Co-dominant, Co-recessive color in Cresteds?

dj_honeycuts · 07-16-04, 04:02 AM

As I was handfeeding one of my hatchlings tonight I noticed that it was beginning to exhibit a more and more prominent fire pattern. The thing that is odd about this pattern is that it isn't cream, yellow, orange, or a combination of these colors. The pattern seems to be expressed in a white pigment that, when combined with the base color, comes across as more of a grey. I have a female that is practically fire engine red when she colors up at night, except for a light white fire pattern down her back. It got me thinking tonight about the possibility of a co-dominant/recessive color trait that is associated with the fire pattern itself. The obviously more common and dominant color of the pattern would be the combinations of "color" that are really just variations on yellow. Whereas, the recessive "color" of the pattern could be white. The mother of this gecko is a dark rust tiger, and the father is a partial pinstriped harlequin, so the basis for this gene expression would definitely be possible. The mother also has a fair number of red dalmation spots, so I'm kinda curious to see if this is passed onto her offspring. Has anyone else on here encountered this or have any thoughts on the matter?

I think it is only a matter of time before we crack the code on these polymorphic mysteries. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself!

concept3 · 07-16-04, 04:33 PM

pics? I would love to see it

dj_honeycuts · 07-16-04, 11:20 PM

My computer crashed a few weeks ago and I lost all the pics I had of my adults. I'll see how photogenic they're feeling tonight and try to post some shots of what I'm talking about.

dj_honeycuts · 07-17-04, 04:21 AM

Ok, I took a few pics earlier tonight, but neither of them had assumed their nighttime coloration yet. I think they will still illustrate what I'm talking about.

First is of the hatchling. As the night progresses the rest of the body gets darker, but the fire pattern down the back stays almost like a grey color.

This one is of the red female. This is her daytime color, the pattern looks yellow and she looks like a weird orange, but this will have to illustrate the point until I can catch her later at night. She is usually very red, with a grey white pattern down her back.

Anyone have any thoughts to add to this?

concept3 · 07-17-04, 02:14 PM

I love cresties, those are two beautiful specimens, I love the color on that female, i cant waight to see her night colors, GET ON IT!! lol