I don't know what to do with dd's leopard gecko. Need all kinds of advice.

[CrazyCatLady]

My dd has been raised on a small farm for most of her life and is amazing with animals. She is gentle, firm, brave, and everything you need to be to take care of animals. She's better with them than I am honestly and has raised many things herself.

For her 6th birthday she was given a leopard gecko for her birthday (thanks MIL ). I cringed because I've never liked pets in cages, I always feel bad for them. But I didn't know how to politely say no, so here he is.

Well it's been a month and I hate this lizard. He is anti-social and mean. My dd is so good to him and trys to socialize him 15min everyday and all he does is bite her. He is costing me a small fortune in live food and I honestly can't afford it (it's giving me panic attacks). I want him gone and I don't know what to do.

My dd loves him and wants to keep him. I don't know how to not piss off my MIL if I get rid of him. I thought about breeding crickets so that we could feed him, but that takes money to start up that I don't have. Plus he'd still be mean.

My mom has a friend who owns a reptile sanctuary of sorts. She's willing to take him and give us something better (like a turtle, which we've had and liked before). But again there's the issue of my dd loving him and then me offending my MIL.

I can't believe I am this stressed out and feel this guilty over a stupid lizard. Can anyone please give me some advice? Thanks

[number572]

I hear you. Its not a stupid lizard tho, lol. I would encourage your dd to read that they are natural creatures and that the gecko isn't happy there in his cage and that he may be happier in your friend's natural habitat. Best luck! I accidentally killed a turtle that I really did love and gave my heart's care to as an 11 yr old, still pains me! I'd suggest a pet that can have free roam of the house... or an outdoor breeding tank where she can witness but not interfere so much and then let the creatures go free?? Sorry you are dealing with this! Reminds me of the incident where my stepdad bought my mom 3 white mice as a Valentine's day gift (wtf?? yeah he was a weird one... anyway) and they reproduced almost immediately and the male ate the babies within a few weeks and one of the adults escaped and my mom's cat caught and ate it in front of her and us kids!! omg that memory.... ugh... it was all just so wrong. Hope you get your gecko to freedom soon!! So sorry that she got that gift for your child without consent!

[CrazyCatLady]

Thanks for the reply.

We already have horses, llamas, a pony, 9 cats, ducks, chickens, hundreds of tame cockatiels, her snail farm, her pet praying mantises, etc. We walk our handicap neighbors dog everyday. It's not like we even needed another dang pet.

I know it's not a stupid lizard, I actually think he's gorgeous and neat. That's why I feel so bad for him.

But I just can't afford him and I don't know how to handle this situation delicately (I have major social anxiety). I need to be the grown up here and I don't know how and don't know what's best.

Heavy sigh.

[number572]

MM, sorry if my post came off weird at all... I have social issues too at times and was only trying to make a funny situation of one that wasn't too fun for you at this moment. Sorry!! Hope you get it figured out soon. Best for you all and the lizard, I know you love it. Didn't mean to cause any upset at all, was trying to find the humor. Sorry.

[Doodlebugsmom]

I can't even imagine that your MIL would want your dd to have a pet who frequently bit her. Certainly she would understand. I'd take your friend up on the offer to give the gecko a home at her sanctuary. I like leopard geckos too, and would definitely feel the same conflict that you are feeling.