How I Lost $10,000 Breeding Crested Geckos!

This is how I lost a lot of money breeding crested geckos and a lesson to be learned.

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[MidnghtDew]

I'm not a breeder or anything, I bought our harlequin for our daughter as she's extremely interested in reptiles. We knew that we'd have to do a lot of the care and maintenance side. Your passion definitely always comes across in all of your videos. It made me extremely interested in looking at if it was a viable option. Unfortunately, after working out the costings etc, I decided not to go ahead.
I'm genuinely sorry you lost so much financially. The prices through 2020 onward were just astronomical.

For prices to drop so much/fast was unforeseeable. I can only imagine how you're feeling.

It can't be easy, you do amazing work with your reptiles, I just hope you're able to recover your costings.


As always, I love and appreciate how much work and effort you put in to creating content to help others.

[stina]

I think this is the time to buy High end animals, and Full stop producing low end random unknown Morph mix!

[robbysreptiles]

However truly you can never lose money on an expensive gecko. While caps were 10k when I got them, and now being 500. I focus on spotless quality, which I would argue would demand a 1k price instead of 500 easily just being spotless. Let alone being paired to high end stuff so let's sat 1250 ish to be conservative. I only need to make 8 to make all the money back and more. And they live for 15+ years as viable breeders. So big picture you can't lose, but in the immediate few years yes huge loss

[GenerationalGeckos]

I really think the Red Phantom Super Dalmatian is the Top Gecko for me. They just have that red color pop with the black dots when fired up is so sweet.

[frankdughtank]

Thank You So Much For This Detailed Video! I can’t believe how much pricing has dropped for certain animals in only a year.

[MichaelPuga-uo]

I own four extreme harlequin crested geckos, 2 males and two beautiful large females which I paid 60 euros(about $65) each. I bought them here in Germany from breeders who truly know these animals and have amazing animals. I also own four red blouched gargoyle geckos which I paid 110euros(about $120) for my two females and recently bought two young one year old males for...30euros(about $33)! All my animals are healthy, eat fruits crickets, spiders and of course powdered food. I know I got special deals because I am well liked here in Europe but the prices that we Americans pay stateside just blows my mind!

[jeremiahlugrain]

I have gotten into them this year. I had a pair I had gotten last year that gave me 12 good babies this year. I since then have grown my collection to about 30-35 or so.

[New_Cal_Corner]

I hate to sound smug, but I saw it coming a mile away, the same thing ( not so drastic) is happening with sables right in front of our faces …… I just assumed let the guys with the money spend it 🤷🏻‍♂️ and buy when the market dips 🤷🏻‍♂️ the pet trade is very similar to the stock market . More like bonds … but there’s swings, always has been … great video 🙌🏻👌🏻🤙🏻

[DoorsToHideBehind]

Jesus christ that price drop is insaaaane. I wonder how the ball python industry faired as well and which morphs were a huge loss.

[bluetonguemorphs]

The worst thing are those that are dumping to make a quick return. They are all on a spiral downwards and are also affecting the rest of the market. They will leave their destructive behaviour behind like always and will be taken to next level by the committed breeders. You won’t hear from them again unless something new is created, then back they will come to try and ruin the market again. I’ve seen it in the past, it’s a cycle that repeats itself.

[homesteadreptiles]

I saw someone selling a ready to breed female cappuccino for $25, 000 and they finally sold it for $1, 000 the cappuccino Market has crashed

[jasonoreilly]

Hope things will turn around for you mate.

[SupremeGecko]

Great video. Nice 2022 to 2023 comparison chart. I honestly feel your 2023 $$s are a bit high compared to what I am seeing at shows and non-MM pricing.

[robbysreptiles]

High end sables in korea go for 3k. Can readily find them for less if you aren't picky. I bought caps for 10k each. Bred them both to lots if geckos and only made 2 caps out of 35 babies and 1 frap...

[frankdughtank]

The pricing on animals can be ridiculous sometimes!

[fsu]

I was wondering about this. I wasnt a fan of these fridge magnets but seeing how much they were going for is wild

[bluetonguemorphs]

It’s like all projects, those that are committed will use them to make other projects

[Maxine]

So... you want to breed?
One female can have 8 clutches and with 2 eggs per clutch that’s 16 babies IF they all hatch
Are you prepared to potentially house 16 geckos permanently if they dont sell?
Do you have an exotic vet at the ready and the funds to take them to the vet? Males can get hemipenial prolapses which need to be seen by a vet. Sugar water, honey and KY Jelly are used to keep it moist until you can get into see a vet. As a last resort the hemipene will have to be removed. Once they have the prolapse its not uncommon for it to happen again.
Females can become egg bound and will die without treatment.
Also be please aware that the geckos can KILL the other, its not always sunshine and rainbows.
Babies need to be housed in 6qt tubs and can be sold locally at 3 grams and shipped at the minimum of 5 grams. At 10 grams they should be moved to 12x12x18s or 30qt tubs. From 20+ grams they should be moved into an adult enclosure. Breeding minimum for females is 45g with tail and 40g without. Minimum for males is 35 but preferably 40g.

If babies come out with neuro issues and are polydactyl you will have to stop pairing that pair and pet home them. Babies with neuro issues or if they come out with extra limbs should be ethically euthanized. If you do not have the stomach to destroy their brain, DO NOT BREED.

[Whitetankexotics]

I don’t know what your talking about. I thoroughly enjoyed losing 40k !!! Hahaha.

[vandee]

Without watching yet ima guess you got a axanthic lol