[Nate Bell]

Hi all, and forgive me for posing such a noob sounding question.

I just picked up a pair of dwarf yellow headed geckos, and the seller at first said they were L. capensis, then backed off and stated that she was not sure which Lygodactylus species they were....

How can you distinguish between the various species of dwarf yellow headed geckos, as several species have the yellow head, blue body, and black markings?

Thanks in advance,

N

ps
regardless, they are beautiful and I love them, so it's really just academic

[hexentanz]

+++ Lygodactylus picturatus +++

Lygodactylus capensis - REPTILES UNIVERSE

more Lygodactylus species - top two pics are of L. c. grotei (aka capensis pakenhami)

Note: Lygodactylus luteupicturatus is simply known only as picturatus for quite sometime. Previously they were described as two different geckos, but were later discovered to be the same.

[Nate Bell]

OK, my new babies are picturatus, then, for sure. They are as charming in personality, alert, active and inquisitive as my williamsi. The female's colors are still muted most of the time, though. I am wondering if it is her still getting adjusted and over the stresses or if she will always be duller than the male's bright colors....

[hexentanz]

Originally Posted by Nate Bell

OK, my new babies are picturatus, then, for sure. They are as charming in personality, alert, active and inquisitive as my williamsi. The female's colors are still muted most of the time, though. I am wondering if it is her still getting adjusted and over the stresses or if she will always be duller than the male's bright colors....

Yeah never expect her to be blue like the male. Only very rarely will the female have blue in her coloring. But mainly they are a nice olive green or muddy color, depending on mood, lighting, etc. Since she is still a baby, it might also be because she is cold.

What is your setup like and what lights are you using?

[Nate Bell]

hmmm...

They are both yelloow and blue, like in the first link the picture that shows 2 mating. She is just duller than the male, but when she was sleeping seemed just as bright.

the set up is an exo-terra 12"x12"x18" with 5.0 UVB coil, temps in the 80's and humidity around 60-70%, heavily planted with lots of vertical and horizontal climbing branches, etc.

She sems shyer, so maybe she will "come out of it" over time

[hexentanz]

Originally Posted by Nate Bell

hmmm...

They are both yelloow and blue, like in the first link the picture that shows 2 mating. She is just duller than the male, but when she was sleeping seemed just as bright.

the set up is an exo-terra 12"x12"x18" with 5.0 UVB coil, temps in the 80's and humidity around 60-70%, heavily planted with lots of vertical and horizontal climbing branches, etc.

She sems shyer, so maybe she will "come out of it" over time

Oh oh I thought you meant the willie baby. My bad. Yeah this is also normal for picturatus females. Mine is mainly varying brown/grey/tan during the day and on some days she is nice and colorful like the male, but mostly at night she is looking like the male. In addition to the 5.0 lamp you do need a 2.0 as well. The 5.0 is not enough lighting by itself for Lygo's. You should get a basking lamp as well. They need a nice warm spot (90-95F) to sit in. Puck lights work well.

[Nate Bell]

I have them set just like my williamsi now, but using domed clamp lights b/c that's what I have on hand. she was looking a little brighter even before I added the extra lights, though. Thank you!