Black Pearl Leopard Gecko, a New Successful Breed of Leopard Gecko Morphs

If you are looking for the latest unique result of gecko breeding, The Black Pearl gecko seems to be the right one. This is a very special breed emerged as a result of the hard work of Konrad Wlodarczyk and friends who is a leading leopard gecko breeder from Poland, Europe.
Konrad started his so called Black Pearl Project silently with a few friends of his. The black gecko is in contrast with the albino gecko which has been one of the popular geckos on sale. Breeding a totally black gecko seems to be very challenging. This is typical the trait of a true breeder, who always seek and try to breed new morphs. If many breeders try to breed albinos, why not try to breed a black one. This was maybe what Konrad had in his mind.
Black leopard geckos are indeed the rarest morph that has been recently developed. It was in early 2008 when information about a successful breeding of black geckos spread over the leopard gecko community and enthusiasts. In spite of his successful work, Konrad moved to Australia and handed over the rights to further develop this project to The Urban Gecko a well known gecko breeder in Canada owned and operated by Craig and Lori Stewart.
Well, why are black geckos so special? Mainly of course, their totally black color which has never been seen and imagined by leopard gecko lovers. When many of newly breed offspring possess lighter and lighter color combination, this goes to the opposite direction, the creation of a darker version, even an extremely dark gecko.
Starting from its hatched egg, the baby gecko emerged in a totally black color without any pattern. The mature black gecko appears as an extremely black and silky skin. This hyper-melanistic color gives a deep and mystifying beauty that has never been seen before. It is truly an exclusive breed at this moment.
The majority of the Black Pearl babies are born extremely black and during their maturation they become a bit lighter in color which can be mistaken for a Mack Snow but with a difference of its blurry dark gray color pattern. When they become sexually mature their color could change again significantly to a velvet black color.
Another full melanistic breed is the Midnight Blizzard and was the only full melanistic morph in the past. Its melanine pigments appear as a brownish skin rather than black color which is unlike the Black Pearl with its extreme black color.
Since the introduction of the Black Pearl some years ago, many breeders tried to hatch dark melanistic geckos but failed to arrive at satisfactorily results. The reason of failure could be the absence of a gene that can produce such full dark melanistic pigments which should definitely be the trait of a real black leopard gecko. In such successful unique breeding cases, knowledge and experience plays a very important role.

Green Iguana Life Cycle and Characteristics

Green iguanas (Iguana iguana) are a reptile species that is found throughout much of Central and South America and in the Caribbean. This tropical creature does well in hot, humid areas, so it should be no surprise that colonies of iguanas that have descended from escaped pets are actually thriving in parts of Florida, too. The green iguana is one of the most common pet reptiles and also one of the largest reptiles that's commonly kept as a pet.
Appearance of Green Iguanas
The green iguanas are born from eggs, and at the time they hatch they will be about 6-8 inches long. However, within a few years these cute little babies will grow into massive lizards of five to six feet in length. A fully adult iguana weighs an average of fifteen to seventeen pounds.
While juvenile iguanas are typically a bright green color, the name 'green iguana' isn't always an exact fit. They can vary in shade from grayish to emerald green to brown. Their color will depend on their health and mood as well as the temperature and living environment.
You'll notice that adult iguanas have a dewlap, or a flap of skin that hangs down under their chin which is especially noticeable on the males. They have a row of spines running down their neck and back, and also have a third 'eye' known as the parietal eye in the middle of their forehead. The parietal eye is sensitive to light and is associated with the pineal gland. It helps to regulate the iguana's circadian rhythm and also hormone production for thermoregulation. Because of this, it's important that pet iguanas are given periods of light and dark each day, typically 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark.
Green Iguana Habitats
Green iguanas are arboreal lizards, meaning that they prefer to spend their time in the treetops of the jungles where they live. This behavior allows them to bask in the sunshine above the leaves, which is their main method of controlling their body temperature. It also affords them protection from predators, as their body color blends in well with the leaves and shadows. The female iguanas will leave the trees to dig burrows in the ground for laying their eggs. They prefer to live near water and are excellent swimmers. If predators come close, they'll often make a quick escape by diving down into the water and swimming away.
Iguana Development
When iguanas mate, it takes about 65 days until the female is ready to lay her eggs. The number of eggs she'll lay depends on the size of the iguana, but typically there will be from ten to thirty of them. Sometimes, females will share nests, especially in areas where there isn't a lot of space for digging. Females are 'hands-off' mothers, and don't guard their nests, although they will occasionally pop by to visit. The eggs will hatch about 90 days later.

Snow Leopard Gecko - Evolution and Art of Morphing

The Snow leopard gecko is a new morph from the original leopard gecko that we have come to know about. Interestingly, more and more enthusiasts have taken interests and join the move to cultivate other varieties and produce new types. There have been several of these morphed geckos that are out there in the market. And they continue to produce and come up with more interesting and remarkable pieces. So, how did snow leopard gecko came to be? And aside from the snows, how are other morphs of gecko came about?
The history of leopard gecko reveals that during the animal trade in the 1700s, many exotic animals from Asia, Africa and other continents were shipped to the United States. Because there were no international rules and regulations on how these animals were imported and shipped, they were not segregated from each other. Such is the case that most of these animals inadvertently cross-bred resulting to the creation of new morphs. "Morphing" or "morph" is the act of breeding two different or the same breed of geckos in the hope of arriving at a new kind of breed. However, people have seen the opportunity over the idea of gecko morphing that through continuous trial and error, new breeds emerged in the market. These breeds do not only satisfy the visual hunger of gecko-lovers elsewhere. It has intensified interest on how to go about with morphing to get your desired gecko look.
Snow leopard geckos are one of the new morphs that have been introduced in the market today. The snows were line-bred low color geckos, wherein two low-color geckos were bred together. From their babies, the best low-colored babies were selected and so on until they reach a point where the skin achieved the color desired, which is white and black, while the eyes are also black. There will still be taint of yellow on various parts of the white skin. It was in 2004 when a breeder named John Mack made the first successful breed of the snows, thus the reptile gained popularity and had been known as Mack Snow.
The morph was a co-dominant trait. When you breed a white to a colored gecko, it is possible that the half of the offspring will be whites and the other half will be normal. The offspring from this breeding will carry one copy of the snow gene. Furthermore, when you breed two whites together, it is possible that they will have a Super Snow. These types are totally white and black (no yellow pigmentation) and their eyes are jet black. There are other types of morphing that are being done to further promote the different varieties of geckos. From the basic feature of normal geckos, breeders are slowly trying to outdo each other by creating new strands of these lizards for the market.
Snow leopard geckos are results of the evolution from the desert-loving nocturnal creatures from Southern Central Asia to the new and unique breeds of geckos that are being sold in the market today. In the natural world, evolution happens when an organism, trying to cope with the demands of his environment, transforms to something different from its original state. However, in this case, the deliberate morphing being done by breeders to geckos are not because of their inability to cope, but rather superficial and decorative. Regardless of the reason, the deliberate cross breeding to morph present varieties to how we'd like their products to be should be done carefully; elevating the physiology of the new breeds rather than making them suffer in the end.

Buying a Bearded Dragon? Do This Quick Health Check First

Pet sellers would usually say only the good things about the animals they are selling. You cannot expect them to totally reveal the health condition of the animal particularly the negative things. It is your responsibility as a pet buyer to check the animal before purchasing it. It is very important to ensure that what you are getting is a healthy pet, totally free of any illnesses or disease.
For bearded dragons, here are several factors to check to guarantee that a bearded dragon is good and healthy:
1. Check if the size of the animal matches its age. A six week baby dragon should at least be 6 inches over. Do not buy baby dragons that are shorter because this could mean that they are not yet ready to transfer to a new environment. It is better to get a juvenile dragon rather than a hatchling.
2. The bearded dragon's eyes must be clear and open. Their eyes should be wide, alert and very attentive to their surroundings. There should be no forms of excretions or dark circles around the dragon's eyes.
3. The mouth, nose, toes and nails are in good condition. There should be no missing body parts. Examine the animal if it walks normally. The mouth and nose should have no sores or any deformities that could mean that a dragon is sick or have a certain disease. At the back of the dragon's head, check for any depressions since this will tell if the dragon is properly nourished or not.
4. The dragon has ample fat stores at the base of its tail. They say it is possible to determine the over-all health by examining the base of the tail for fat stores. A healthy dragon's tail is usually curled up towards the head. Make sure that there are no tail nips or protruding bones along the tail.
5. Check the skin. Try to touch and pull up the dragon's skin, it should go back into place if it's healthy. There should be no sores, burns or cuts. Their skin will look and feel healthy when they are well hydrated. There should be no patches where the scales have been shed.
6. The bearded dragon should be active and relaxed. If the dragon is sluggish and weary, chances are it is sick or unhappy.

What Is a Vivarium and Why Should I Buy One?

Vivarium is Latin for "place of life", and is an enclosed case for keeping pets or plants for observation or research. They are available in many different sizes, from desk-top variations through to large outdoors constructions.
The main types are Vivarium are:

• Aquarium
• Insectarium
• Paludarium
• Terrarium

An Aquarium simulates a water habitat for plants and organisms, an Insectarium for insects and arachnids, Paludarium which simulates a rain forest or swamp and an Terrarium is for simulating a dry habitat, for instance desert or savannah.
Vivarium's are usually made from a clear material such as plastic or glass and the floor must have sufficient surface area for the species living inside. Access inside the vivarium is needed for the purpose of maintenance, in some cases when the Vivarium contains animals a frontal opening is preferable.
Typical pets which are kept in a Vivarium include Snakes and Spiders, which require warmth from a heating device such as a lamp, heating element, hot places or heating chords.
In warm, humid vivariums ventilation is important for circulating air to preventing the growth of mold and bacteriaby either placing a suction fan or ventilation slits near the base or a fan near the top.
When selecting a Vivarium ensure that you check that it matches all of your needs, weight, size, price, ease of assembly and delivery lead time are all important considerations.

Top Tips of Leopard Gecko Information

If you're looking for an exotic reptile that's quickly growing in popularity, then you've succeeded in your search with the leopard gecko. A mere search for leopard gecko information plainly shows that these lizards are rising fast in desirability among geckos in general.
A primary reason for this type of lizard being so sought after is the fact that it is easy to keep. Being easy to maintain, folks who are just beginning their gecko care experience are more comfortable with them. Moreover, feeling like you can competently handle your gecko is half the battle in having it be an enjoyable process.
Aside from being a low maintenance reptile pet, leopard geckos offer up some of the most exciting and dramatic color patterns available. So your second tip is to shop patiently for the look you want. Leopard gecko breeders have spent years systematically breeding them for precise outcomes. A basic internet search for leopard gecko information as it relates to color or patterns will churn out a remarkable list of descriptions like Rainwater Albino, Patternless, Mack Snow, Tangerine, Carrot-Tail, eclipse, Bell Albino, Red Stripe, and Blizzards. The many variations that are possible, coupled with those yet to be created, make these one of the most aggressively-bred geckos in captivity.
Your third tip will help you plan the size of your habitat. Apart from captivity, leopards in the wild populate the Middle and Far East, including places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. These can become large lizards, measuring up to a foot long when mature. They can weigh around 100 grams as well. These sizes are most typical in captivity when well cared for. They are a fun size when newly born, generally measuring about three inches long and weighing only about 3 grams.
Leopard geckos are terrestrial, land-based reptiles that tend to be nocturnal. Accordingly, you'll generally find them on the ground. However, finding them in the wild is unlikely, as they tend to come out at night. They have the unique ability to store fat in their tail. For this reason, if you notice that your lizard has a fat tail, your fourth tip is that that is actually a sign of health.
Fifth, if you care for them well, your leopard can live for a couple of decades. And improving the quality of care is actually rather easy to do. For one, keep in mind that they will shed their skin, like a snake, on a regular basis. If they live in a more humid environment, this actually helps the shedding event. In addition to moist air, you can actually get a shed box. A second tip is to be sure you have a quality light and heater. A localized heater will allow for a "temperature gradient," meaning you can have warmer and cooler parts of the habitat, so the lizard can help regulate its own temperature.
Sometimes you'll find leopard gecko information warning about the hazards of salmonella. These lizards, like turtles, can carry salmonella, but it's really not difficult to prevent. Simply be sure to wash your hands after handling your gecko. Do the same if you touch the habitat. So, your sixth tip is that basic hygiene should help you avoid any health issues.

Tips for Raising a Baby Iguana

Just like the babies of other pets like puppies, kittens and bunnies, baby iguanas need extra tender loving care to grow strong and healthy. Juvenile and baby iguanas are very fragile at this young age and proper care is needed in order to ensure that they grow into healthy adults.
Like any other baby pet, you'll need to make sure that you meet all the dietary requirements of your pet iguana. It's also important that the juvenile iguana is kept in a habitat that has the necessary requirements for the iguana's health and optimum growth. Without meeting these basic requirements for the iguana's health, it won't grow as well as it should, and could even become sick and die before it reaches adulthood.
Habitat for a Baby Iguana
There are various styles of iguana habitat, from screen to aquariums, and you should pick out which one works best for you. The most important thing will be the accessories you add to the cage.
The most important thing to consider in the cage will be maintaining the temperature. Baby iguanas must stay warm, or they will become sick and possibly die. As reptiles, they're cold blooded creatures and can't maintain their own body temperature. So, it becomes important that you as an owner provide the means for them to stay warm. Use heat lamps to maintain a temperature of 80-85F degrees in the day. You can let the temperature get down to about 70F at night. You'll need to put a thermometer in the cage so that you know the temperature is not too high or too low.
You'll also need to have UV lights on the cage. UVA and UVB rays are of vital importance to a baby iguana's growth. Even better would be allowing your baby iguana to spend some time in the sun - but make sure that the cage doesn't get overheated, and that your little iggy has some shade to move into if he feels too warm.
Other things to consider will be branches or shelves for climbing. Wild iguanas live in the trees, and baby iguanas feel more secure and comfortable when they have plenty of room for climbing. Don't forget to have a place for food, and a shallow dish of water. The water should be big enough that the iguana can get in, but not so deep that it may drown.
Feeding your baby iguana
Iguanas are a vegetarian animal, and as such should never under any circumstances be fed meat or insect products. They need a diet rich in green leafy vegetables to provide the vitamins and calcium they need. They also like grated raw vegetables and little bits of fruit. However, you should be careful with fruit; too much of it and your iguana may develop a sweet tooth and refuse to eat other more healthy foods..
You should find a veterinarian in your area that has experience with reptiles. That will be your best source of information on caring for you iguana. If you provide your baby iguana with the required housing to keep them safe and with a proper diet for growth, you can be assured that your pet will grow into a strong and healthy adult iguana.