Hyper-melanistics and Melanistics

[Greyscale_Geckos]

I was just curious on everyone's opinions on melanistic and hyper-melanistic leopard geckos. My main breeding project coming up soon will be a melanistic/hyper-melanistic one, so I was wondering what the demand was like for them.

Edit: Do you think it will make a difference demand-wise for which morph the melanistics and hyper-melanistics came from? For example, some melanistics come from normals, and other from mack snows. I myself want two project groups: one of melanistic and hyper-melanistic normals, and the other of melanistic/hyper-melanistic mack snows. This will not only be for comparison of how they differ in appearance, but also to give a variety of choice to the customers.

Also, what are your personal opinions on melanistics or hyper-melanistics? Do you like them, think there will be a greater demand for them, or have any thoughts on the potential of creating a black leopard gecko? What do you think the market will be like for them?

 

[Ccrashca069]

:main_thumbsup:
I like the melanistics. I have a Male that is at leaste 5 (Clyde). Clyde and Bonnie mated not long ago so I am excited when I get her eggs and they hatch
Bonnie is a Hi-Yellow that is also around 5. Both are 11 inches long and weigh 80 grams.

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

:main_thumbsup:
I like the melanistics. I have a Male that is at leaste 5 (Clyde). Clyde and Bonnie mated not long ago so I am excited when I get her eggs and they hatch
Bonnie is a Hi-Yellow that is also around 5. Both are 11 inches long and weigh 80 grams.

Congratulations! I really can't wait to see how their hatchlings turn out!

 

[paulnj]

are we on the same page... HYPERmelanistic is DARK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanism

I have a cool little project going:main_lipsrsealed: :main_evilgrin:

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

are we on the same page... HYPERmelanistic is DARK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanism

Yes, I mean hypermelanistic. I do mean /dark/ leopard geckos. Hence why I was talking about the development of a black leopard gecko in my original post.

 

[paulnj]

I was asking John Sorry for the confusion Hannah

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

Ah! My mistake!

Care to shed some light on your project?

 

[paulnj]

Ahhh, well one of them is dark patternless for the fun of it(I have alot of longer term project too).

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

Sounds interesting!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I think it's rather ironic that many years ago we had tons of hyper-melanistic leopard geckos, but the trend was moving towards hypos and no one wanted melanistics. So we worked for many years to breed the dark melanistic patterns out of our geckos.

There are many breeders who worked a long time to create a solid black leopard gecko... which I think would be AWESOME! Most breeders working on the project got discouraged and scrapped the projects because there was no market for the offspring.

Now that the world has seen "Blackie", there is a new interest in very dark, hyper-melanistic geckos!!! I would die to have a gecko like this!

Blackie from Artlinks Geckos:

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

It's sad that hyper-melanistics were viewed that way early on. I wonder if that's why a few hyper-melanistics pop up in pet stores.

Where I work we had a male that was very dark, but unfortunately the day I was going to purchase him he sold. I had to keep a smile on my face when I knew deep down I just let what I consider a gem among stones walk out those doors.

Most of those who are working on the project seriously either don't release the offspring or have released "normal" looking ones. That makes it a lot harder to actually stumble across one to add to a project.

Fortunately I've been blessed with a bit of luck when it comes to that.

--

Blackie has to be one of the most gorgeous leos I have ever seen. Every time I see her pictures I'm just stunned. Seriously, once the BVs are released I am so going to purchase one to use for out-crossing in my future generations.

 

[Drexciya]

Here is our Hyper Melanistic, and we just love her. We moved her to a new cage so we can't get any new pics of her for awhile, she's still a little jumpy.

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

She's very pretty! I saw the other photos you posted of her a while back! She looks a lot like the one I nearly bought where I work.

Her little bumps on her back are my favorite. Very interesting coloring.

 

[malt_geckos]

I love the hyper-melanistic geckos and I am bummed that they are really unavailable here.

 

[Drexciya]

Yeah, we got her at a local independent pet store, she was the only one, I thought for a second she might be the same but we're in TX. She's very sweet and loves to hang out with us.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I was lucky to get Clyde. I got her from my best friend Joe's wife Wendy. Wendy is from New York and had an Animal Rescue. When Joe and Wendy got married and she moved from NY to Calif she brought about 6 leopard geckos with her. Joe has a Reptile Rescue and just mixed all the leopards Wendy brought with the ones he already had. Poor Clyde got a bit beat up so Wendy gave me Clyde and Bonnie. His sore he got in the fight healed really good and every shed the hole gets smaller and smaller. Before I ever saw Clyde, I never saw one before.
I was hoping Bonnie and Clyde would mate this year. I am so looking forward to the off-spring When I see more become availible, I will be buying a trio.

 

[yellermelon]

GIMMME

 

[acpart]

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't really like them; they look kind of dirty and dusty to me. I'm really into the light, reduced spotted pastel ones. Luckily for me, a number of my breeders seem to have pastel and reduced pattern genes. It's good, though, that there's enough variety so there's a favorite leo for everyone.

Aliza

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't really like them; they look kind of dirty and dusty to me. I'm really into the light, reduced spotted pastel ones. Luckily for me, a number of my breeders seem to have pastel and reduced pattern genes. It's good, though, that there's enough variety so there's a favorite leo for everyone.

Aliza

It's always good to see people voicing their opinions though! Plus I can totally see where you're coming from.

 

[Drexciya]

I really like the bright orange ones, those are my favorite.