Desert Ghosts

http://newenglandreptile.com/decpics/dghost1.jpg
http://newenglandreptile.com/decpics/dghost2.jpg
http://newenglandreptile.com/decpics/dghost3.jpg

K

Simply gorgeous... what's the going rate for hets, just out of curiousity?

one of them looks like an axanthic but didnt quite make it to be a full axanthic

Their coloration is beautiful, especially on the larger (female?) of the two. Subtle and bright at the same time.

The big female is mom...little one is her offspring.

They go through a very dramatic color change. Here's the same pair last year. This shot was taken outside & really shows off mom's coloration...indoor photos seem to wash her out a bit.

http://newenglandreptile.com/webpics/oct1dg2.jpg

K

Thats pretty. :lol:

Now I can't see any of the pics for some reason, maybe they just timed out. I definitely want to see the outdoor pic, though.

Our server just hiccuped. Try again. ;)

K

Wow, that IS dramatic. I really like the fact that they're significantly different without being too showy. When you're already special, you don't need all the chrome. :D

So how exactly does the change go?

Just from the pics I'm guessing they start out looking somewhat normal (belly?) but clean, reduced, with a faded head. Then at some point the become axanthic looking (is it a one shed thing? do they ever shed clear?) and then they at some point (gradually?) pick up some more odd yellow. Very nice looking all along the way but how wierd! Will be fun to try to figure out.

Thanks for posting!

Randy,

I'll see if I can find some belly shots...if not, we'll take them.

The color change seems quick at first & then slows down some. It's not a one-shed change though.

The blue background was taken in Oct. '03

Here's a Sept. 03 shot:
http://newenglandreptile.com/webpics/septdgbaby3.jpg

And Dec. '03 shot:
http://newenglandreptile.com/webpics/dec18dg3.jpg

Next time one sheds I'll take a look to see if it's clear.

K

Thanks!

So the baby (daughter?) is still heading toward axanthic looking (or was in Dec 03) and the mom has already been there and then got some yellow back?

Don't look too hard for the belly pics if they are just normal. I was just interested if there was anything unique about it to help identify a hatchling. Seems like maybe at some point one could pass in as a “nice normal” ch.

Any thoughts on all the sudden (one shed) changers to axanthic the last couple years? They don't sound like they have anything to do with the desert ghosts but perhaps one that just happened to have a clean pattern might look the same at some point along the way.

Magnificient as always KLG! Thanks for sharing :D