Harlequin Crested Geckos for sale in the UK
The pale pattern of Harlequin crested geckos runs down their sides and onto their legs, while a Flame keeps most of that pattern on the back. Because coverage varies widely from one animal to the next, the grade is decided by how far the pattern climbs.
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- £50
- 8 for sale
Harlequin crested geckos available now
Harlequin
About the Harlequin gene
The Harlequin is a crested gecko pattern that builds upon the markings of a Flame. While a Flame keeps its pale colour mainly on the back, a Harlequin carries that colour down the sides and onto the limbs. Because keepers pay for that spread, the animal sits higher on the scale that runs up to Extreme Harlequin the more of the flanks and legs it covers.
Appearance
Overlapping oval or blob-shaped markings around the flanks and legs form the pattern, which sits along the lower sides and limbs and spreads upwards from the belly edge towards the back. Because the markings can be white, cream, yellow or orange over a dark, black, brown, red or yellow base, two Harlequins can look very different. The grade of the animal is decided by how far the pattern climbs. The gecko is sold as an Extreme Harlequin once the pattern passes the middle of the side and reaches or joins the dorsal pattern, while the heaviest animals beyond that are called full coverage.
Genetics
Harlequin is a polygenic trait. Because no single gene turns it on, there is no het and no super. Breeders improve the level of pattern by pairing the best-covered animals over successive generations. These animals are listed as Harlequin or Pos Harlequin, and many keepers shorten the name to Harley. It sits between Flame and Extreme Harlequin on the scale. This pattern developed out of Flame and was described in captive animals from around 2000. It became distinct as later generations were refined. It is now treated as a morph of its own.