10/04/2016
For the people that are new to the reptile hobby, or have been around briefly but haven't done much research-
We urge the importance of doing research before purchasing. And this isn't limited to the scope of husbandry and care, but also the seller, and the label of the animal(s) being considered for purchase.
For species such as leopard geckos, where there are a handful of heritable traits, and combinations of them, it is important to ensure you don't get screwed over as a customer.
So how do you go about doing such research to make sure you are being sold to honestly?
1) Utilize the various facebook feedback groups, and faunaclassifieds as well. That is their purpose.
2) If you can't find anything or what you're finding is inconclusive, scarce, or questionable, then ask other people in the community. This is best done in those groups as well. Ask "Has anyone done business with _____? Experiences?" Often times people may have, and simply haven't posted a review.
3) If an animal's label doesn't make sense to you, ask the seller to clarify. If they have trouble explaining, they either don't understand themselves, or may be utilizing marketing tactics to push a sale for higher prices. It is critical here to ask around as well, either through PM with people you know work with the species, or in a group that is focused on the species.
Sellers should ALWAYS be as transparent as they possibly can be, to ensure customers are getting every bit of information pertinent to their purchase.
We, as a community, need to be more diligent about questioning things that seem 'off', or that lack explanation. Not only to keep our hobby sturdy, but to help prevent newcomers from getting screwed over since a bad experience can often lead people to decide to leave the hobby.
For those looking to do more research, here is a great place to start: geckoboa.com/leopard-gecko-genetics
And here's some reptiles.