Crested geckos are available in different patterns and colors. They include Dalmatian, pinstripe, and harlequin crested geckos and have developed into many others through generations. Breeders keep experimenting and developing new morphs, but their genetics make breeding a specific trait challenging for crested geckos.
Crested geckos do not have true dominant and recessive genes. They have two or more traits present in a single gene. These traits can only be bred into a crested gecko based on the number of traits that the lizard has. This makes the breeding process quite complex.
Here are some of the rarest crested gecko morphs in the world today.
The 8 Rarest Crested Gecko Morphs
1. Moonglow Crested Gecko
The moonglow refers to the solid white crested gecko, which is controversial. Most reptile owners and breeders claim this morph is hard to achieve, while others say it isn’t. For this reason, moon glow has not been accepted as a morph because no breeder has produced a crested gecko that is all white when fired up.
Many breeders, however, still advertise moonglows for sale. Most of the moonglow photographs are unreliable because they have been retouched; hence, you cannot see the actual color of the crested gecko.
2. Cream-On-Cream Crested Gecko
The cream-on-cream morph has been proven to exist, unlike the moonglow morph. This morph features a crested gecko with a solid cream color base and cream-colored markings on its body.
This color is standard on crested geckos with a flaming pattern, but the cream-on-cream is one of the rarest crested gecko morphs.
3. Red Harlequin Pinstripe
The red harlequin pinstripe crested gecko is a rare morph because it was only recently developed. Very few red harlequin crested geckos exist. They range from vivid red to no dark coloration to bi-colors. The bi-color morph has cream and red colors.
The red harlequin pinstripe morph is still relatively new, but it’s still being perfected. These crested geckos have at least 90% pinstriping, but breeders are trying to achieve 100% pinstriping. The red harlequin pinstripe morph is rare and highly sought after by reptile owners and breeders.
4. Red Tiger Crested Gecko
Crested gecko morphs are determined by what they look like when they are fired up. A red tiger crested gecko is rare because it overrides the dark tiger stripe when the lizard is fired up.
However, the red tiger pattern is typical in juvenile gecko lizards, and it becomes less apparent as the crested gecko ages. This is part of why the red tiger crested geckos are rare.
5. Dark Fire Crested Geckos
These crested geckos have a dark brown to black base with a cream-colored flame pattern. Most flame-crested geckos have a red and olive base, so finding one with a dark base is rare. The base color must darken when the crested gecko is fired up to be considered a dark fire morph.
Reptile owners love this morph because of the high contrast between the flame pattern and the base color.
6. Green Flame Crested Gecko
The green flame is controversial in the crested gecko community. Most reptile owners who put their geckos up for sale do not do so when they’re fired up. Unless the crested gecko is fired up, it cannot be considered a particular morph.
Accomplishing a true green is complex since crested geckos lack the suitable pigments that make true greens and blues. The green flame crested geckos have a dark olive color, but few others are pale green. The green flame is rare since it is hard to predict whether a flame-crested gecko will fire up green.
7. Blonde Crested Geckos
These crested geckos have a dark flame patterning, and some may have pinstripes. A blonde crested gecko resembles a harlequin gecko but with a dark base color and light patterning. Some blonde harlequin crested geckos may have a solid cream or white pattern with some markings on their heads.
The light pattern appears as a stripe of color from the tips of the nose, extending to the dorsal scales at the base of its tail.
8. Lavender Crested Gecko
The lavender crested gecko is relatively new and has recently gained popularity. These crested geckos fire up the same way other crested geckos do. When fired up, the lavender crested gecko is often pale grey or another muted color but slightly purple.
Some breeders and crested gecko owners believe that the lavender is not its actual color but a crested gecko that has never been seen firing up to another darker color.
Conclusion
When you decide to own a rare crested gecko, ensure that you purchase it from a breeder with an excellent reputation. Some reptile owners have deceptive photos of crested geckos, and others may take them in low light to manipulate the color of the crested geckos.
Ensure you see the crested geckos in person when they’re in their fired-down and fired-up states before purchasing one.
You may also be interested in:
- Lilly White Crested Gecko
- Types of Crested Geckos: Morphs, Colors, & Traits (With Pictures)
- Flame Crested Gecko
Featured Image Credit: Jeff McGraw, Shutterstock
