My new juvy henkeli!!!!!

strikedistance

New member
I used to keep and breed henkeli about 5 years ago and this Saturday I picked up my first in a while. A beautiful 4 month old girl from the San Diego Expo!!! She is so beautiful and I will have a male on the way soon. Erik is hooking me up with another great looking boy. Here is my first photo of her. I will get some better ones when she settles in.

Uroplatus henkeli girl :)
DSCN4728.jpg
 

pakinjak

Member
I was thinking male too, but didn't want to be the one to burst your bubble. But since Mike already mentioned it, I will too. Two things for me- the faint dorsal stripe that runs in two separate lines down the head, then turns into one line down the back... that's a male thing. The other thing would be the speckling, it's too large for a female. If that were my animal, I'd think it was a male for sure.
 

pakinjak

Member
Aff. Henkeli are not actually Henkeli at all, they're an undescribed species that has been mistaken for henkeli for a while... just now we know they're actually different. They've also been called "Diego Henkeli" because they're found in the Diego-Suarez area of the island. Check out the Uroplatus Information Center page on them for a little more info- Uroplatus aff. henkeli

There are several keepers who have them on this forum, and Mike is one of them. They may be able to tell you more than I can, I've not kept them.
 

strikedistance

New member
Looking closer at him his pattern does look like a boy...and I got him to open his mouth and there are no dark markings on his tougue...meaning he is U. aff. henkeli He also has those little points behind the ear. Are they considered rare. I haven't heard much about them?? They had a CB non related pair according to the guy and were 4 months old... I don't know what to believe anymore. First I am annoyed I was sold the male and not the female and second it doesn't really even matter because I have a male U. henkeli on the way...
At this point I don't know what to do exept I know he is really cute...
 

pakinjak

Member
Aff. henks and henkeli can produce offspring together, so that's always an option :)

If he never reaches adult size for a henk, then that should confirm it. how large is the gecko now?
 

strikedistance

New member
What would that be considered. Hybrids??? lol I am not in to that. And he is 4.25 to 4.5 inches long. Urggh this sucks lol I hate what things are complicated...
 

pakinjak

Member
I'm not saying you should do it, but that it might already be one. I don't know anything that points to it, but I know it's happened before. I'd hit up Mike or Luis on here, they can give you more info and maybe help you figure out what you have. Affs are awesome, and breed well just like henks, so it's not like you'd be at a disadvantage if that's what you have.
 

pakinjak

Member
I'm not very sure how common they are, just that there are several people her that have them and that they breed readily... for uroplatus anyway.
 

miguel camacho!

New member
Kevin is putting out some good info. Other than obviously being sold something that is not what you got in terms of species, I wouldn't be that disappointed.

As far as I am aware, they are certainly not common in hobbyist collections at this point in time. There are several keepers of this undescribed species active on these forums, myself included. I believe all of these individuals originated from shipments made late 2010/early 2011 (correct me if anyone knows otherwise).

Another diagnostic to determine that you have U. aff henkeli is the yellow tint in the armpits. In young individuals, it is very vivid, even on the zebra striping of the hind limbs. As they grow, it fades, but remains visible in the armpits, which is how I got a hint that this is the species you have. Additionally, the eyes are slightly different from U. henkeli and, in my opinion, have an iris that strongly resembles U. sikorae. U henkeli, as you probably recall, have a pinkish colored iris with a fine vein pattern, which is very different from this species.

As Kevin mentioned, they can be kept successfully as you would keep U. henkeli and breed just as reliably. In terms of their general colors/patterns, they strongly resemble U. henkeli, although I have hatchlings that also slightly resemble U. sikorae. But those species do share a lot in terms of outward appearance, anyway.

If you're still looking for an individual to pair this up with once temperatures start cooling off later in the year, get in touch with me. I've got quite a few hatchlings right now, but I'm holding off on selling anything for now because of the hot summer. I don't know if you want to continue doing business with the person that sold you something that was different from his description...I doubt you want to get another male, a different species, or anything else that is different from what you expect. Tough reminder to support the good guys that know what they're talking about! ;)
 
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strikedistance

New member
Thank you for all your info. I am going to talk with the guy who sold him to me and try to get as much info as possible...I will let you know what happens. But now I have to tell another guy I can't pick up his henkeli boy. And I will always support those in the hobby who know what they are doing!!! Also do you keep cork bark???
 

Suspensefulsteve

New member
The situation you are in definitely isn't a good one. It's most unfortunate that were given misleading information on the animal you purchased. Keep your chin up and hold out until you can pair this snazzy guy with the appropriate female. And by the way Uroplatus aff. henkeli are awesome, and like said earlier, there are quite a few people working with them.
 
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