Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had these about two and half weeks now.

Coleonyx variegatus abbotti, San Diego Banded Gecko--3.0

Coleonyx variegatus variegatus, Desert Banded Gecko--3.0

Coleonyx brevis, Texas Banded Gecko--0.2; one laid eggs while in transit.

Here are the two eggs (U.S. dime for comparison; not as "moist" as the picture would have you believe):

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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I always thought Sand Diego BAnded geckos were rare, anyway how did u mange to get a hold of them, i'm a bandied gecko fan myself and was thinking of branching off from Central American bandies and Texas, so i'm really interested as to where you got them,

thanks
Davis

I always thought Sand Diego BAnded geckos were rare,

Perhaps you're thinking of barefoot geckos (Coleonyx switaki)? Those are indeed "rare," or at least no one is 100% sure how to find them reliably. Plus, most of their US habitat is protected (Anza-Borrego). San Diego bandeds do not appear to be rare.

anyway how did u mange to get a hold of them,

They were given to me by a friend. I could've collected some myself, but CA has some very bizarre laws regarding their lizards as far as collection/possession limits and transporting them (at least for commercial purposes i.e. breeding them; and I wanted to be covered on the outside chance I ever choose to sell any progeny). My friend collected them as feeders for his snakes!

i'm a bandied gecko fan myself

I've liked American Coleonyx for many years now, but until this year had not kept any. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the eggs!
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

C.brevis is protected in CA. Only Western Bandeds are legal, and only two can be posessed.
No reptile that was once wild in CA can ever be sold, regardless who collected it.
You're right, the reptile laws in CA are strict and confusing, but you can't get around them by having someone else collect for you.
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Best
The 'winder

>>C.brevis is protected in CA. Only Western Bandeds are legal, and only two can be posessed.
>>No reptile that was once wild in CA can ever be sold, regardless who collected it.
>>You're right, the reptile laws in CA are strict and confusing, but you can't get around them by having someone else collect for you.

1. brevis can't be protected in CA, as it's not found there. Even if they somehow DID do so, it wouldn't affect me because I don't live in CA. I'm in TX, where brevis are plentiful and legal to be caught, bought, sold, etc.

2. I'm not selling any of my lizards; I agree with your statement. I can, however, sell the offspring, as the specimens I have were not "commercialized" i.e. sold. Giving them away was perfectly legal. I CAN "get around" the laws by someone GIVING me specimens. California can't come find me and harrass me for having more than two banded geckos; it's out of their jurisdiction.

I'm not trying to hassle you; I did my homework before all this happened. Otherwise, I could've caught many a gecko long ago, but I'm trying to keep everything legal.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I can't sell the progeny to anyone in CA. Anywhere else is OK.

Kinda like the SF garter snakes. Plentiful in Europe; illegal to own in the US (per Federal regs).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet