Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hy guys, do you know the cheaper color morphs and on the other side the highly prized ones in order to make investments?

All the best

The least expensive are brown or "buckskin" colored Cresteds with little pattern. Most breeders will sell these as "normals." Unfortunately, as babies, these plain ones look identical (dark red to tan in color) to babies from the best bright orange or red bloodlines, so it's important to know if they came from bright colored parents or buckskin parents.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, geckos that combine bright colors with a nice harlequin pattern are some of the most desirable. Add to that a partial pinstripe or a full pinstripe, and you'll have an "investment quality" Crested.

This is a red Harlequin with a partial pinstripe.

There are also "morphs" being developed, but they're so uncommon that they haven't really been given a name. Here's one that looks "marbled" to me, but that name is already being used for geckos with a different look, so I don't really know what to call this one.

Here's a link to my CG Gallery where you can see more pics...

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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

Hey Anthony,
While we're on the subject, exactly WHAT is the "pinstriping" referring to? The white "fringes" on its back legs, or the crest-spikes going down its back? or something else? Even Alan's (and Philipe's etal) gecko book hasn't cleared that up for me!
Thanks,
Terri

Terri,

The word pinstripe is referring to the white crests running down the backs of some Crested Geckos. The white on the back of the leg is called the "white fringed" trait.

This gecko shows partial (or broken) pinstripe running all the way up to the eyes.

Here's one showing a partial pinstripe and the white fringed trait on the hind legs.

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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

Finally, I understand! Thanks, Anthony, for clearing that up for me.

Hy Anthony, thank you for your clear reply, just another Q: as in the Ball python market there are the same problem with the crested geckos one concerning genetically proven morphs? Are you aware of some colors and traits that follow genetic rules and some do not?

Thanks

Steno

Steno,

Crested Gecko genetics are much more complex. They're considered polygenic, as opposed to just simple recessive or dominant. That's not to say that certain traits are not inherrited in this manner, but that many different traits have their own independent genetic basis.

As far as I'm aware, there are no proven simple recessive or dominant "morphs" (i.e albino, axanthic, etc.) Colors and patterns are both independent and are more the result of selective breeding.

Here's an example...

A Pastel Orange Tiger x Red Dalmatian pairing can produce patternless, Tiger, Dalmatian or babies that show both the Tiger and Dalmatian traits in varying degrees of intensity. Colors can also vary from pastel orange to red. That said, it's not as simple as breeding one type to another and getting babies that look like one parent or the other.

>>Hy Anthony, thank you for your clear reply, just another Q: as in the Ball python market there are the same problem with the crested geckos one concerning genetically proven morphs? Are you aware of some colors and traits that follow genetic rules and some do not?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Steno
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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

hey Anthony,

congrats on the IJ eggs hatching. You usually have cresties hatching out all year round, right? also, but how much would an inexpensive tiger coastal sell for?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

Jake,

Thanks. Yes, I have my Crested groups staggered so that I always have some breeding.

As for Carpets, that would best be discussed on the Carpet Python forum or via email. Tigers are in great demand right now, so there are no inexpensive ones. You might find a "tri-stripe" Carpet really cheap (around $150), but not a true Tiger.

-Anthony

>>hey Anthony,
>>
>>congrats on the IJ eggs hatching. You usually have cresties hatching out all year round, right? also, but how much would an inexpensive tiger coastal sell for?
>>-----
>>0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
>>0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
>>0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
>>1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)
>>
>>My image Gallery
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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com