Hello from NZ!

Bailey · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008, 12:42 AM

Hi folks

Just a quick intro from me, having just found the site. Not sure how active I'll be here, but I had a browse over the NZ gecko threads and thought I might lurk around a bit and poke my nose in now and then.

As the sig says, I'm currently keeping Naultinus grayii (three females, one male, plus the last couple of years of babies - as much as it might cause distress amongst some of y'all to imagine it, I'm kinda over-run with the little tykes and should probably find a home for them!), plus Hoplodactylus granulatus (two females - my male died a couple of years ago and I haven't replaced him, though I probably should). Over the years I've also kept N. e. elegans, N. grayii, N. stellatus, N. rudis (my fave!), H. pacificus, H. chrysosireticus, H. maculatus and H. duvaucelii.

Happy to correspond with anyone interested in the critters, and especially anyone in NZ - since moving from Auckland to Wellington a few years back, I let my NZ Herp Society membership lapse due to a lack of action in Welly, and I'm kind of out of touch with any other geckophiles.

I'm also keen on photography, and having just purchased a macro lens, and with the warmer weather coming around again, the geckos have been getting some camera time - see my Flickr link below and head to the Wildlife set.

DDReptiles · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008, 12:51 AM

Good to have someone with your experience here

Such awesome geckos!!

Elizabeth Freer · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 04:52 AM

Welcome to GU, Bailey!

I can't wait to check out the photos on your web site...just a little late tonight. Which of the Naultinus and Hoplodactylus have you bred?

Certainly wish that I could take a couple of your Naultinus grayii tykes off your hands!! Seattle's humidity would be just fine for them.

Bailey · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 06:10 AM

Hey Elizabeth

Well, at the risk of sounding smug, it's kind of impossible not to breed them down here. We live in their natural environment, they're kept in outdoor enclosures which, if I'm doing my job, are a pretty close replica of where they live in the wild. As long as there's a male for a female, there will be babies

So pretty much every species I've kept for long enough has produced babies. My current N. grayii include a couple of females I've had since they were six weeks old - they're now over ten years old and had babies every year. I kept one of the daughters and she has them too. The hard part would be stopping them...

Cheers,
Bailey.

LarryLockard · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 03:27 PM

Nice to have a NZ'r on here. I'll have to check out your pictures. I love the S. Island species too, they are just gems. Also with your offspring, do you sell/trade them with other breeders or do you reintergrate them into the wild?

PassPort · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 01:50 AM

Hoplo's are a pipe dream of mine! Feel free to share some pics

Elizabeth Freer · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 11:08 PM

Bailey ~

Smug, or not, no matter. Sounds to me that you are doing a remarkable job.

You have answered one of my unasked questions about the species. I was curious as to how long they produced. So you say ten years plus! How often do yours produce twins rather than singles? What temperature range do yours get?

Your success kinda makes me want to relocate to New Zealand.

Still drooling.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bailey

Hey Elizabeth

Well, at the risk of sounding smug, it's kind of impossible not to breed them down here. We live in their natural environment, they're kept in outdoor enclosures which, if I'm doing my job, are a pretty close replica of where they live in the wild. As long as there's a male for a female, there will be babies

So pretty much every species I've kept for long enough has produced babies. My current N. grayii include a couple of females I've had since they were six weeks old - they're now over ten years old and had babies every year. I kept one of the daughters and she has them too. The hard part would be stopping them...

Cheers,
Bailey.

Elizabeth Freer · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 11:37 PM

By the way Bailey ~

What kind of animals are the last three listed in your signature?

PassPort · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 12:14 AM

Elizabeth,
Oligosoma is a genus of skinks found on the north island of NZ, very cool little buggers. I've only seen pics of them, but they'd be cool to have.
Litoria aurea, or the green and golden frog from Australia is closely related to a white's tree frog, but their appearance is closer to that of an american leopard frog.
I'm assuming that the Felis is his pet cat.....

Bailey,
I know this is a gecko forum, but you should totally post up some of your other species in the other herps section of the forum!

NZGecko30 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 01:59 AM

Hi Bailey I'm another Breeder in NZ, I think I've heard your name mentioned through other breeders.

Elizabeth~ under the natural conditions twins are produced ever year.