Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There has been people selling baby "banana" pectinatas and were sent and told that the photo attached were the parents of the babies. This photo and the animals belongs to good friend, Kelly Paul, and it does not represent the parents of the babies being sold. I have talked with Kelly and he is concerned that this is happening and he gave me permission to post this here. Some of the sellers were made fully aware of this and they continue to misrepresent the babies. Please be careful of any baby pectinatas offered for sale as "banana" morph.

I inquired about some banana phase pectinata hatchlings that were on kingsnake earlier this week for an obscene amount of money. I asked for pictures of the parents and I was emailed a photo of Kelly Paul's beautiful pair. Some of you may know this picture of his pair copulating over what looks like cypress mulch. I know someone else who just in the past two weeks bought two hatchlings from a different person based on the same picture and was sold farm raised pectinata and not true banana phase. Another person I contacted this week with supposed banana pectinata hatchlings for sale claimed his animals were produced by a breeder out of state who had some of Kelly Paul's stock for breeders. I asked for photos and two days later I received a photo today taken off a European website of a beautiful male Banana. If you are considering the purchase of true Banana Phase Pectinata hatchlings please make sure you do your research. There are not that many true banana pectinata breeders out there and hatchlings sell out fast so I would be hesitant on buying from anyone that did not produce the animals themselves and doesn't have personal pictures to prove it. Do your Due diligence before making a purchase... My search for true banana phase continues.

http://www.reptilechannel.com/images/lizards/spinytailed-1-600.jpg

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizard-classifieds/850378-ctenosaura-pectinata-banana-phase-200-a.html

So true. Lots of sellers knowingly or unknowingly selling animals that are not what they claim. This has been going on on for the 25 years I've been involved in the hobby. When it comes to yellow pecs, there are not a lot of breeders, but there are a lot of wild non yellow babies being caught in Florida being sold as true yellows. Best to buy from the breeder and not second hand especially when the lizards are under 2 years old. That said, nothing wrong with wild caught pectinatas (although not as tame-able or colorful) unless you pay a true yellow price for them.

Hello, I am sure you know this, but Ty has banana pectinatas he is hatching if you are still looking.

Glad you pointed this out

I too have been nearly scammed twice, but was able to resolve both situations last year. Fortunately, I was able to eventually obtain a pair from Kelly. Although I have purchased from him before and his stellar reputation and word is enough to trust for purchase, Kelly provided pictures of the animals available pre-sale, had pictures of his breeders, etc. Ty and other trusted breeders will do the same.

I am now very wary of purchasing any bananas not personally produced by the seller. Additionally, there are individuals out there claiming to have produced the animals but are scant on information, do not have pictures of the parents, etc. If you feel like you are talking a gamble, you are. I would encourage anyone to RESPECTFULLY ask around, even publicly, as the good guys (Ty, Kelly, Bob, Andy, Tom, Jerry, Mark, etc. I am sorry for leaving any good breeders out ) have nothing to hide.

Thank you Ty for posting this. The real bananas are worth the effort and wait, but all pectinatas (and Ctenosaura) are incredible to work with. I wish you all the best and hope you are able to obtain what you are looking for.

Thanks, yes I have been talking with Ty and that's actually what brought this thread up, after telling him what had just happened. I know people have heard of these scams before but I guess he felt it was time to address it publicly, and I completely agree. Some people don't have a lot of money and they have to save up for a $500 or in this case a $750 or $1250 female banana phase. It has to be just gutting after a year or two of raising an animal and spending good money that it's not what you thought. Not everyone is experienced enough to know the difference till it's way too late. I just hope those that were scammed get their money back. I had already planned to get some Bakeri from Ty but now I hope to get a couple banana as well if the piggy bank is fat enough. I would love to get some from kelly as well but he is hard to keep in touch with. I've been trying to get animals from him for the last three years. We talk when the eggs are cooking and then hatching time comes and I get no response to my countless emails. He has beautiful animals. I'll catch him one of these days.....lol

I apologize for my long absence on the forum. I seem to have very little time to get on the computer. I am still working with ctenosaura. Ty informed me of the recent misrepresentation of my photos. All I can think to say is always get verifiable photographic proof. I feel fortunate I make my living thru farming. Reptiles is a hobby I enjoy so I honestly represent what I have for sale. Not everyones moral compass points TRUE north. That being said not all dealers are dishonest but do your research.
Evian I would also like to apologize to you and others who have tried to contact me and been frustrated. Between work, family,reptiles and other interests I have taken the easy road and have sold them overseas. (Not to mention needing my wife to get this on the Kingsnake)If you dont believe me ask anyone who knows me. my skills lack and I am ID10T challenged. I guess in the future I will try to figure out how to mark my pictures. But right now I dont know how so heres another picture. The goof in the picture is me.

Oh I can make it really easy on you Kelly. I will happily drive out to you any day of the week, not a problem, if that's easier for you. Those Banana are amazing, just torture. You are like a beautiful girl that doesn't put out. You've given me blue balls three seasons in a row.....lol I would prefer you tell me they are all going overseas rather than leading me to believe I can acquire some of your offspring once the eggs hatch. I'm not mad at you Kelly, just giving you a hard time is all. When reading text, the tone of a conversation can be interpreted different ways, which is why I prefer phone conversations. I assure you my tone is playful. I'm just busting your b_lls. I will just keep bombarding you with emails as well as leave my phone number and hopefully one day you will end my suffering and put out.

best wishes Kelly

Evian

LMAO Evian!!

Damn that was funny!! That was the best worded non-rip maybe a rip, maybe a compliment I have ever had!!I jsut hatched out some bakeri and I have some pectinata that are about 3 to 4 months old. I put your number in my cell phone (since I just read my emails) so I will call you this weekend. If I dont you can drive out here and shoot me. Then take my animals. LOL

Manny not trying to start a war but if memory serves me Bob Clark brought the pectinata in from Mexico and then sold them as yellows and they didn't turn out to be yellow. I realize that everyones interpretation of yellow can be different and he may have been lied to but I think that that was actually where this all started. Sorry bro just my two cents.

Thanks for clearing up the urban legend that yellow pectinata are running around Florida. I know we have talked about this in the past. And now back to my cave.

I'm counting on it Kelly, don't play with my emotions.....LOL.... Yeah I didn't want to step on any toes but I've heard first hand from people receiving Kelly's pics from Bob Clark. I did contact him recently though and he did send me pictures of the animals at the farm in mexico. Still being represented as Yellow Phase Pectinata, but at least I had some honest pics to see for myself that they weren't true banana phase. It's a huge breeding free for all, with so many breeding adults and babies there is no telling what you'll end up with. I think a lot of people are putting the blame on the other person also. In my case the animals originally came from Bob Clark but exchanged hands through three different people before the were presented to me. Two of those people presented different false photos. Each person when confronted placed the blame on the prior party till it rolled back up the chain to Bob. Bob was the only one to give me honest photos. Best to resist that impulsive buy if your'e not sure and do your homework. Amazing to me that people have the audacity to use another persons pictures in the technologically advanced world we live in. You can simply google banana pectinata and easily find these pictures that have been used and their rightful owners. But then again the trick has worked on multiple people, it's just a bold move.....damn

I concur with Mathew, Mark, & Ty. I sometimes catch and sell the wild ones caught here in Florida. I’ve seen individuals try to sell wild caught Florida babies labeled as: almost pectinata, possible banana phase, new blood lines, ect. They have even tried to sell c. similis as pectinata. For the hundredth time I will say that there are NO true banana phase animals in wild population here in Florida. There are some stellar looking wild babies but if you want to by true captive born banana phase iguanas, get them from a reputable breeder like: Ty Park, Kelly Paul, Bob Clark, Tom Greb, Bob Bloome, Jerry Fife, Mark Malfatti..etc.

Manny

I might be wrong but I don't think Bob Clark or Tom Greb breed Banana pectinata.

Just in time! There's a fauna ad listing banana morph pectinata. Unfortunately the seller does not have pictures of the parents as the youngsters are farmed.

Its too bad they all hatch out green so you cant tell them apart till they get older.

BUYERS BEWARE!!!