Crested Morphs and colors..?

[Colin Vestrand]

i was recently getting some fruit fly cultures at petco when i stopped to look at their crested geckos (just for fun you know)... there was one in there that had the classic flame pattern but was a deep redish brown. they were only $40 and looked to be very healthy (eating CGD, temp gradient, 6ft tall cage) so i bought him.

now here's my question... i get the guy home, he's doing great but after his next shed he's completely normal looking. he actually looks like my other cresty... i guess it'd be called a flame pattern, i dunno. the base color is just a plain medium brown. is this normal for them to go through extreme color changes like that? and if so, how do you go about 'shopping' for different morphs if you're buying babies? its bad enough you cant tell the sex.. :/

[tigerlily]

Once they are adults it's pretty easy to tell the sex, but not so easy when they are smaller.

Cresties undergo a pretty regular color change, from their normal dull color. It's called fire-ing up. It can happen in the evening when they are more active or when they are stressed. So yes, it's pretty normal.

As for selecting a crestie, I can't be of much help. Usually it's pretty normal to ask for pics of the gecko in it's normal and fired up state. That's probably the best way to go about it. Looking at the parents is another common thing to look at.

My babies have changed dramatically since they hatched. Dramatically, and it's normal for them to continue to change until they reach their adult colors.

Sheesh, now I can't tell if I've helped or just confused the situation. I hope it the first one.

[Colin Vestrand]

no that helps a lot.. thanks!

i notice that they change colors based on temperament and temperatures (like a lot of lizards), but this color change was completely unexpected. it went from dark redish brown to considerably lighter after it's shed.. oh well. i'll just have to keep expanding my collection and go from there

[rabernet]

We're getting a crestie!.........

[tigerlily]

I'm glad that helped.

We finally got to ya didn't we Robin? When do get it? Pics? Is it in another thread?

[rabernet]

Kashmire's old 20 gallon tall has been empty for some time now. Karl's been wanting to decorate it with a jungle type theme and pick up something in Daytona. Started researching what would do well in that type of environment and a crestie fit the bill! I didn't want Karl to impulse buy something as he's apt to do, so I've been printing off care sheets of cresties and showing him pictures and he's been decorating all day today in anticipation of getting his little Poindexter (what he plans to name it).


We'll see if we see anything that he likes while we're in Daytona, or else we'll just buy from someone here when we get back!

[tigerlily]

Sounds great! So many different cresties to choose from. I'm sure he'll find something in Daytona. Yeah, soon we'll have new members to our lovely club....

[kavmon]

robin, last year allen repashy was in daytona, with a good selection. he is one of the guys that got the founding group of rhacs into the u.s. i didn't see a huge selection but there were a few!



vaughn

[rabernet]

Thanks Vaughn! We're just looking for a nice, well started pet quality crestie, as at this time, there are no plans to breed, so we're hoping to find a nice little one for about $50 (we're hopeful)!


I already put some ventilation holes in a little 12 quart Rubbermaid tub with locking lid for housing in Daytona and transporation. If we get a wee one, that will be their home until they are big enough to move into the 20 gallon tall.

[kavmon]

sounds good, you should be able to find what you are looking for. what type of cresties do you favor? just curious.


vaughn