Geckos

[dra&pigs]

I know that many of you feel that reptiles should not be kept in captivity, but there are two available at the local shelter, and I have been looking into getting another pet. So, I was wondering, should I go for it and ensure them the best possible home in captivity, or should I let them go and hope they get a good home?
If I do get them:
1.) What size tank should I get? I want it to be as big as possible, but I have some space limitations.
2.) What should go into their tank?
3.) What do they eat?
4.) Wha temperature should they be kept at?

If you don't think this is a good idea, feel free to say so, because I am still considering whether to get them at all, so any feedback would be appreciated.

[SNAKE CHARMER]

Theres nothing wrong with keeping reptiles in captivity there are a ton of captive bred reptiles available not all are wild caught(always avoid wild caughts there usually parasite loaded)infact most are captive bred.I own 4 reptiles(a colombian red-tail boa named tarzan,a ball python named salazar,a kenyen sand-boa named houdini,& a savannha monitor lizard named lois)my three snakes are captive bred & born(my boas) & hatched(my python)in the u.s. and my monitor was captive hatched.

What geckos do they have i'm gonna need more info if you want care advice.

[RainKindle]

If you feel you can commit to being completely dedicated to them...then I say go for it!
And have fun.
(It sounds like you are on the fence,) but if you end up falling in love with them, then they will be going to a good home.
When I was a kid, my brother left for college and left this terrorizing iguana behind. Mom and I hated the thing...but then, we didn't. Haha, it's easy to fall in love with critters and that iguana was spoiled rotten.

[Taboo]

are they leopard geckos? I love them

[dra&pigs]

Yes, they are a pair of female leapord geckos. I went to the shelter and visited with them, and told the people there I am looking into adopting them. Both were very entertaining to watch, and I hope that everything works out and I am able to adopt them and get them into a larger tank. Snake Charmer-they are leapord geckos, sorry for not clarifying earlier, I was in a bit of a rush.

[SNAKE CHARMER]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

Snake Charmer-they are leapord geckos, sorry for not clarifying earlier, I was in a bit of a rush.

Ok for two leos you need atleast a 20-gal since there females they can live together or you can house them in seperate 10-gals.For substrate stay away from sand use paper towels or tiles(you can get them at home depot).You'll need a humid hide which is some moist(not flooded)spagnum moss or sand in it then you'll need a regular hide box then a waterbowl & if you feed meal worms a food dish.There nocturnal so uvb isn't required use a night bulb & using a thermometer placed in the middle of the tank you want it to read 84f-86f(a good 85 is prefered)this way your warm side will be at the low 90s & your cool side in the low 80s this will allow the geckos to choose which temperature they prefer at the time.For feeding you can feed crickets or meal worms a stable dusted with a good calcium/multivitamin(i recomend reptivite)you will also need a shallow dish that has nothing but,calcium powder without d3 in it they lick this sometimes.

[dra&pigs]

All right, thanks so much, Snake Charmer. I'm still deciding about whether I really want to take on the extra care-I really don't approve of reptiles as pets, although these girls have been at the shelter for almost 2 months now, and I just want them in a stable home.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

All right, thanks so much, Snake Charmer. I'm still deciding about whether I really want to take on the extra care-I really don't approve of reptiles as pets, although these girls have been at the shelter for almost 2 months now, and I just want them in a stable home.

In don't beleive in them as pets but in a different way. I don't think they should have been tamed. I don't feel they are fully tamed either. Hpwever, these girls need a home. You didn't go out and buy them though. You are just offering a home. Thats just my way of thinking though!

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by SNAKE CHARMER

Theres nothing wrong with keeping reptiles in captivity there are a ton of captive bred reptiles available not all are wild caught

Actually, many of us disagree. Yes, wild caught must be 100% avoided but not because of the parasites but because they were stolen from the wild and cruelly imported causing more then half to die in horrible manners. However, we tend not to like the idea of captive breeding either. These are wild animals and breeding wild animals for the pet trade is irresponsible and selfish. These animals don't want to be pets. They want to live free, natural lives.

Many breeders of reptiles sell to petshops, over the internet or at trade/hobby shows. These people are idiots. They don't care about what happens to these animals, don't care that they are the cause of thousands of reptiles suffering and don't care that ecosystems (especially in the southern states) are being destroyed because of people setting their reptiles free when they no longer want them.

Absolutely the reptiles in rescues and shelters should be adopted IF people are prepared to educate themselves about their care, properly take care of them, see that they don't reproduce and are willing to give them a lifetime commitment but not one more reptile should be purposely bred in captivity solely to supply the pet trade.

[dra&pigs]

Thanks VJ-I'm going tomorrow to pick up the geckos! Names, anybody?

[SNAKE CHARMER]

Voodoo i agree with completly with part of your post people should do more research and know what there getting into and not just impulse buy.Not all reptile keepers are bad many(including me)do are research,make sure there reptiles are healthy,& love them to death.I also agree on the shipping they make it very cruel for them but,some companys like lllreptile do there best to make sure the animal is there in 24 hours or less along with taking neccessary measures to insure the health of the animal.It is not selfish to own a reptile as said before many reptile keepers do whats best for there pets and give them proper caging,feeding,water,other cage maintance,& handling but,it is your thought not mine so lets agree to disagree.

As for names wait because you might have some morphs(theres about a million leo morphs)which could give some unique names.

[Deenanicole08]

Weren't guinea pigs wild also? and now we're keeping them captive?

I could be wrong but that's what I always thought.

And if so, wouldn't it be the same thing as keeping a reptile captive?

[Taboo]

I dont agree with keeping reptiles who eat any other than insects, eggs, or fish. throwing a mouse in a tank with no way of escape for it is just WRONG! sure, i feel bad for the fish and insects too and would have a hard time feeding them to animals but its different with animals like rodents, rabbits, birds, etc.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Deenanicole08

Weren't guinea pigs wild also? and now we're keeping them captive?

Compare a wild cavy to your pets. You will notice that they don't look much alike at all--either is coloring or body type. they were once, long ago, wild animals but they have been specifically bred and domesticated to the point that they can no longer be considered "wild". Like dogs and cats they have been domesticated and now are wards of the human race.

Most snakes and other reptiles are identical to their wild counterparts in every way (like a pet tiger would be). They are, in essence, wild animals with all of the same instincts still intact. They are not pets since they are not domesticated.

Buying and breeding reptiles is like buying a tiger, lion or wolf. You are taking a wild animal and attempting to make it a pet. Just because you might be able to make the animals accept your presence and live by your "rules" does not make it a domesticated animal suited for human cohabitation.

We do not have the right to keep tinkering with nature. Wild animals are not ours to to breed and crossbreed in order to make them our slaves. Haven't humans done enough damage to the animal kingdom and caused enough suffering? It's long past time to start acting responsibly and stop trying to domesticated more wild animals for our selfish whim for the latest novelty pets.

[Toadies]

VJ - Here Here!!

[SNAKE CHARMER]

People those mice are not defensless i have heard and seen pictures of even 7ft+ boa constrictors getting tea spoon sized chunks out of them by a rat and sometimes leading to death if severe enough.The reason is that the snake knows that the rat can't get away so they just take there time then the rat goes insane and starts attacking thats why its not recomended feeding live.I feed humanly pre-killed frozen/thawed rodents as with many other reptile keepers(not all but most).And just for the record there are many species of lizards(especialy monitors & tegus)that have been known to bond with there owners.There is also a new study showing that snakes actually like being handled.Reptiles are not completely domesticated and i don't know if they will ever be all i can say is that i have my passion & you have yours.

Now i asked for us to agree to disagree quit being childish and just stop this argument.

[Taboo]

Originally Posted by SNAKE CHARMER

People those mice are not defensless i have heard and seen pictures of even 7ft+ boa constrictors getting tea spoon sized chunks out of them by a rat and sometimes leading to death if severe enough.The reason is that the snake knows that the rat can't get away so they just take there time then the rat goes insane and starts attacking thats why its not recomended feeding live.I feed humanly pre-killed frozen/thawed rodents as with many other reptile keepers(not all but most).And just for the record there are many species of lizards(especialy monitors & tegus)that have been known to bond with there owners.There is also a new study showing that snakes actually like being handled.Reptiles are not completely domesticated and i don't know if they will ever be all i can say is that i have my passion & you have yours.

Now i asked for us to agree to disagree quit being childish and just stop this argument.

So you don't really care about the rodents, do you? Just want to make sur your precious snake isn't harmed? Its not the rat, etc fault that it attacks the snake. Its scared to death! I'd like to see what you'd do if you were thrown in a pit with a huge snake. Why dont you go to a reptile forum instead of hanging out here baiting people?