Crestless Crested Geckos

[Silly-atus]

Is there a reason why the crestless trait is considered a bad thing? Is it just a visual thing or does it suggest/imply there's something wrong with the gecko?
I know it occurs in the wild, either partially lacking or completely lacking crests. For some reason, I just can't figure out what is so bad about it that it's frowned upon. Could someone fill me in on the details?

I've got a good reason to ask this, I'm now the happy owner of a female crestless gecko (I jokingly call her a baldy).
She was at the show I was at yesterday. When I first saw her, I fell in love immediately. She's got the cutest face and smiled at me, I couldn't resist. I knew I had to have her. Then I noticed the lack of crests and remembered reading a lot about how it's considered a negative trait. I still decided to take her, keep her as a pet only, not in my breeding groups. Or, at least not until I find out for sure if it's really something not to breed for or 'personal preference' thing.

If it's just a personal preference, it would seem to me that it's along the lines of hairless cats and dogs. Some people just can't stand the thought of them, others drool over them. I could easily have a whole collection of crestless cresties.

Another thing I noticed after her lack of crests was that her eyes are different colours. One is an orange-amber colour, the other is dark brown, definitely different, not just lighting effect. I've never seen that in any gecko (as far as I can recall). Any idea if that's a sign of a problem? I assume it's genetic but is it a 'something' or just an oddity?

All things considered, I thought I'd take her and keep her out of the gene pool, enjoy her as a pet. However, the questions she raised make me want to dig deeper, see what it's all about. I have no problems at all keeping her at "Pet Only" status, she isn't the only gecko in my collection with that label. I'm asking more out of curiosity and desire to get to the bottom of it all.

[Powergeckos]

Nice pix and a nice looking crestie.

As I recall, the difference is a matter of location in New Caledonia. In some sections, you find them with crests - others, not. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

Personally - I always scratched my head about that too - all these "Perfect head structure" comments. Sounded a bit snobbish to me.

But - that might be because I have a bean that's pretty round myself.

Now, if I just had some crests.....yeah ****....

[Terri]

She's very cute, and I sincerely hope that her different-colored eyes are not part of a health issue. I recall a while back that someone was breeding for that crestless trait, and I thought "why?" I mean, that's a lot of why the cresties are so neat, those nice crests. I bought a youngster once with minimal crests, but her coloring and pattern was so nice I wasn't too concerned. Recently I had to reduce stock, and I sold her to Wally. She is the one called Shine because she develops a red-foil line down either side of her dorsum. When she fires up, it's amazing! Meanwhile I have always been partial to the extra-large crests, as on my crowned "Pouncer". So to each his own. (But then I also don't get why some people want to cross cresties with what-was-it, aurics or gargoyles or something?)

[Smashtoad]

I see definite crests on the "crestless" gecko. Small, sure, but there is definately a crest there. I'd say the great variation is from all the crossbreeding with chahoua and maybe other species. If you ask me, lots of the ciliatus x chahoua crosses I've seen look a lot like sarasinorum. I believe there is major natural hybridization going on here...

Pouncer is one wicked gecko...never seen him before. Does he pass that trait?

[Dragonflames81]

I'll have to fine some pics of my guys hes has none on his head not even small ones, none of his babies have carried this on.

[Stickytoe]

With any given trait there is usually a wide range of variation....especially in the wild. Crest size is simply one trait that has many variations. It is in the eye of the beholder to pick and choose which traits are 'pleasing' and should be bred for, and which traits are 'not pleasing' and weeded out of the gene pool.

Most people like crested geckos BECAUSE of the beautiful crest structure, so it is sort of a consenses that a large crest is pleasing and therefore should be bred FOR. Whereas crestless geckos should be weeded out of the gene pool.

Like I said though it is in the eye of the beholder, and the responsibility of the breeder to determine which traits are pleasing to her/him. People have different tastes.

_________________
Nicole Chaney
www.stickytoegecko.com

[Terri]

Originally Posted by Smashtoad

Pouncer is one wicked gecko...never seen him before. Does he pass that trait?

Since I just bought him from Randy May at Tinley '05, this past summer was his first breeding season with me and the youngsters don't really develop it right away. Anthony posted some **** pics of Pouncer once, (which I can't lay my mouse on now) and said you'd never had known when he was little what he would later develop.

Pouncer Found! Thanks everyone!

I have some of Pouncers young ones growing up now....stay tuned.

[Huggenkiss]

I have two crestless females. I bought them from someone who posted an "example" photo on Kingsnake before I knew what I was doing. I do like crested geckos for the crests and I probably would not have purchased them if I knew. I did breed them this season and none of thier offspring have lacked crests. Dad also has HUGE crests. Who knows what will show up further down the line though. Part of the fun in breeding these guys! The different colored eyes remind me of one of my gals who had an agressive male and injured her eye while breeding. Your gecko is pretty though, with our without crests.

[Silly-atus]

Thanks for all the input, everyone.

I've got to admit, considering she's just here a few days, she is really calm. I'd be upset for a week or more if I'd been stuffed into a delicup and driven a hundred miles in a day, but she's gotten over it quite well.

Like I said, she's a pet, I've decided not to even consider breeding her, just enjoy her for who she is. She certainly likes the 'new' MRP, she cleaned up a full serving faster than any of the other Rhacs ever have. Looks like she's easy to feed.

[Gecko Ranch]

I have a couple like this, it is like they have a reverse pattern deal going on. Going to have to do some pix! I took them to a show recently and folks had not seen anything like them, thought they were cool.