Incubation temp. vs. color production....

[Country Gecko]

Do any of you know if colors other than black (melanin) are reduced with an increase in incubation temp? The reason I ask is...I hatched some Sunglows over the past few weeks and during their incubation, I gradually increased the incubator temp. (from 82 to 87 over a few weeks time).

I have noticed that not only is the darker color (melanin) reduced, but the ones that hatched later and therefore had a longer period of higher temp. incubation had a lighter overall appearance (less orange color too).

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[Mel&Keith]

I've noticed that temperature had more of an affect on our Sunglows from TUG than it did on some of our other Trempers from different breeders. We try to incubate everything at a constant temperature and keep the colors more true. (This is just my opinion) I think that when you manipulate the color you don't know which offspring had the nicest colors genetically so it's harder to selectively breed them. It's kind of a let down to buy a gorgeous gecko and don't get babies that are as good looking because you don't manipulate incubation temperatures.

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

I am working on a theory in the RW's. I believe that the higher incubation temps needed to create males is affecting the pattern. I am having a very difficult time producing a Male RRS that has a great stripe. I have produced many females (over 30) in the last few years. However similar males have been few and far between. I think I have produced less than 10 really nice males. I know that by incubating more eggs for female, I have a better chance to reproduce nice females more so than males but my findings seem to heavily favor the lower temps.

I think that the higher temps cause the melanin to scatter. Making it harder to form pattern. Still just a theory but I will be recording my results from here on out.

 

[Country Gecko]

Thanks Mel and Jeremy.....

Jeremy, best of luck proving your theory as well!!!

Glenn