Re: [Gecko] legitimate gecko farming in Madagascar?

[Racodactylus]

I've never heard of this farm, and I couldn't find an e-mail address, too bad
because I was going to ask if they were going to include such rarities as
Ebenavia, Lygodactylus, Millotisaurus, and Paragehyra in the "breeding
programs."

However, I have heard of this concept before.  In fact, there is one exporter
over there that exports some CB animals.  I don't know about geckoes, but he
does with the chameleon Brookesia peramata, maybe others.  But he certainly
looks for healthier and more tolerant animals like Uroplatus from warmer
localities, not exporting gravid Paroedura masobe.  But geckoes are easier to
breed than Brookesia.

On such a large scale I see this as being quite difficult with geckoes
because they are fast, can be small, and really don't lay enough eggs for
mass exportation.  For instance, a female Uroplatus henkeli laying what 2
clutches per month tops?  Potentially 8 eggs per month, normally 4, sometimes
less?  A colony of any species with have to include several hundred
individuals to produce enough offspring in order to compete with other firms.
 Not to mention price.  The cost should shoot up in doing this.  But there
are several advantages.  They are in better shape and wild populations are
not being depleted.  But potentially "house gecko type of lizards" could
become very expensive.  Many of us know how much Paroedura picta costs
wholesale that could be doubled.

With things being as there are and have been [People's preference for a lower
price=WC than a more expensive animal=CB], I don't see how a firm could last
selling strictly CB animals w/o supplementing somehow, like exporting WC or
other products.  If they export leather goods and crocs as well, maybe they
will last.  Plus, it sounds like they've got an amusement park type setup
over there.

Just my thoughts.  Anyone else?

--Daniel