Pet Store Gecko

[Corwin's Keeper]

This should be an easy one (for anyone except me!). I visited a pet store this weekend and saw all of these guys cramped in a single cage and the bottom of the cage had at least three dead ones. I'd like to write a review on the store but wanted to know what kind of geckos these were.

Also, to me some (ex. top right in cage) look a little skinny, but if they look healthy please let me know. I would like this review to be as accurate as possible.

Thanks for all of your help and sorry for the graphic image.

 

[cassicat4]

Ugh, that's so sad. The gecko in the second picture is a white-lined gecko. Is it the same as the ones in the first picture?

It's hard to tell if they're skinny. It could just be due to varying ages as well.



I'd be talking to the manager myself. Our local Petsmart had many issues with animals housed this way including dead animals at the bottom of the cage. I complained a few times, and recently (i.e. in the last several months) noticed a huge turnaround in the way their animals are kept. It's far from ideal, but much better than before. Apparently, the issue was the vet they were using. All animals must be examined and determined to be healthy prior to sale and the vet they had on hand before is one that all of us local herpers avoid like the plague because he's infamous for his lack of herp knowledge, even though he claims to be a herp vet.

The manager heard the complaints (likely from many people) and actually checked out the animals himself. He'd had no idea...and the old vet was fired as soon as a replacement could be found.

I know this isn't a common situation, but manager involvement is important because sometimes, they really have no idea what's going on in their own store.

 

[thorrshamri]

Hard to be sure with the pics quality but the first pic seems to show Ptyodactylus guttatus. They look "naturally" skinny. But their tank is clearly overcrowded and if I'm right on the species ID, not suitable at all for this species.

 

[Corwin's Keeper]

Thank You

Yes, both pictures were of the same enclosure. Now that you mention it, however I don't see the same white line on the other geckos. Is it possible they are a different species? The cage was on the top shelf so getting pictures was a challenge.

Unfortunately this store was about 3 hours away, but thank you for your suggestion, I will try to contact the owner of the store as well! From other reivews I've read online, this place has been pretty bad for some time now (eventhough it has been under "new" ownership for two years). You could smell this store before entering, it was pretty bad - dirty enclosures, unhealthy animals and just a very untidy store in general (cages and tanks anywhere and everywhere filled with dirty stagnant water, etc.). :-x .

My boyfriend liked a few things at the store but I asked him not to buy anything (I'd rather he support a business that takes better care of their animals). I will write a review and copy it and send it to the manager urging him to do something for the sake of the poor animals.

P.S. Thank you Thorr!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Definitely a mix of species. The close-up is of a skinny Gekko vittatus (white-lined "skunk" gecko). I recognise the others, but I honestly can't for the life of me remember their names. =/

~Maggot

 

[Gecko_Gal]

The second picture; for sure a Skunk Gecko, I've almost bought one.
The first picture; the tank is defiantly over crowed. I thought I saw one Crested Gecko there, I definatley saw some Golden Geckos in there (Gekko ulikovskii), and I did see a couple skinny geckos. The same gecko that you gave an example of. Regardless what is in there, all those geckos are different species and should NOT be housed together.

 

[Corwin's Keeper]

Thanks guys, I will definitely put all of this in the review!

 

[thorrshamri]

I have never seen golden geckos/ulikovskii with such markings on their backs

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I don't see goldens either, but it's tough to say in that pic. They look really familiar, but I just can't put my finger on it. But whatever they are, I'd bet anything they're all malnourished, severely dehydrated, and far too cold.

~Maggot

 

[thorrshamri]

Absolutely right and a shame.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Marble gecko (Gekko monarchus)! That's what I was thinking of! I'm pretty sure that's what they are. At least the one is, I think.

~Maggot

 

[Ingo]

I do see G. canaensis in the first pic. No Ptyodactylus, look at the toepads.

 

[Gecko_Gal]

I have never seen golden geckos/ulikovskii with such markings on their backs

I never said they were all Golden, I said some.

 

[mikew1234]

That is no petsmart. They even keep better care. I do not see a crested gecko in that, but I do see what looks like a tokay gecko (center left, head is covered by the one on the screen) and what are usually sold here as marbled geckos. No species name from me other than that. It looks like a big Indo import group to me. They get those guys so cheap on import lists, they don't care if they die. They sell one and pay for 5-10. A lot of smaller shops have gone this route in recent. I would avoid that store at all costs.

 

[Corwin's Keeper]

That is no petsmart. They even keep better care. I do not see a crested gecko in that, but I do see what looks like a tokay gecko (center left, head is covered by the one on the screen) and what are usually sold here as marbled geckos. No species name from me other than that. It looks like a big Indo import group to me. They get those guys so cheap on import lists, they don't care if they die. They sell one and pay for 5-10. A lot of smaller shops have gone this route in recent. I would avoid that store at all costs.

Thanks Mike! Yep, not a single cent spent in this store. Poor guys, I wanted to save them all.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Did you ever talk to them? Get anywhere with them perhaps?

~Maggot