I am not sure I am posting this in the right place but I was hoping for some advice. I have a fairly new business selling Crested Geckos, Leo's and Beardies. All bred at home and cared for by me. I have hatched over 100 crested geckos (and keeping a lot of them!) and have only lost 1, a few days after it hatched. It had hatched small and the egg didn't look right. Guess that happens when you have so many. In any event, I have been doing reptile shows for almost a year now, and at this point have sold quite a few geckos (and have never had any problems). I was a vendor at the Hamburg show on Saturday and sold a number of geckos. I just recieved an e-mail from someone who purchased one from me, saying that it had died. I read through the email and the customer used a heat lamp on the 10 gallon with the crested gecko in it. I believe that he perished due to being overheated, as Crested geckos thrive at room temperature and do not do well under heat. I am not sure what to do for this customer, as I do not feel it was my fault, but I have a fairly new business and do not want to start off with people being angry about purchases from me. The customer says they have another crested gecko and they work in a pet store, so she says she knows how to take care of them. Any advice? I was thinking of offering her 50 % off her next gecko purchase. I don't know if I should do more than that... Thanks!
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What happened?
- Thread starter Leibowem
- Start date
Nagini
Imperial Ball Pythons
did they send you a pic of the enclosure? what substrait? what was the temp/humidity on both hot and cool side(even though its a small tank). She said she had another? was it in the same tank with the new one? I to work at a pet store, and I can tell you this much, not all pet store workers know what they're talking about. I've had to fix so many problems from people at other pet stores ><
haha, I too used to work in a pet store, so I know what you are talking about. Many of my co-workers knew nothing about reptiles and tried to help reptile customers anyways.
I have sent her a follow-up email requesting more information. She did tell me that it was on Reptile bark (which I wouldn't recommend) and that the humidity was "fine". The gecko was put in the tank alone. I have asked for a picture of the gecko and the enclosure. I also asked what wattage the bulb she was using is. I will let you know when she replies!
I have sent her a follow-up email requesting more information. She did tell me that it was on Reptile bark (which I wouldn't recommend) and that the humidity was "fine". The gecko was put in the tank alone. I have asked for a picture of the gecko and the enclosure. I also asked what wattage the bulb she was using is. I will let you know when she replies!
Nagini
Imperial Ball Pythons
lol yeah they will call me when I'm off if they have questions (I told them to for the sake of the customer and I dont mind). keep us updated
I to wouldnt reccomend bark, holds no humidity(used it once and hated it)
I to wouldnt reccomend bark, holds no humidity(used it once and hated it)
Mooing Tricycle
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Well. I Think you are doing the right thing by being concerned. If she dosnt respond to your questions, and give you the photographs that you are asking for, i say write it off as a learning experience.
I Suggest giving out a simple caresheet with every Gecko Purchase at shows. it might help you in regards to protecting yourself in the future against this kind of thing, by advising that people follow your caresheet. ( Just a thought )
I Suggest giving out a simple caresheet with every Gecko Purchase at shows. it might help you in regards to protecting yourself in the future against this kind of thing, by advising that people follow your caresheet. ( Just a thought )
Mooing Tricycle
Misanthrope / Childfree
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Well, it looks like you are on the right track!!!
Gonna post any pictures of them there cresteds!? Its not fair to talk about them, and not show the goods!
Just received her response. The picture of the dead gecko is very fuzzy and I can not identify it. The cage looks alright with the exception of the repti-bark. The thing that concerns me the most is the heat lamp. She said that it is a red nocturnal bulb but that it is 40 or 60 watts. She said that the hot spot in the tank was between 78 and 82 degrees but I believe that would make the tank warmer than that. I may go out tomorrow and get a 40 watt red bulb to test this, as it is really eating at me. I just can't figure out what else it could have been 2 days after the show. She is a little defensive, saying that she has another one that is in the exact same conditions (can't say I blame her for being defensive I guess). I feel like being defensive and saying I have had over 150 geckos (including ones I have hatched and purchased) and have only lost 1! I don't think that will help anything though. This gecko that died was not a hatchling, she was a good size... about 8 grams or so. I feel awful about the whole thing, and I don't want to place blame, but I do want to figure out what happened.
houdini1
New member
I have cresties and have bred them too. I never used a heat lamp for them.
I would state that you need "clear" photos showing the gecko in different positions so you can positively ID it as being one of yours. Also it wouldn't hurt to have her throw a newspaper in the pic for a date reference. In all fairness though, I do think that the pictures should be clear, and there should be several different angles.
Also, I have a baby hognose in a ten gallon tank, with a 40 watt heat lamp on during the day. My house stays at about 70 degrees, and it heats up to atleast 95 without a dimmer.
Not to mention a heat lamp is going to suck the humidity out of the tank. If its a baby crestie, its going to be more vulnerable to dehydration.
Hopefully it all works out and she isn't pulling your chain. You sound concerned though, and seem like you are on the right track to making it right, and thats what matters. Its not the mistakes you make, but how to you take care of your customers and your animals.
I would state that you need "clear" photos showing the gecko in different positions so you can positively ID it as being one of yours. Also it wouldn't hurt to have her throw a newspaper in the pic for a date reference. In all fairness though, I do think that the pictures should be clear, and there should be several different angles.
Also, I have a baby hognose in a ten gallon tank, with a 40 watt heat lamp on during the day. My house stays at about 70 degrees, and it heats up to atleast 95 without a dimmer.
Not to mention a heat lamp is going to suck the humidity out of the tank. If its a baby crestie, its going to be more vulnerable to dehydration.
Hopefully it all works out and she isn't pulling your chain. You sound concerned though, and seem like you are on the right track to making it right, and thats what matters. Its not the mistakes you make, but how to you take care of your customers and your animals.
So assuming I get a clear picture of the gecko, I am going to offer her credit for the amount paid towards the purchase of another gecko... I do want to make it clear to her, however, that a heat lamp is not appropriate (especially not a 40 or higher wattage lamp) and there are better substrate alternatives than the bark she is currently using.
What are peoples policies for replacement geckos? I used to work in a fish store and we did not guarantee the replacement animal. Would that be unfair for me to say that I can not offer the same guarantee on a replacement?
Thanks!
What are peoples policies for replacement geckos? I used to work in a fish store and we did not guarantee the replacement animal. Would that be unfair for me to say that I can not offer the same guarantee on a replacement?
Thanks!
kellysballs
New member
If you replace the animal give her a care sheet and tell her to follow it. If she does not and this animal dies you will not replace it again.
Of course you would have to be tactful when you tell her this but you have fufilled your duty by replacing the first crested.
Good luck!
Of course you would have to be tactful when you tell her this but you have fufilled your duty by replacing the first crested.
Good luck!
Darkice
New member
I would replace the gecko and make her cover the cost of shipping as she did not propperly care for the poor little thing. I dont sell or deal with cresteds but i breed Leachies. And i make 100% sure the the buyer is full aware of whats going on and how to propperly feed and house them. I've turned down buyers because i did not feel comfortable with their level of intelligance on owning reptiles. I even ask to see pics of their enclosure before i agree to the sale.
When i sell a gecko the buyer gets the history,caresheet,food bowl and enough Leachie diet for a couple months.
When i sell a gecko the buyer gets the history,caresheet,food bowl and enough Leachie diet for a couple months.
She is very slow at responding to my emails. If I lost a gecko that I bought from someone, I would be on top of that!
She said that she will get a new pic out to me, so I sent her an email back and said assuming I get an identifiable picture, I would provide her with full credit towards the purchase of another gecko. I specified that this credit could be applied to the purchase of another gecko, not shipping, but that she is more than welcome to pick one up from us at a reptile show. I also carefully explained that crested geckos do not do well under heat suggested that she change the substrate to something more appropriate, like paper towels.
She said that she will get a new pic out to me, so I sent her an email back and said assuming I get an identifiable picture, I would provide her with full credit towards the purchase of another gecko. I specified that this credit could be applied to the purchase of another gecko, not shipping, but that she is more than welcome to pick one up from us at a reptile show. I also carefully explained that crested geckos do not do well under heat suggested that she change the substrate to something more appropriate, like paper towels.