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Bad Guy RobbieHamper(elegantreptileimages)

Bash

Bash

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So, This past weekend there was the Hamburg show, Where as i Bought a Crested ink Spotted harley. After a few questions I knew this woman didn't know alot of the things she SHOULD about what she was breeding, (though she wrote a book); But she had the only adult females at the show. So I Went ahead and Bought the Female crested Gecko i found the healthiest. On the drive home, I Looked her over through the deli cup and her kink wasn't too horrible. Then i got home and took her out, She could'nt even wrap it lightly around my finger. I was very disappointed. Then, I realize That Night she wouldn't take to Crested Gecko Diet (CGD) and from her weight, 28.6 grams i was guessing she was fed baby food - which I'm Told Robbie Does.
I Didn't think it could get worse; Then i went to clean her humid hide the next day and found 2 Eggs; Which are now incubating and FERTILE. I have no idea what clutch it is, first, last in the middle.
I Emailed Robbie Twice, first I was polite and just asked what The gecko had been fed daily/weekly. - No response!
Then I emailed again, Furious at the discovery of a underweight, female laying fertile eggs - No response!
The table she had, Crested geckos Had obvious Signs of MBD and FTS and other deformities, Which my gecko has Floppy tail syndrome. I should've Known Better But honestly i know I Can Help my female. She probably would've just ended up in the trash if i hadn't Bought her.
If you're looking for crested geckos, Go anywhere But ERI. :NoNo:
 
Ok i may get flamed for this, but you say you saw that the geckos where not in top condition yet chose to buy anyway and didn't think to get all the information, quite crucially, what they are being fed on, at the show?

Also Floppy tail is quite common in captive Crested Geckos and is not as once was thought due to bad diet/calcium deficiency.

Also to say that she would have probably ended up in the trash is a bold accusation of which you have no proof (so i am guessing)

Copy of the emails and any correspondence that you have prior to and after the show would be appreciated, also pictures if you have them of the kink/underweight female.
 
No offense Ashely, but you were able to see, handle, touch, look over and inspect every angle of this gecko in person at the show.

If you saw, as you say, obvious signs of defects on her geckos on the table, why did you purchase this one? Only female at the show or not, you probably should not have bought that animal if it was not healthy.

All those red flags you say about the seller not being knowledgeable would have been a big sign not to purchase.

I know many people get into the "recuse" mentality, but that is not a good reason to purchase un-thrifty animals. I'm sorry this happened to you, but it may have to get chalked up to hard lesson learned. :(
 
Your post is missing tons of details.

We need a timeline. How long did you have the gecko before she laid eggs? How long after you bought the gecko did you first contact Robbie, the second time?

Pictures of the gecko?

Proof that you purchased the gecko from said dealer?

Did you ask the dealer if the female had any contact with males?

Will
 
You saw the animal, you had many to choose from, you were able to hold inspect and choose. You picked her, you yourself thought she was healthy " i found the healthiest". No mention of poor quality prior to this. The animal was most likely stressed with the show and travel home "That Night she wouldn't take to Crested Gecko Diet" as many animals don't eat that day after being stressed, even more probable she was ready to lay, most won't eat or will act a lil less rambunctious when getting ready to lay. FTS is a common occurrence. Worse? "I Didn't think it could get worse; Then i went to clean her humid hide the next day and found 2 Eggs; Which are now incubating and FERTILE" most people would be happy to have fertile eggs that next day. Let Robbie Know of this thread, but I know the Hampers and I am sorry to say they are top line. I have made Many Many transactions with them without one issue. If there was an issue I would say she would had made good on it immediately. They usually do shows from friday through Sunday and come home on monday. Not hearing back 48 hours later may be she hadn't gotten to her computer. Now you basically trashed her Im sure you were happy when you bought her. Im not sure you are representing this accurately and am curious to see pictures of this animal but keep in mind she just laid eggs so she might be a lil light. Also I have read her book and I would say she is quite knowledgeable. I may be partial but I see a lot wrong with this thread
 
Bash said:
After a few questions I knew this woman didn't know alot of the things she SHOULD about what she was breeding
Click to expand...

Let's hear the questions and her answers. Perhaps the answers were correct and you misinterpreted the answers.

As others have said, if you have an opportunity to examine the critter you are getting, you have an opportunity to give it a pass.

I'd like to hear her side.
 
I used to buy tons of geckos from Robbie, and she was always friendly and knowledgeable, I have never had a problem with her or any of the numerous geckos I have had from her. Also, why would she feed baby food to her geckos when she sells CGD right on her table?? Nothing about this post sounds right.
 
sklepeisz said:
Nothing about this post sounds right.
Click to expand...
I would not doubt that all over the internet, competitors pose as dissatisfied customers and diss their competition. I'm not saying that happened here, but the value of the BOI is that people can say their say and the readers can decide what to believe.
 
bloodybaroness said:
No offense Ashely, but you were able to see, handle, touch, look over and inspect every angle of this gecko in person at the show.

If you saw, as you say, obvious signs of defects on her geckos on the table, why did you purchase this one? Only female at the show or not, you probably should not have bought that animal if it was not healthy.

All those red flags you say about the seller not being knowledgeable would have been a big sign not to purchase.

I know many people get into the "recuse" mentality, but that is not a good reason to purchase un-thrifty animals. I'm sorry this happened to you, but it may have to get chalked up to hard lesson learned. :(
Click to expand...

While those are valid points, I *don't* think anyone purchasing even a small, floppy-tailed female in questionable condition would have expected an animal that size to have been BRED and drop eggs the day after purchase. That's something that, unless you're actively looking for, it's hard to see -- and sometimes even then a female's gravidity is nearly invisible.
 
Not to split hairs, but the OP's name is also "Bash." Makes you wonder?

I've seen Robbie at shows before, she is very sweet and ready to answer questions in person. Very knowledgeable IMO. Actually I think the first crestie I held was one of Robbie's. She was happy to answer take all the time in the world with a customer. Her book is well liked and appears to be respected in the gecko community. This accusation seems out of character for an animal she produced.

To the OP I want to see pictures of the female crestie you bought.

Animals can be very stressed right after purchase. They may not eat, and they may have some other odd quirks that settle out as they settle in.
 
Any one who knows about cresties would not be happy an underage or underweight animal had laid fertile eggs. Knowledgeable people use 35+ grams to start breeding.
I have not seen CGD on her table, although as a vendor I don't normally get to look around much as I watch my table.
I have seen geckos in the past several years at her table whose geckos showed signs of FTS. There were always several. I had conversations with her during past years and was told baby food was the diet. I have no idea the details. She is a breeder from the days when baby food was all they had. She may have supplemented with calcium. I don't know.
Her other reptiles always have looked good. The cresties just always looked like FTS was common.
One time she did tell me she was selling cresties for a friend. Maybe she does not breed these ?
FTS can be caused by other things other than diet. Like hanging on glass upside down all the time. Diet seems to be a big cause though.
I do not like the thought ofbreeding a female of that size, then to sell to a customer who may have no knowledge on the subject is not good.
 
Lucille said:
I would not doubt that all over the internet, competitors pose as dissatisfied customers and diss their competition. I'm not saying that happened here, but the value of the BOI is that people can say their say and the readers can decide what to believe.
Click to expand...

I guess I am a competitor with her. I do not have all the years in like she does, but I do one show with her and sell the same types of animals.
I guarantee I am not saying this to put her a competitor down.
She is a very nice lady. She is always smiling and kind.
It does not change my opinion of several animals each show with signs of FTS.
 
I just want to hear Robbie's side of the story, and see photo proof of the condition of the crestie the OP purchased.

All my statements were based on the one time I meet Robbie face to face, and strictly an opinion. Certainly not saying it's not possible for there to be issues. Just offering up feedback from a personal experience.

Still, if the gecko looked so bad from the start, why buy it? This was not a online sale where the animal was only seen in photos. This was face to face hands on. Only female at the show or not, why chance it?
 
I did see a photo and the hips looked to have a slight twist to them. I did not see the tail portion from what I can recall. On this animal it did not look real bad,I have seen worse.
I agree this thread will be a lot based on opinion. The one thing that can't be disputed is this animal was weighed while gravid. So she was way too young or undersized to be bred.
The customer should have been told it was bred.
Granted some females are smaller than others and don't achieve a weight over 35 grams.
 
The one thing that should have happened is giving Robbie more time to respond before a bad guy thread was started. I do understand the dismay and anger once the eggs came, but more time I think could have been allowed ?
 
Not to poke my nose in, but I recently aquired a Jungle carpet python from ERI , with the exception of a minor kink in the tail it was a stellar animal in color and condition. Take this with a grain of salt as I was the second owner of this animal, and did not purchase it first hand. However, her condition when she came to me was what I would expect from a quality breeder.
 
dragonlvr64 said:
The one thing that should have happened is giving Robbie more time to respond before a bad guy thread was started. I do understand the dismay and anger once the eggs came, but more time I think could have been allowed ?
Click to expand...

Bingo.

It's only Tuesday, not all sellers get settle back in super fast after a show.
 
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