Dwarf of dwars turn out "strange"

[Pedersen, Soe]

"Something is wrong in the state of Denmark" Hamlet says. I am not sure, if it is wrong or not, but I have a strange story to tell.
The subspecies afghanicus often called the dwarf leopardgecko usually gives very dark and similar looking babies with no apparent difference, except that there are many "doubleeyes". All babies are smaller than normal leopardgeckoes, but there are quite often dwarfs among them.
A funny thing that we have discovered is that these dwarfs of the "dwarfs" sometimes has an odd colouration as babies and when they grow up, the ground colour becomes very differen`t. A few of these pigmies (about 2% all from F1) has shown a colouration like what amongst the corn snakes is called "motley". They have white bellies and on the sides the coloration is very strict divided from the belly in a clear dark/black line. Dorsal side darker than the others and blotches are grown together showing the lighter areas as blotches in stead. When they grow up, they get very light colored, and the darker areas turns green/reddish. The turn ower in colouration is amazing

What they will look like as adults, is yet unknown, but now where I know what to look for, I will see if more will pop up. So far I have made 3. One was sold, before I found out what is was. One Lotta has got as a present, and the last one stayes here..........at least for now.

Best wishes
Søe

 

[chx*]

Wow, they look so cute. I love the light colored one.

 

[paulnj]

Those are very nice. Feel free to give one to me too

 

[Gregg M]

Nice geckos but I honestly do not see anything out of the ordinary here...

 

[Baker14]

NIce geckos I like the darker one.

 

[Pedersen, Soe]

Hi Gregg

If you breed about 120 - 150 geckoes from a strain, and they all look alike and suddenly a few differs exstremly? Ordinary leopardgecko morphs can differ like that, but these don`t. At least so far they don`t.
Remember these geckoes are not bred from a mix of species/subspecies/colour morphs/variations but from a strain of wild caught animals. In the wild the animals tends to be typical and the ones variating often chosen as the first offer of preying animals. Morphs in the wild are seldom seen in most reptiles, so therefor I find it strange, that they pop up in the F2 generation.
I have considered the chance of being riped off bye the salesman selling something and telling something else. My conclusion is that it is not the case here. There are simply too few differing from the normal ones if that was the case. The fact that it is possible to see these "freaks" from the start is intriging, and I want too follow it further. Especially how big they will be since they are only about 1/10 of the weight of a normal leopardgecko when hatching.

(A dwarf of dwarfs but not one of the "motley" type)

Their final colouration will also be interesting to see.

Maybe nothing special for you to see. For me there is

Best wishes
Søe

 

[SaSobek]

i realy like the afghanicus if you own one you would see that they are very different. and that light hatchling is somthing different. i would like to see how it turns out.

the afghanicus are a very cool sub species that i am very greatful to have they even act alittle differnt they are very calm with each other and they dont stress each other out like some that i have seen.

thank you soe for the pics and the post. some day when they are more avalible in the US people will understand. they are much smaller then normal leopard geckos. and IMO hardier then normal US variety

 

[Pedersen, Soe]

Hehe Thanks Sasobek
I tend to forget, that I am not known ower there, so I get some attacks.
Fine with me. Leopardgeckoes are certainly not my priority, but I did bye some F1 animals of 2 subspecies JUST to establish REAL wc localities into the hobby here. Actually it was my wife that wanted some leopardgeckoes and you know.............her wish is LAW. So they got here, and I had to go to USA twice ( to help Bert Langerwerf with his animals during his cancer treatment) My wife then made terraria for the geckoes and when I came home, they had their own place in our living room. Ok I bred them and I still keep the F1 of montanus and afghanicus, but for me they are actuallly not that interesting. My only wish was that someone here would keep the lines true and continue the work started.
I newer expected a morph turning up amongst the animals, and I am not sure that I really like it

Best wishes
Søe

 

[tangerineman]

interesting

...sounds interesting, i hope you keep us posted on the progression of your findings...

-D