crested genetics?

[Jacenta]

Hi, I'm a new crested gecko owner, and plan to someday breed them. I only have a male right now, but in a few months will be getting a couple of females. My question is, how do the genetics of crested geckos work? I'm really interested in knowing which colour and pattern traits are dominant/recessive and how much of a role that plays or if at all? If anyone knows, or knows of a site that explains it, that'd be awesome. Thanks!

[sara]

Check out www.sandfiredragonranch.com
Allen wrote a really great article that should be able to answer your question.

[Jacenta]

Thanks Sara,
I actually did read that article before about the genetics, which was a really good piece of information... but I didn't really find it to say anything about the dominant and recessive traits. Oh well, that's fine, I'm just curious anyways.

[Youkai]

You didn't find anything because so far there aren't any morphs that have proven to be dominant or recessive.
Crested geckos are polymorphic. That is, there are many naturally accuring patterns/colors. (not random gene mutations, like say albinism)

Basically, you can breed two fire cresteds and still get some offspring that are not fire.
I have a pair that consists of a yellow dalmation female and orange tiger male.
I've got olive, orange, orange tiger, yellow, yellow tiger, tan, grey, grey tiger, and rust colored offspring from them! About 75% had the dalmation spotting of the mother.

So basically...if you breed two similar colored animals together, you will get animals similar in appearance as a result. You will also get many that look nothing like them.

Hope this helps a bit...

[Jacenta]

Thanks Youkai, that does help! I was just concerned that if I bred two different colours together, that perhaps I may not have ANY of the hatchlings look like one of the parents due to dominance of traits. Well, that's kind of a relief, because it'd be pretty fun to see what turns out, like sara said to me in an email already before - "that's the joy of breeding cresteds!"

[Youkai]

It is! You will get offspring that look like the parents if the parents are different colors, but they will be in the minority.

I've got six eggs cooking and the season is just starting. I can hardly wait to see what comes out of those thigns!
I've also got one egg here, already about 6 weeks old, and it's twice the size of the others. It will be interesting to see what comes of that.

[Jacenta]

I'm so hooked on cresteds... as I said before, I've just got one, but I think they're so cute, especially when they sneeze or chirp! I named my little guy Smeagol, haha, like off of Lord of the Rings. It's such a good name for him because he's so awkward looking that it makes him cute.

[Youkai]

They are really, REALLY addicting. I'm hoping to produce a ton of great fires this year, so I can hold a lot back. They're my favorite...
These are three of my girls:

http://uroplatus.net/albums/youkaispics/orange.jpg
http://uroplatus.net/albums/youkaispics/fire6.jpg

same one as above licking her eye here: http://members.shaw.ca/youkai/geckos/firelick.jpg
http://uroplatus.net/albums/youkaispics/fire7.jpg

[Jacenta]

wow, they are so pretty, their vibrant fire colours are phenominal, especially the first two! Do you have pics of your other cresteds?

[Youkai]

The last one is in her 'day' colors, so isn't as bright. She has bright white/yellow instead of orange.

My pictures are all over...slowly moving them into my own webspace. So, you'll find them here if you have lost of time (hehe):
http://uroplatus.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=youkaispics
http://members.shaw.ca/youkai/geckos/
http://community.webshots.com/album/16476518hhilInZSZG
http://community.webshots.com/album/12979314xLVKzzgWMD
http://community.webshots.com/album/16476518hhilInZSZG
http://community.webshots.com/album/22133641TjqNYsjWlp

[Jacenta]

Wow, lots of photos. They're very nice.

[Jacenta]

did you see my pics of Smeagol in the gecko photo gallery? He's on the first page, bottom line...if you're interested.

[Youkai]

Nice little guy! Did he come from Neil Meister?

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by Youkai
So basically...if you breed two similar colored animals together, you will get animals similar in appearance as a result. You will also get many that look nothing like them.

Let's see .... the milkman, ..... the mailman, ..... the cable guy..... :rolleyes: :p

I'm close to my 7th year breeding crested geckos. If I even get half the offspring of any pair to look like the parents, I'm lucky. Even my red and rusty red pair produce all kinds of colours, even olive green kids. The dalmation orange male and buff yellow fire female produced a flaming red baby, no patterns, stripes, flames, just plain red.
It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Like opening Christmas presents, - you know what you asked Santa to bring, but did he listen? :)

[sara]

lol. I've also been breeding cresteds for 7 years, do you still have any of your original cresteds? I started out with 1.1, and they're still my best cricket hunters ;). I'm so attached to them that I would probably give up my right arm before i'd even consider letting them go... (this can't be healthy...lol)

[Youkai]

I thought they were only just redescovered in 1996...they must have cost you guys an arm and a leg at the time! My oldest are just over 4 years now, I think. It almost seems like they haven't stopped growing...

[Youkai]

Or maybe that was 1994...but I'd assume they were still quite pricey a couple years later.

[Dunner]

haha smeagol is friggin cute, i was over playing with him today, first time i held a crested, now i think i might have to get them

[sara]

They were rediscovered in 1993. My best friend's dad is a biologist and they were given to him. He gave them to me for my birthday a few months later. I thought they were really strange and a little funny looking initially, but they grew on me right away. I'm glad I kept them, i've never had such a strong bond with anything. The male even has different vocalizations to let me know what he wants, he's got me so whipped. ;)

[Jacenta]

haha, no, that doesn't sound too healthy sara, but I can understand what you mean. I'm already attatched to my first guy. I'm still excited to get more though, especially for some company for him to have eventually. I pretty much understand now about the colours. I think that's really neat. It gives lots of variety to your stock then, which would be a great thing!

[Jacenta]

Hey Dunner, you'll just have to get some from ME when I have babies! haha, probably won't be for a little while, but you can wait, right?

[Jacenta]

No, I got Smeagol (my name for him, not hers) from Beth Wallbank in B.C.

He came with two females, both fire as well, but one was a stubby-tailed. They were all so much nicer looking than I expected when I received them, but unfortunately, their flight was delayed because of a snow storm from Toronto, so when I opened the box at the airport, both females were dead :( !!!! I was so upset, and my boss didn't seem to understand (she can be a jerk anyway) when I called in and tried to get off from the shift because I had paperwork and phone calls to make pronto for the claim at the airport. Some people can be so insensitive. Anyway, I'm happy with the way Beth handled the situation, but still sad for the two girls.

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by Youkai
Or maybe that was 1994...but I'd assume they were still quite pricey a couple years later.

I seem to recall it being early 90's that they got into the pet trade, but I could be way off there.
All I do know for sure is that mine were priced at $475 each, but since I got 3, there were a 'steal' at $400 for the male, and $425 each for the two females. As it turns out, they were all males (and that's how I found out the hard way about late blooming male cresties). When I did finally get my females a few months later, they were only $400, each or $375 each if I got two.
They've dropped in price, but relatively slowly if you compare to leopard geckos :)

[Dunner]

yeah i can wait for them from you j, i guess....you know how impatient i am though, whe n i want something, i get it right away, i'll have to wait though, all my money is tied up in the pythons for now anyways

[Jacenta]

good. keep yourself occupied with them for now.

[Jacenta]

Hey I got Smeagol to eat considerably more than I've noticed before, tonight!! He ate peach baby food out of a little spoon. I'm pretty proud of that one. I was getting scared that he was starving himself or something. I'd offer food, but couldn't notice any missing before it had to be thrown out. hmm....