Pick up a new pal today, is this a Black Pearl Leo?

[lillith]

Wow, that was quite the kerfuffle.

Somewhere back there someone said that charcoals are basically a dark tangerine. I'm not so sure that's entirely true.

My hypothesis is that there is another polygenetic coloration influence that can be line bred for to increase background melanism on leos. It just so happens to be part of the background color you find in some hypo tangs.

But I'm betting if someone started from some wildcaught lines, with dark individuals, and had 10 years to kill, they could linebreed a dark hypo leo (dark background, less spots) without as much of the tangerine influence being present. This may be what charcoals are, but since I'm not JMG, I can't speak to that. I did notice that on their project page, they have an individual marked as charcoal x tangerine cross.

I personally LOVE dark tangerines, but I'm pretty sure you can have dark without tangerine, just like you can have tangerine without dark.

To the OP, please keep us updated on your darklings color progression, I look forward to seeing more.

 

[sunshinegeckos]

Dark geckos are cool and what I meant by Charcoals just being dark Tangerines is that the ones I have seen have just been dark tangerines. It might well be a polygentic line bred trait that could be done possibly with snows or wild caught specimens. I meant that the one he was showing looked like a dark tangerine which are the only "charcoal" I have ever seen. Sorry I didn't elaborate more.

 

[KelliH]

of course you get to express your opinion but as the owner your opinion will carry more weight with some (especially new people on the site). Everyone is going to have a different answer but I think lowering the risks for new owners is the best bet. Thats is just my opinion.

How is using a heat lamp more of a risk, and what is the risk? I just want to understand your argument.

 

[lillith]

Dark geckos are cool and what I meant by Charcoals just being dark Tangerines is that the ones I have seen have just been dark tangerines. It might well be a polygentic line bred trait that could be done possibly with snows or wild caught specimens. I meant that the one he was showing looked like a dark tangerine which are the only "charcoal" I have ever seen. Sorry I didn't elaborate more.

Don't apologize! My hypothesis is as yet unproven.
I enjoy the fact that they're getting attention at all, charcoals and/or dark tangerines.

 

[lillith]

How is using a heat lamp more of a risk, and what is the risk? I just want to understand your argument.

I don't think she was being specific to heat lamps only, I think she was generalizing husbandry practice mistakes new owners risk making when they get conflicting information from pet stores vs. keepers vs. breeders vs. professionals of 20 years. Those things that would risk the health and safety of a new gecko with a new owner.

 

[sunshinegeckos]

Lillith is correct. She explained what I meant a whole lot better than I could lol

 

[ace bomer]

it is a rescue because petco treats their pets terribly, hats why i got my leo at petsmart

 

[NinjaDuo]

it is a rescue because petco treats their pets terribly, hats why i got my leo at petsmart

Did you "rescue" it? Yes,BUT
Now you gave them more money to make even more geckos to be "rescued"

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Did you "rescue" it? Yes,BUT
Now you gave them more money to make even more geckos to be "rescued"

Yeah that's the sad fact about it, you rescuing them from pet stores only give them more reason to keep doing what they are doing. But personally I don't like to give people a hard time for "rescuing" geckos from pet stores, because I do believe people do so with a good heart and good intentions. It probably sucks to post about rescuing a gecko then get reamed for it. This happens quite often on this forum heh.

But facts are facts, giving stores/people money for poorly cared for geckos will only give them incentive to keep selling poorly cared for geckos.

 

[notacoshells]

When it warms up and still stays that dark, you have a hypermelanistic Normal (with more dark pigment). That's something very nice. Black Pears would probably cost 10,000 bucks or so; PETCO would never have them

Hope it stays/gets healthy for you. Doesn't look too bad! Give it a little time to settle in.

Have fun with your new pet!

Chrissy

yeah looks like a hypermelanistic.
you probably wouldn't find a black pearl at petco or petsmart but sometimes they have some nice morphs like shtcts and patternless even though they are not in good condition.