paid $700 for an baby albino. After I received it, closer inspection revealed it to just be a piece of chalk.