How many do this full-time?

[princesskain]

I have a full time job as a Vet Assistant (min 45hours/week). And two part time jobs/hobbies... Ebay and Herps. I am a fanatic about leo's - always on the brain. I'm told I even talk about them in my sleep. lol.

I too would love to do it full time (leo's). I'll be happy when I break even on feeder's.

Hailey

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I am a full-time Leopard Gecko Breeder, and a part-time minister and hospital Chaplain.

 

[brianklein]

I work for directv during the day (6 days/week) And the rest of the time I spend with my gex I am approaching 100+ so I am working at it! I found two more babies in the inc this morning.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

i have 2 full time jobs i work for smith and wesson making revolvers and i also spen alot of time caring for my animals not just geckos so i live a very busy life and i think a very good question to add is actually how much sleep do all the breeders out there actually get cuz i only average id say 3-4 hours a Day(I Work the night shift 6pm-6am)

Well I don't work out of the home but with 2 small children who have every different sleep habits, I get 3-4 hours too, I am usually in bed between 2 and 3am and am up around 6am, I do get to sleep in until 7 sometimes and about once a month when hubby is off or goes in late on the weekend I can sleep til 9 but I find that when I know I can sleep til 9, I stay up longer washing clothes or cleaning lol

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

I too would love to do it full time (leo's). I'll be happy when I break even on feeder's.

Hailey

Hailey, there are a few tricks to breaking even on feeders:

1. You can't count any of the begninning expenses or Id still consider myself in the hole by a few grand

2. If you can find something you are good at breeding, get it, mealies, supers, roaches etc. (I am breeding mealies again and just started with orange head roaches)

3. Get Cody's (progeckos) gut load, I don't rave about many things like this but I switched over a few weeks ago and have noticed a significant weight gain in most of my breeders & babies and with a lower quantity of food intake. They are eating less and weighing more. Which to me must mean that they are getting more nutrition from the feeders than before and don't need to scarf down as much food to do so.

I used to use Total Brand or 10 grain cereal with a little minerall added and some calcium, reptivite etc. This is costly, the Total Cereal alone is $4 a box for 12 ounces and I figured my total cost was $5 for each 12 ounces with all my added stuff, Cody's gutload was 10lbs for about $29 shipped so my cost for gutload is now cut almost in half plus my feeders are lasting much longer.

I should be ordering supers this week based on past orders and have half of my last order still here from 3 weeks ago, so they are lasting much much longer.

 

[nwheat]

Great tips, Wendy!! Do you use the gutload as a bedding for the mealworms?

Nancy

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Great tips, Wendy!! Do you use the gutload as a bedding for the mealworms?

Nancy

Nancy,

Yes, I use it for the bedding too, and I put it in the leos food bowl, that way they are always loaded up.

Here are 2 girls that are on their 5th clutches and within the last 3 weeks gained back all they had lost from their previous clutches and are back to pre bredding weight and still laying.

I really think it has to be because of the change in my gutload. These 2 have had the largest weight gain and are about to lay again at any time, the pic of them together is at the end of April and that was pretty much their size from the first clutch until recently with the gutload change over.

 

[nwheat]

Cool, thanks, Wendy!! Your girls are looking great!!

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Thanks!

 

[progeckos]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

3. Get Cody's (progeckos) gut load, I don't rave about many things like this but I switched over a few weeks ago and have noticed a significant weight gain in most of my breeders & babies and with a lower quantity of food intake. They are eating less and weighing more. Which to me must mean that they are getting more nutrition from the feeders than before and don't need to scarf down as much food to do so.

I used to use Total Brand or 10 grain cereal with a little minerall added and some calcium, reptivite etc. This is costly, the Total Cereal alone is $4 a box for 12 ounces and I figured my total cost was $5 for each 12 ounces with all my added stuff, Cody's gutload was 10lbs for about $29 shipped so my cost for gutload is now cut almost in half plus my feeders are lasting much longer.

I should be ordering supers this week based on past orders and have half of my last order still here from 3 weeks ago, so they are lasting much much longer.

Hehe… that’s a big difference in those girls Wendy. Glad the gutload is working great for you.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Cody, that gutload has honestly cut down my feeder bill and gicen all of my leos some weight gain, Ill email you the pic of the little one I emailed you about a couple of months ago!

 

[DeVackHerps]

well i work part time at a petstore (petsmart, aka hell) but its a hobby for me but my breeding is now going underway so maybe a buisness in the near futur. im looking to be a vender at an expo next year.