Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Finally purchased my first crested gecko. However, not sure what it is. The picture below it is darker mustard yellow but it also lightens up to a fairly bright palamino yellow. Just curious what the experts, those with more familiarity with all the variations of pattern and colour these cute little guys get, have to say.

>>Finally purchased my first crested gecko. However, not sure what it is. The picture below it is darker mustard yellow but it also lightens up to a fairly bright palamino yellow. Just curious what the experts, those with more familiarity with all the variations of pattern and colour these cute little guys get, have to say.
>>
-----
----------------------------------
Anthony Caponetto
http://reptiles.drivennewmedia.com

It's really tough to say. I think they come in too many more flavors to just lump them into 6 categories.

I just consider it a nicely patterned Crested Gecko.

>>Finally purchased my first crested gecko. However, not sure what it is. The picture below it is darker mustard yellow but it also lightens up to a fairly bright palamino yellow. Just curious what the experts, those with more familiarity with all the variations of pattern and colour these cute little guys get, have to say.
>>
-----
----------------------------------
Anthony Caponetto
http://reptiles.drivennewmedia.com

According to the new rhacodactylus book that would be a tiger.

I agree - sort of a buckskin tiger. Probably,when it's fired up, it's a yellow tiger.

They're a hoot, aren't they?
-----
Monte Meyer
Powergeckos
Email

No Fru-Fru morphs in the herp room

Hi,

With the pattern on the back I would definitely classify that crested as a tiger. Generally a flame has a really high contrast look to it. I wish I had a picture of one of my flames from Sandfire Dragon Ranch, and it's really easy to get the idea of what a flame looks like.

here is a pic of a fire.

sorry the first pic was a little large here is a better one.

Paul that is a sweet crestie!

I dont know if I would call that a typical "fire" though. Most of the fires I have seen have been lighter in color, I would consider yours an above average fire. Not knocking it, just saying that I wouldnt use that pic to describe an average fire, I would say that is a pretty unique Crested.

Most fires I have seen have been lighter and had less contrast, More like tan with a light tan back. The names of crested geckos are highly variable and will probably get more confusing in the future.

I would call that a tiger just from my own experience and from the Rhac book. She looks like she might have a sweet adult pattern, I really like high contrast tiger cresties!

If so, that would be a Harlequin because it has patterned limbs.

>>sorry the first pic was a little large here is a better one.
>>
-----
----------------------------------
Anthony Caponetto
http://reptiles.drivennewmedia.com

Yes your right it is closer to a harliquin, but not quite there. A full harliquin shoulld have more pattern on the legs and body.
-----
Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retial Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

This is what I call harliqin.

-----
Paul Morlock
of CaptiveCreations and
Retial Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

Is there a certain percentage of the limbs that have to be patterned or is there no definitive difference? Is it all just a matter of personal opinion?

Either way, I don't think we'll ever be able to get everyone on the same page or get them to all use the terms correctly. The reason I say that is because there are pictures of ciliatus labeled "Harlequin" in the new Rhac book with much less pattern on their legs than the one that you called a flame. Basically, what you call fire/flame, another breeder might call a harlequin, and you may both be right. They're so similar and there's such a fine line that separates them, I don't see why anyone feels a need to differentiate. The terms Harlequin and Flame/Fire are going to end up being used synonymously in the ciliatus trade anyway.

Further more, what about the ones that have a little of everything? I've got one gecko that is partially pinstriped, shows a slight amount of the white fringed trait, qualifies as a harlequin, and it has dalmatian spotting to boot. You wouldn't believe the number of people that have looked at it and been so preoccupied with figuring out what to call it, that it became more of a topic of discussion than the gecko itself. They're like "Oh that's awesome....but wait, what would you call that one? A fire, a harlequin, or a pinstriped? Or wait, what do they call that when they have white on their legs? Well, it has black spots too, so does that mean it'a dalmatian?" I usually answer with something like "I don't know...I just call it nice."

Anyway, just food for thought...as you can tell, I like discussing these little guys.

BTW, Here's a pic the gecko I was referring to.

>>This is what I call harliqin.
>>
>>-----
>>Paul Morlock
>>of CaptiveCreations and
>>Retial Sales Rep. for Sandfire Dragon Ranch

-----
----------------------------------
Anthony Caponetto
http://reptiles.drivennewmedia.com

These little guys certainly are hard to place into specific catagories. I have a feeling these guys will be hard to breed certain traits as well, maybe their colour and pattern is not tied to genetics like it is with so many other species. For all we know, each crested gecko could be as unique as our individual finger tips.

You're right. We had might as well start coming up with names for each different snow flake. Cresteds are polymorphic, just like Amazon Tree Boas and a person would go insane trying to name every phase that those come in. Having said that, I don't see any point (or any logic, for that matter) in trying to group the 15 million different color/pattern combinations into 5-10 different categories.

Oh well...that's just my .02

>>These little guys certainly are hard to place into specific catagories. I have a feeling these guys will be hard to breed certain traits as well, maybe their colour and pattern is not tied to genetics like it is with so many other species. For all we know, each crested gecko could be as unique as our individual finger tips.
-----
----------------------------------
Anthony Caponetto
http://reptiles.drivennewmedia.com

Thanks for all your replies. A yellow tiger or buckskin tiger will be what I call it till I learn otherwise. I like it either way.