public function store(GeckoRequest $request)
{
    $user_id = Auth::user()->id;
    $input = $request->all();

    $input['genetics'] = json_encode($input['genetics'], JSON_FORCE_OBJECT);
    $input['user_id'] = $user_id;

    Gecko::create($input);

    $name = str_replace(' ', '-', $request['name']);

    flash()->success('Success!', 'Your gecko has been added to the system');
    return redirect()->action('GeckoController@show', [$name]);

}

public function randomId(){

     $id = str_random(10);

     $validator = Validator::make(['id'=>$id],['id'=>'unique:table,col']);

     if($validator->fails()){
          return $this->randomId();
     }

     return $id;
}

do
  {
      $code = // generate your code
      $gecko_code = Gecko::where('code', $code)->first();
  }
  while(!empty($gecko_code));