The Passion Behind “Giselle Gargoyle”

Q. Hello, Giselle! It was such a pleasure sharing the Tinley show with you. How was your experience at the U.S. reptile expo?

At first, it was honestly tough—I wanted to go home right away. The jet lag and the long, intense schedule really took a toll on me.

But on the first day of the show, so many people recognized me and the “Giselle Gargoyles,” and that gave me a huge boost of energy and excitement. After that, I completely forgot how tired I was and just had an amazing time.

Looking back now, it was truly one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences for me.

Q. I’ve always wondered—how did the name “Giselle” come about? 

Ah, that’s actually my son’s name! I named my project after him.

Q. I was really surprised to see your Gargoyles in person at Tinley—they were stunning. How did you get started with Gargoyle geckos?

I first started keeping Gargoyle geckos about 14 years ago, when I was around 27 years old. The moment I saw them, I was fascinated—they had such a unique charm. So I began keeping them, and over time, my collection grew. I started focusing on Gargoyles professionally around 2021. 

As you know, the reptile market in Korea is heavily centered on Crested geckos, and I also keep those. But for me, among all New Caledonian species, Gargoyles are the most captivating. They look like tiny dinosaurs—or crocodiles—with a wild, primal appeal. Their variety of patterns and that vivid red coloration completely drew me in.

Q. Though your name is “Giselle Gargoyle,” I heard you also keep other species.

Yes, that’s right. In addition to Gargoyles, I also keep many Leachianus geckos, Crested geckos, and, recently, even  Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus, also known as the rough-snouted giant gecko

Q. Do you have any special methods or tips for raising such unique and healthy geckos?

When Gargoyles were first introduced in Korea, people often said they were hard to breed—probably comparing them to Cresties. But I didn’t find breeding them too difficult. If I have any particular method, it’s that I never cohabitate breeding pairs for long. I usually keep the male and female together for a day or two, then separate them again on feeding days. Gargoyles don’t pair as quickly as Cresties, so they need that short introduction period. After a day or two, I separate them again to check their condition and observe their interactions. Since Gargoyles can sometimes fight during breeding—similar to Leachianus geckos—it’s crucial to manage them carefully and monitor their health.

Also, I always give my breeders a cooling period at the end of each season. During that time, they can rest and recover to prepare for the next season in good health. I gradually lower the temperature until it reaches about 20°C (68°F) during winter.

Q. That’s great advice. What’s the current scale of your collection?

Counting only adults, I keep around 150 geckos. Including juveniles and hatchlings, the number is closer to 650. I typically collect around 500 eggs per year and hatch approximately 300–400 of them.

I offer a full range, from affordable beginner lines to ultra-high-end, top-quality lines.

Q. Do you have any specific goals for your Gargoyle breeding program?

Like other breeders, I aim to produce animals with full red coverage. When describing Gargoyle traits, we usually divide them into two: the base color (primary trait) and the red pattern (secondary trait). My goal is to achieve individuals completely covered in red. I’ve gotten close, but there’s still room for improvement.

Q. Do you have a favorite morph or pattern type?

As a Gargoyle breeder, I love them all, but I have a special fondness for Blotched Gargoyles. I think it’s harder to raise the quality of blotched types, which makes it more challenging and rewarding. Each blotched pattern is unique and full of personality, and that’s what makes them fascinating.

Unlike Crested geckos, Gargoyles don’t really have genotype-based morphs; rather, they are defined by phenotypic variations—visible traits that are gradually enhanced and refined through selective breeding over generations. If anything, “Phantom Eye” could be considered the closest thing to a genetic morph.

This makes Gargoyle breeding more about reinforcing and intensifying phenotypic traits, which is both challenging and deeply satisfying. Typically, when you pair two very high-quality Gargoyles, about 30% of the offspring will match or exceed the parents, 50% will be good quality, and 20% will be average. Producing consistent, top-tier offspring is definitely not easy.

Q. Many say the gecko market is slowing down lately. What are your thoughts?

In Korea, there has been a lot of noise lately due to new and changing regulations surrounding reptile keeping, which has affected the market somewhat. However, once the rules are settled, I believe the market will stabilize quickly. Actually, the reptile hobby is growing rapidly in Korea—so I’m not too worried. And because Gargoyles are still a niche species here, I haven’t really felt a market slowdown.

Overall, I think things are improving. If the market were truly collapsing, it would’ve disappeared already. Just look at Leopard geckos, Bearded dragons, and Ball pythons—people have been saying those markets were “dead” for years, yet many breeders are still thriving.

So, I can’t say I agree with the idea that things are getting worse. I think we’re simply in a temporary adjustment period before another wave of growth.

Q. Lastly, do you have any message for fellow gecko enthusiasts?

As breeders, our purpose is straightforward: to produce healthier, more beautiful, and higher-quality animals with enhanced traits.

My personal dream is to discover a new genotype morph in Gargoyles. For years, I’ve been isolating and studying individuals who feel genetically distinct, carefully testing and documenting them.

If everyone pursues their own vision and embraces that simple, meaningful goal, I believe we can all enjoy a truly fulfilling gecko life.