Are you looking for a New Hampshire Crested Gecko For Sale? This is the place to find all of the New Hampshire Crested Gecko Breeders so you can buy local. Below is a list of Crested Gecko Breeders in New Hampshire. If you can't find who you are looking for check out our Crested Geckos Near Me page.
(If you breed crested geckos and are based in New Hampshire please contact us to be added to the list)
"Top 10 Most Expensive Crested Geckos Sold in 2021!"
See a list of the most expensive crested geckos sold by morph in the US.
Are you looking for a Alaska Crested Gecko For Sale? This is the place to find all of the Alaska Crested Gecko Breeders so you can buy local. Below is a list of Crested Gecko Breeders in Alaska. If you can't find who you are looking for check out our Crested Geckos Near Me page.
(If you breed crested geckos and are based in Alaska please contact us to be added to the list)
"Top 10 Most Expensive Crested Geckos Sold in 2021!"
See a list of the most expensive crested geckos sold by morph in the US.
Are you looking for a Hawaii Crested Gecko For Sale? This is the place to find all of the Hawaii Crested Gecko Breeders so you can buy local. Below is a list of Crested Gecko Breeders in Hawaii. If you can't find who you are looking for check out our Crested Geckos Near Me page.
(If you breed crested geckos and are based in Hawaii please contact us to be added to the list)
"Top 10 Most Expensive Crested Geckos Sold in 2021!"
See a list of the most expensive crested geckos sold by morph in the US.
SUMMARY: The crested gecko market has grown over three times its size in the past two decades. Current market trends have identified the crested gecko as the reptile industry leader in market size growth. With a robust average sales price of $353 in the third quarter of 2021, minimal caging requirements, large quantities of offspring, and market trends , an investment into crested geckos is likely to have a big return.
We have scraped the internet looking for crested gecko sales for July, August, and September of 2021. Below is the results of a 100 hours of work and statistical analysis of the data. With this data we have been able to estimate what it costs to buy or sell your favorite crested gecko morph in the 3rd quarter of 2021. This data can be used to help you decide on where to invest your reptile dollars or what to charge
for a crested gecko for sale. We take a deep dive into present and upcoming trends for many specific morphs or traits. What I found most surprising was the difference in sales prices for selling unsexed crested geckos as compared to sexed males or females. Holding an unsexed crested gecko a few extra months until you can determine its sex could result on average in a 29% increase in the sales price.
Sales Prices of Crested Gecko Morphs (July, August, September -2021)
Average Trait/Morph Crested Gecko Sales Price (3rd quarter / 2021)
1
Het Axanthic Unsexed $1,469
2
Lilly White $1,402
3
Super Dalmatian $515
4
Extreme Harlequin $501
5
Tricolor $449
6
Red $416
7
Harlequin $359
8
Pinstripe $347
9
Dalmatian $261
Encouraging Financial Report Released About Crested Geckos
Jose W. Valdez just released in 2021 a great study using Google Trends keywords to identify reptiles that are tending up and those trending down. They looked at peoples search patterns on Google to determine which reptiles were being searched the most. By far, the crested gecko is the fastest trending reptile since 2004. The speculation in that the discovery of genetic mutations like the Lilly White and the Axanthic genes are what catapulted the already loveable Crestie to investable reptile status.
Popularity Increasing
Chart C from Valdez, J.W. Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade. Animals 2021, 11, 676. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030676
‘Looking towards the future of the trade, survey participants believed that blue tongued skinks, tegus, uromastyx lizards, crested geckos, and ball pythons will increase in popularity within the next five to ten years.’Mr. Valdez went on to say, ‘...compared to the other increasingly popular reptiles, by far the most popular of these was the crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus), which has increased in popularity three-fold in the last two decades and was by far the most popular of this group, besides the ball python.’
Extrapolation and Methology Used To Estimate Prices
We collected data from top reptile classifieds, forums, social media groups & posts, and directly from crested gecko breedersfor sale pages on their websites in July, August and September. We took these data points and extrapolated the below estimates for the prices of crested geckos sold in the 3rd quarter of 2021. While these numbers are self-reported, there was thousands of data points available for comparison.
3rd Qtr Crested Gecko Pricing
Average Unsexed Crested Gecko Prices
1
Het Axantic - $1,469
2
Lilly White - $906
3
Extreme Harlequin- $344
4
Super Dalmatian - $288
5
Tricolor - $259
6
Red - $253
7
Pinstripe - $228
8
Harlequin - $211
9
Dalmatian - $153
Average Male Crested Gecko Costs
1
Lilly White - $1,709
2
Super Dalmatian - $631
3
Extreme Harlequin - $528
4
Tricolor - $511
5
Red - $471
6
Harlequin - $364
7
Pinstripe - $347
8
Dalmatian - $290
9
Het Axanthic TBD
Average Female Crested Gecko Pricing
1
Lilly White - $1,591
2
Extreme Harlequin - $633
3
Super Dalmatian - $628
4
Tricolor - $577
5
Red - $524
6
Harlequin - $501
7
Pinstripe - $467
8
Dalmatian - $342
9
Het Axanthic TBD
Be the First to Get theNewest Market Trends & Analysis Report
Sign up below and get investment quality crested gecko market trends and analysis to your inbox every quarter.
The sale of harlequin crested geckos represented 36.12% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $359 and a price range as low as $50 and as much as $1,150.
Harlequins
The harlequin crested gecko is a staple of breeders around the world. This price list includes all crested geckos sold as 'harlequins'. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description extreme harlequin, lilly white, axanthic, or het axanthic. Keep in mind that these harlequin crested geckos may also express a pinstripe or color morph, like a tricolor or red. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced Harlequins on this list.
Price of Unsexed Harlequin Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
Unsexed harlequin Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
40%
$100 - $249
37.5%
$250 - $499
12.5%
$500 - $749
7.5%
$750 - $999
2.5%
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed harlequins average sales price was $211.
2
The median price for unsexed harlequins fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
42.5% of all harlequins sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of all unsexed harlequins purchased were between $750 - $999.
ANALYSIS: I think it is real important to notice that 77.5% of unsexed harlequin crested geckos sell for under $249. The average price of $211 is propped up by the bigger sales prices. The average sales price of those 77.5% of unsexed harlequins was only $123. Everyone is trying to produce extreme harlequins but if you miss, the return is not much.
Price of Male Harlequin Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
male harlequin Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
12.5%
$100 - $249
35%
$250 - $499
30%
$500 - $749
10%
$750 - $999
10%
$1000 - $1499
2.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Male harlequins Average Sales Price was $364.
2
The median price for male harlequins fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
17.5% of all harlequins sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of all male harlequins purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
ANALYSIS: Waiting for an unsexed harlequin to mature into a male could increase the average value an additional $153. To get the big dollars with a harlequin male he will also need to have additional traits be it color or pattern.
Price of Female Harlequin Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
female harlequin Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
5%
$100 - $249
25%
$250 - $499
30%
$500 - $749
15%
$750 - $999
17.5%
$1000 - $1499
7.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Female harlequins average sales price was $501.
2
The median price for female harlequins fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
40% of all harlequins sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of all female harlequins purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
ANALYSIS: It is no surprise that female harlequins cost a lot more than male or unsexed harlequins. Based on the cost of female harlequins, you can could purchase 3 unsexed harlequins for less then one female adult harlequin. It would make more statistical sense to invest in three or four unsexed harlequins and hope that you get two females. Even if you only got 1 out of 3, you would still financially probably be up or even on the investment.
The sale of extremeharlequin crested geckos represented 6.45% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $501 and a price range as low as $80 and as much as $1,350.
Extreme Harlequins
The extreme harlequin crested gecko is rapidly becoming a favorite of hobbyists and breeders alike. The ability to add colors to a high expression crested gecko has skyrocketed the prices for the ones with 'the look'. This price list includes all crested geckos sold as 'extreme harlequins'. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any
cresties that included in their description lilly white, axanthic, or het axanthic. Keep in mind that these extreme harlequin crested geckos may also express a pinstripe or color morph, like a tricolor or red. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced extreme harlequins on this list.
Unsexed extreme harlequins average sales price was $354.
2
The median price for unsexed extreme harlequins fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
37.5% of all extreme harlequins sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of all unsexed extreme harlequins purchased was between $750 - $999.
ANALYSIS: I find it crazy the difference in price between harlequins and extreme harlequins. I guess when you call a crested gecko an extreme harlequin there should be much doubt but I regularly see crested geckos listed as 'harlequins' where I have some doubt if they are even harlequins. This is one morph where selling them unsexed doesn't kill your return, 60% of small unsexed extreme harlequins sold for $250 or more. The extreme harlequin trait is reproducible and it obviously pays to invest in this pattern morph.
Price of Male Extreme Harlequin Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
Male extreme harlequin Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
5.0%
$100 - $249
22.5%
$250 - $499
32.5%
$500 - $749
17.5%
$750 - $999
7.5%
$1000 - $1499
15.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Male extreme harlequins average sales price was $528.
2
The median price for male extreme harlequins fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
27.5% of all extreme harlequins sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of all male extreme harlequins purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
ANALYSIS: I always tell people that if you are going to invest in a crested gecko, start with a top male. I think that is what we are seeing here, the market clearly desires more extreme harlequins then are being produced. If you find a really nice extreme harlequin male, especially if it has some color trait (red, tricolor, tangerines, pinks, black, etc) snatch him up before someone else does. This morph is probably the best seller of all of them.
Female extreme harlequins average sales price was $633.
2
The median price for female extreme harlequins fell in the $500 - $749 range.
3
35.0% of all extreme harlequins sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of all female extreme harlequins purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
ANALYSIS: Here's something to think about... 55.7% of extreme harlequin females sold for over $500 in the 3rd quarter of 2021. So the next time you see a baby female crestie with that creeping pattern, you might want to snatch her up.
Be the First to Get theNewest Market Trends & Analysis Report
Sign up below and get investment quality crested gecko market trends and analysis to your inbox every quarter.
The sale of pinstripe crested geckos represented 9.03% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $347 and a price range as low as $70 and as much as $1,200.
Pinstripes
Who doesn't love a perfect pinstripe with every scale 'OCD'ly' following the next outlining the back of your crestie. Full pinstripes are striking and many people breed specifically for pinstripes. Although, after seeing the price of pins in the 3rd quarter as compared to other morphs, you may think again. Only Dalmatians and Harlequins are a worse investment than pinstripes according to the numbers. This price list includes all crested geckos sold as 'pinstripes'. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description lilly white, axanthic, or het axanthic. Keep in mind that these pinstripe crested geckos may also express a pattern morph, like harlequin or color morph, like a tricolor or red. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced pinstripes on this list.
Price of Unsexed Pinstripe Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
Unsexed Pinstripe Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
$750 - $999
2.5%
$500 - $749
10.0%
$250 - $499
17.5%
$100 - $249
25.0%
Under $99
45.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed pinstripes average sales price was $228.
2
The median price for unsexed pinstripes fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
30.0% of all pinstripes sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of all unsexed pinstripes purchased was between $750 - $999.
ANALYSIS: Of all the pinstripes sold in the 3rd quarter, 70% of unsexed pins were sold for under $250. 45% of pinstripes were sold for under $99 which is crazy because just holding them until they are sexable made the likelihood of getting more money increase almost 100%. Only 10% of pinstripe males were sold for under $99 and 0% of females. If you have unspectacular pinstripes, hold onto them until you can sex them to make over a $100 more on average.
Price of Male Pinstripe Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
Male Pinstripe Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
10.0%
$100 - $249
35.0%
$250 - $499
35.0%
$500 - $749
15.0%
$750 - $999
2.5%
$1000 - $1499
2.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Male pinstripes average sales price was $347.
2
The median price for male pinstripes fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
32.5% of all pinstripes sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of male pinstripes purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
ANALYSIS: I was really surprised by the overall pinstripe numbers. Only 5% of male pinstripes sell for $750 or more, I think this is real telling of the market pivoting towards the extreme harlequins over the more traditional pinstripes. 22.5% of extreme harlequin males sold for over $750 and the average sales price was $178 more than the male pinstripes. Invest accordingly as you look at 2021 purchase opportunities with an eye to your 2022 and 2023 breeders. (My Bias - Almost all of my male breeders are pinstripes, these are not the numbers I was hoping to see.)
Price of Female Pinstripe Crested Geckos (3rd Quarter - 2021)
feMale Pinstripe Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
0.0%
$100 - $249
27.5%
$250 - $499
42.5%
$500 - $749
12.5%
$750 - $999
10.0%
$1000 - $1499
7.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Female pinstripes average sales price was $467.
2
The median price for female pinstripes fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
37.5% of all pinstripes sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of female pinstripes purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
ANALYSIS: I feel like 40% of all female pinstripes selling for $500 or more is a solid number but not as strong as trending more popular morphs or traits. 82.5% of female pins are selling for $250 or more which puts their numbers better in line for the reptile shows target market sweet spot of $250 - $500. Pinstripes are visually striking and appealing, possibly not as strong as others but still a worthwhile morph to include in your catalogue.
The sale of Dalmatian crested geckos represented 7.74% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $261 and a price range as low as $50 and as much as $1,100.
Dalmatians
The Dalmatian market is tough because many breeders are breeding for Super Dalmatians but when you miss you lose 50% of the value. That's right, Dalmatians averaged $261 per sale in the third quarter where as Super Dalmatians averaged $516 each, a whopping $255 difference. And don't get me started with how to determine if you have a Dalmatian or Super Dalmatian, aye caramba! This price list includes all crested geckos sold as 'Dalmatians'. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description super Dalmatian, pinstripe, or harlequin. Keep in mind that these Dalmatian crested geckos may also express, larger or smaller spots and different spot color morphs like the confetti line. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced Dalmatians on this list.
Unsexed dalmatian Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
47.5%
$100 - $249
40.0%
$250 - $499
12.5%
$500 - $749
0.0%
$750 - $999
0.0%
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed Dalmatians average sales price was $153.
2
The median price for unsexed Dalmatians fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
35.0% of all Dalmatians sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of unsexed Dalmatians purchased was between $250 - $499.
SPOT-ON-ANALYSIS: It looks like selling an unsexed Dalmatian crested gecko is almost like giving it away. By far the least expensive of all of the morphs or traits sold in the 3rd quarter of 2021. But, is it as bad as it seems? Not really, there's a lot at play here, first, the Dalmatian trait is notorious for showing up later as the crestie ages. So, an unsexed gecko is going to be younger and with not many spots showing is going to sell for much less than an older one that has had time for their spots to come in, so to speak, and literally. Looking at males and females we see the top 2.5% are similarly priced to the harlequins and pinstripes. But, more importantly, the Super Dalmatian numbers are excellent, so when you hit a good one, they will payoff.
male dalmatian Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
$500 - $749
5.0%
$750 - $999
5.0%
Under $99
22.5%
$100 - $249
27.5%
$250 - $499
40.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Male Dalmatians average sales price was $290.
2
The median price for male Dalmatians fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
32.5% of all Dalmatians sold were sold as Males.
4
The top 2.5% of male Dalmatians purchased was between $750 - $999.
SPOT-ON-ANALYSIS: The desirability of a male Dalmatian is not super high because breeding a male with not a lot of spots to anything doesn't make a lot of sense unless the male is a crazy color, has large ink spots, and/or his spots are colored anything but black (Confetti Line). Looking at these numbers, your take will come down to if you are a 'the cup is' half full or half empty type of person. 50% of of all make cresties sold for under $249. While 50% of all Dalmatian males sold for over $250. For investment purposes, look for large inkspots and spots that are any color but black.
The median price for female Dalmatians fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
32.5% of all Dalmatians sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of female Dalmatians purchased was between $1000 - $1499.
SPOT-ON-ANALYSIS: While the numbers for female Dalmatians are a little higher than for unsexed and male Dal's, they still are pretty low. Consider this, of all the morphs we took data points on, the female Dalmatian has the lowest percentage of sales at 17.5% over $499. In contrast, the extreme harlequin females sold for 55% more on average than a Dalmatian female at $633 each and 65% of extreme harlequins sold for over $499.
Super Dalmatian Crested Gecko Prices - 3rd Quarter - 2021
The sale of Super Dalmatian crested geckos represented 5.16% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $515 and a price range as low as $85 and as much as $2,200.
Super Dalmatians
Super Dalmatians have exploded on the market in price and popularity. It seems like a few years ago you couldn't give a Dalmatian or Super Dalmatian away, now people can't meet the demand. In addition to the standard super Dalmatian covered in black spots we have started to see more and more of the confetti line and ink spot super Dalmatians. These are Dalmatians with red or white spots instead of black ones or spots that are huge that are referred to as inkspots. There is always some questionable super Dalmatians for sale but it seems like the market pays the fair price based on the spots not the listing title. This price list includes all crested geckos sold as 'Super Dalmatians'. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description Dalmatian, pinstripe, or harlequin. Keep in mind that these Super Dalmatian crested geckos may also express, larger or smaller spots and different spot color morphs like the confetti line. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced Super Dalmatians on this list.
unsexed super dalmatian Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
$1500 - $1999
0.0%
$2000 +
0.0%
$750 - $999
2.5%
Under $99
10.0%
$500 - $749
10.0%
$250 - $499
30.0%
$100 - $249
47.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed Super Dalmatians average sales price was $288.
2
The median price for unsexed Super Dalmatians fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
30.0% of all Super Dalmatians sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of unsexed Super Dalmatians purchased was between $750 - $999.
SUPER-SPOT-ON-ANALYSIS: Whether it is a Super Dalmatian or Dalmatian the spots come in as they age and the inkspots and confetti spots need even more time to develop. For these reasons, I think you see unsexed, younger, crested geckos selling for much lower. If you are investing in Super Dalmatians, you should consider a plan that includes space for you to allow them to grow for a year or so to maximize your investment. 57.5% of Unsexed Super Dalmatians sold for under $249, whereas, only 12.5% of males and 5% of females sold for under $249. By growing out the babies to maturity you should see at least a 45% gain in the sales price.
male super dalmatian Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
0.0%
$100 - $249
12.5%
$250 - $499
37.5%
$500 - $749
25.0%
$750 - $999
10.0%
$1000 - $1499
10.0%
$1500 - $1999
2.5%
$2000 +
2.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Male Super Dalmatians average sales price was $631.
2
The median price for male Super Dalmatians fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
47.5% of all Super Dalmatians sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of male Super Dalmatians purchased were for $2000 plus.
SUPER-SPOT-ON-ANALYSIS: Some of the top priced Super Dalmatian males are absolutely insane looking. If you want to breed this morph I'd suggest you find a male super Dalmatian with huge inkspots or a confetti line Dal from somewhere like Altitude Exotics or Fringemorphs. There are many other breeders who have the confetti line but those two seem to consistently produce enough to sell and not just tease you with pics on Instagram.
female super dalmatian Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
Under $99
0.0%
$100 - $249
5.0%
$250 - $499
40.0%
$500 - $749
32.5%
$750 - $999
7.5%
$1000 - $1499
12.5%
$1500 - $1999
2.5%
$2000 +
0%
The Important Numbers
1
Female Super Dalmatians average sales price was $628.
2
The median price for female Super Dalmatians fell in the $500 - $749 range.
3
22.5% of all Super Dalmatians sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of female Super Dalmatians purchased was between $1500 - $1999.
SUPER-SPOT-ON-ANALYSIS: This is the first crested gecko morph we have looked at where the males average sales price ($631) was higher than the females $628. This is an indicator that the true high-end of the male Super Dalmatian market is way under supplied. Which is a testament to how difficult it is to produce an investment quality Super Dalmatian. You may find it even more difficult to get a female Super Dalmatian with only 22.5% of all sold being female. In addition, of those 22.5% of females 45% of them sold were on the lower end of the pricing structure which indicates that they probably weren't Super Dalmatians but overly zealous breeders advertising Dalmatian females as Super Dalmatians. Which means that only about 10% of all the Super Dalmatians on the market were female in the 3rd quarter of 2021. If you are selling a true female Super Dalmatian in the 4th quarter, these numbers suggest the market would pay more than what people have been asking for female Super Dalmatians. If you are buyer, buy quick before the sellers realize the deal they are giving on female Super Dalmatians.
Be the First to Get theNewest Market Trends & Analysis Report
Sign up below and get investment quality crested gecko market trends and analysis to your inbox every quarter.
Red Crested Gecko Prices - 3rd Quarter - 2021
The sale of red crested geckos represented 10.32% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $253 and a price range as low as $70 and as much as $2,000.
Reds
Red crested geckos have been popular for many years, they are impressive, whether you are drawn to red harlequins, phantoms, pinstripes, extreme harlequins or red lilly whites. Keep in mind that the prices of red crested geckos often are as much related to the pattern of the crestie as the color. You may get a little bit more for a red harlequin but you'll get a tremendous bit more for an extreme red harlequin. Also the richness of the red determines the price, as pinks and darker brick reds don't garner as big of a price as the 'true' red crested geckos. This price list includes all crested geckos sold as 'Reds'. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description lilly white, axanthic, or het axanthic. Keep in mind that these Red crested geckos may also express, varying degrees of harlequin, extreme harlequin or pinstripes. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced Reds on this list.
Unsexed Reds Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
20.0%
$100 - $249
50.0%
$250 - $499
17.5%
$500 - $749
10.0%
$750 - $999
2.5%
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
$1500 - $1999
0.0%
$2000 +
0.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed reds average sales price was $253.
2
The median price for unsexed reds fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
45.0% of all reds sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of unsexed reds purchased was between $750 - $999.
ANALYSIS: Unsexed red crested geckos are not going to typically fetch a high price with 70% selling for under $249. But consider this, of those 70% sold for under $249, statistically 1/2 of them should be females. And good percentage (35%) of those red females will sell for over $500. Selling unsexed reds doesn't make a lot of sense because the red doesn't usually come in until at least 20 grams. Buying reds unsexed is a pretty solid investment if you can get lineage on the babies and pick out good pairings. Investing in young unsexed red crested geckos can be a profitable venture if you know what you are looking for.
male Reds Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
5.0%
$100 - $249
27.50%
$250 - $499
40.0%
$500 - $749
15.0%
$750 - $999
5.0%
$1000 - $1499
2.5%
$1500 - $1999
2.5%
$2000 +
2.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Male reds average sales price was $471.
2
The median price for male reds fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
22.5% of all reds sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of male reds purchased were for $2000 plus.
ANALYSIS: 67.5% of male reds were sold for over $250 dollars as compared to 30% of unsexed reds. The red color trait takes time to develop, we've produced amazing reds that didn't start turning red until 25 grams and continued to get redder for a couple of years. When deciding to add reds, tricolors or even extreme harlequins to your breeding program you have to do a cost analysis for keeping these guys and gals until they are at least subadult to find out what you have. Only 25% of male reds sold for over $500 which makes holding on to them for much longer after subadult probably doesn't make much sense. The sweet spot for maximizing the sales prices seems to be to hold onto male reds until they start turning red and then start looking for their forever home. Now if you want to play in the high-end red extreme harlequin or red lilly white market you will want to hold onto these guys a bit longer and let them develop. 12.5% of the investment quality types of red males sold for $750 or more.
female Reds Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
5.0%
$100 - $249
27.5%
$250 - $499
32.5%
$500 - $749
12.5%
$750 - $999
12.5%
$1000 - $1499
5.0%
$1500 - $1999
2.5%
$2000 +
2.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Female reds average sales price was $524.
2
The median price for female reds fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
32.5% of all reds sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of female reds purchased were for $2000 plus.
ANALYSIS: 67.5% of female reds were sold for over $250 dollars which is the same amount of male reds sold, also. The crested gecko red trait is the blue collar of traits, delivering a solid return year after year. I am seeing good quality female reds, like no bull-shit red, being sold for $750 all the way up into the thousands of dollars on the reg. 22.5% of female red crested geckos sold for $750 or more in the 3rd quarter of 2021. If you can buy or produce consistent red crested geckos you will be rewarded by the market. Everybody is looking for nice reds.
The sale of tricolors crested geckos represented 5.16% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $449 and a price range as low as $80 and as much as $2,200.
Tricolors
Tricolors seem to be trending up in popularity, it will be interesting to track this trend over the next couple of years to see if we can quantify the observation with numbers. The tricolor crested gecko has the same challenges as the reds and other color traits, they take a long time to develop their color. This means a breeder must hold onto them much longer than some of the other crested gecko morphs if they want to maximize their investment return. As more breeders produce better looking tricolors I expect the market for these beauties to heat up. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description lilly white, axanthic, or het axanthic. Keep in mind that these tricolor crested geckos may also express, varying degrees of harlequin, extreme harlequin or pinstripes. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced tricolors on this list.
Unsexed tricolors Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
12.5%
$100 - $249
55.0%
$250 - $499
22.5%
$500 - $749
7.5%
$750 - $999
2.5%
$1000 - $1499
0.0%
$1500 - $1999
0.0%
$2000 +
0.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed tricolors average sales price was $259.
2
The median price for unsexed tricolors fell in the $100 - $249 range.
3
35.0% of all tricolors sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of unsexed tricolors purchased was between $750 - $999.
ANALYSIS: While over 67.5% of all unsexed tricolors sell for under $250 may sound alarming. If you are looking to purchase tricolors, this is a great opportunity to buy them when they are young with a reasonable expectation that they will be worth much more as they age. Keep an eye on lineage when buying young tricolors as that is probably the best indication of what you will get in the end.
Male tricolors Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
2.5%
$100 - $249
25.0%
$250 - $499
45.0%
$500 - $749
12.5%
$750 - $999
5.0%
$1000 - $1499
2.5%
$1500 - $1999
5.0%
$2000 +
2.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Male tricolors average sales price was $511.
2
The median price for male tricolors fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
37.5% of all tricolors sold were sold as males.
4
The top 2.5% of male tricolors purchased were for $2000 plus.
ANALYSIS: Tricolor males suffer from the same problem as red males, only 27.5% sold for over $500. I think that the difference here is that it is because of lack of quality that you don't see more expensive tricolor males. The great ones fetch an excellent price but not many people are breeding them and even less are selling them. That being said, the top 10% sold for $1,000 or more in the 3rd quarter of 2021.
feMale tricolors Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
2.5%
$1500 - $1999
2.5%
$2000 +
2.5%
$750 - $999
7.5%
$1000 - $1499
7.5%
$100 - $249
12.5%
$500 - $749
20.0%
$250 - $499
45.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Female tricolors average sales price was $577.
2
The median price for female tricolors fell in the $250 - $499 range.
3
27.5% of all tricolors sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of female tricolors purchased were for $2000 plus.
ANALYSIS: Tricolor females appear to be the perfect reptile show offering. With 45% of them selling in the reptile show sweet target market spot of $250 - $499. Leaving you with another 40% to sell online for $500 or more. IF, you sell them. The market demand for good quality tricolors is extremely high with very little supply. If you can produce investment quality tricolors over the next couple of seasons you could be getting in to this morph at the right time.
Lilly White Crested Gecko Prices - 3rd Quarter - 2021
The sale of lilly white crested geckos represented 7.74% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $1,402 and a price range as low as $400 and as much as $4,000.
Lilly Whites
The lilly white crested gecko is striking with its paper white base color contrasted by whatever crazy colors today's breeders can think up. Some of these lilly whites truly are living art, with the high expression reds, blacks, and tricolors plastered all over Instagram. Arguably, they are the most attractive of all the crested geckos, definitely a must have for any crested gecko lover. The nice thing about this crested gecko is that Lilly Whites are genetic and reproducible as it is a dominant gene. What this means is that statistically every time you breed a lilly white to any normal crested gecko you have a 50/50 chance of getting a lilly white. Which is why lilly whites cost 5K a few years ago and now are averaging under $1,500 each. It seems like the smart advice is to buy breeder lilly whites that are high expression like an extreme harlequin pattern and combo them with your favorite color morph. You can never go wrong with a red or tricolor high expression lilly whites. Males are going to run much more expensive as they can breed those traits into your existing collection. The combination of lilly white to lilly white is fatal to those unfortunate few geckos that actually hatch. No super lilly white has lived more than a few days after birth. The super lilly white looks leucistic but has been found to be 100% lethal. I have to believe that 100's of breeders have tried to produce a viable super lilly but none have succeeded and I'm sure 1000's of super lilly white babies have suffered a horrible death because of it. I understand that at first people may have believed their outcrossed lilly whites may be the ones to produce a super lilly but ALL have failed. The numbers that have tried and failed are staggering, please, don't join that statistic this breeding season. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description axanthic, or het axanthic. Keep in mind that these lilly white crested geckos may also express, varying degrees of harlequin, extreme harlequin, and/or color traits. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced lilly whites on this list.
Unsexed lilly whites Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
0.0%
$100 - $249
0.0%
$3000 +
0.0%
$2000 - $2499
2.5%
$2500 - $2999
2.5%
$1500 - $1999
5.0%
$250 - $499
12.5%
$750 - $999
15.0%
$1000 - $1499
20.0%
$500 - $749
42.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed lilly whites average sales price was $906.
2
The median price for Unsexed lilly whites fell in the $500 - $749 range.
3
50% of all lilly whites sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of Unsexed lilly whitespurchased was between $2,500 - $2,999.
ANALYSIS: If you are looking to get a deal on a lilly white consider buying a young unsexed one. 55% of all unsexed lilly whites sell for under $750. Hold onto that lilly white and grow it out for breeding for resale with 90% of males selling for over $750 and 85% of females. Unlike most morphs, the male lilly whites are more valuable so keep an eye out on the unsexed market to luck into a top quality male.
male lilly whites Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
0.0%
$100 - $249
0.0%
$250 - $499
0.0%
$2000 - $2499
5.0%
$3000 +
7.5%
$500 - $749
10.0%
$750 - $999
12.5%
$2500 - $2999
15.0%
$1000 - $1499
17.5%
$1500 - $1999
32.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Male lilly whites average sales price was $1,709.
2
The median price for Male lilly whites fell in the $1500 - $1999 range.
3
22.5% of all lilly whites sold were sold as Males.
4
The top 2.5% of Male lilly whitespurchased were for $3,000 plus.
ANALYSIS: Full disclosure, I struggled with finding enough meaningful data for male and female lilly whites. These numbers in some places seem accurate and in other a bit questionable. As we do more of these reports these numbers should either self correct or prove to be accurate. I don't want to make any analysis based on this limited data until more male and female lilly whites are sold. However, one thing is clear, male lilly whites typically sell for more than female lilly whites.
female lilly whites Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
0.0%
$100 - $249
0.0%
$250 - $499
0.0%
$3000 +
5.0%
$750 - $999
7.5%
$2500 - $2999
7.5%
$2000 - $2499
12.5%
$500 - $749
15.0%
$1000 - $1499
25.0%
$1500 - $1999
27.5%
The Important Numbers
1
Female lilly whites average sales price was $1,402.
2
The median price for female lilly whites fell in the $1500 - $1999 range.
3
27.5% of all lilly whites sold were sold as females.
4
The top 2.5% of female lilly whitespurchased were for $3,000 plus.
ANALYSIS: Full disclosure, I struggled with finding enough meaningful data for male and female lilly whites. These numbers in some places seem accurate and in other a bit questionable. As we do more of these reports these numbers should either self correct or prove to be accurate. I don't want to make any analysis based on this limited data until more male and female lilly whites are sold.
The sale of unsexed 100% het axanthic crested geckos represented 57.14% of all crested geckos sold in the third quarter of 2021. Collectively they had an average sales price of $1,469 and a price range as low as $750 and as much as $2,400.
Het Axanthics / Axanthics
Everyone wants an axanthic crested gecko. At this time axanthics are the only universally accepted simple recessive mutation in crested geckos. There are some promising others that we hope prove out over the next few years but right now, axanthic crested geckos are king. They are also super expensive and very little data about how much they have sold for is available. However, unsexed 100% het axanthics are regularly popping up for sale across the internet. Just to be clear, 100% het axanthics are NON-VISUAL normal looking crested geckos. They carry the simple recessive gene of axanthic which then can be passed down to their offspring. We've put together some numbers that will give us a good baseline to start. To make sure the prices were accurate we excluded any cresties that included in their description lilly white, axanthic, or possible het axanthic. Keep in mind that these 100% het axanthic crested geckos may also express, varying degrees of harlequin, extreme harlequin or pinstripes along with darker colors or lighter colors. Those traits would also increase the price and explain the highest priced het axanthics on this list.
unsexed het axanthic Sales Price
% Sold at Sales price
$99 & under
0.0%
$100 - $249
0.0%
$250 - $499
0.0%
$500 - $749
0.0%
$750 - $999
15.0%
$1000 - $1499
45.0%
$1500 - $1999
25.0%
$2000 - $2499
15.0%
$2500 - $2999
0.0%
$3000 +
0.0%
The Important Numbers
1
Unsexed het axanthics average sales price was $1,402.
2
The median price for unsexed het axanthics fell in the $1000 - $1499 range.
3
57.1% of all het axanthics sold were sold as unsexed.
4
The top 2.5% of unsexed het axanthics purchases was between $2,000 - $2,499.
ANALYSIS: I spent a lot of time looking at 100% het axanthics for sale, possible het axanthics for sale and axanthics for sale. The one thing that is almost completely absent for sale are females. If you can find a female, het, possible het or visual, snatch her up because no hardly anyone is selling them.
Male and Female 100% Het Axanthics & All Visual Axanthics
ANALYSIS: Full disclosure, I struggled with finding enough meaningful data for male and female het axanthics and all axanthics. There is so little data out there I couldn't even accurately speculate on pricing. There isn't that many people producing or selling them for me to extrapolate what little data we have available.
Intent, Purpose and Disclaimer
Crested Geckos are one of the top five most popular reptiles in the United States. Due to the large number of professional and hobbyist breeders, there are multiple data points that can be gathered to help determine the value of crested geckos by morph or mutation. This report gathers data from publicly available information on websites, social media, forums and private sales to compile these analyses. This report in no way should be considered an accurate depiction of the crested gecko market nor should be relied upon to make any investment, financial, or purchasing decisions. The data points we rely upon are all self-reported valuations and could easily be manipulated to reflect higher selling points than actually sold. We make no attempt to verify the reported sales prices. With that being said, we cannot think of a good reason that an entire industry would manipulate their sales prices as a collective. Our experience with the reptile industry leaves us doubting the industry could ever agree upon anything, let alone such a large and unreported manipulation of sales figures. But, who knows, you can agree or disagree with the numbers within, they are solely my opinion based on my research. Contact me with any constructive ideas to improve the report.
Be the First to Get theNewest Market Trends & Analysis Report
Sign up below and get investment quality crested gecko market trends and analysis to your inbox every quarter.
3rd Quarter (July, August, September) - 2021 Crested Gecko Industry Sales in the US
Many of these numbers are starting data points that will be tracked quarterly to help identify trends in the cost changes of different crested gecko morphs. The 2021 4th quarter crested gecko industry financial report will depict gains and losses plus the percentage changes between the quarters.
Reports Relied Upon To Estimate Annual Revenue
All reports hyperlinked in orange. It is difficult to find a group that tracks reptile industry estimated revenue by reptile. In fact, it is difficult to find many estimates for the reptile industry at all. When you compare the findings in this report to the reptile industry available numbers over the past 20 years, it feels like these numbers are accurate. We found a report estimating that the reptile industry spent 495 million on supplies, alone in 2019. It is also estimated that 33% of all purchases are for food. The Business Wire estimates that reptile products sales will increase to 650 million a year by 2024. However, multiple assumptions had to be made without much information to base them upon to estimate crested gecko revenues.
Distribution - Copy Right - Legal
This report was produced for the benefit of all parties interested and involved in the reptile industry but its contents are for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed reflect our analysis as of September 30, 2021, unless noted otherwise, and are subject to change. The information is from sources that are self-reporting absent an audit so we make no warranty of its accuracy. I offer this report to anyone free of charge. However, its contents are property of Tenny’s Crested Geckos except where third party data has been cited. You may freely use this document so long as you credit this article with a link to this URL.
I have been breeding reptiles off and on for the past 15 years and have found it extremely rewarding and even financially profitable.
Like many of you, the problem I faced was a loving, supportive wife who would regularly ask, 'How many reptiles do you have now?'
She knows that I love reptiles and didn't want to take away the experience; she didn't want them to take over the house.
This led me to sneak in an extra crested gecko here and there and give a really vague answer to that question I knew was coming… 'How many reptiles do you have now?'
It gave me some anxiety. I didn't want to mislead or lie to my wife. When she tried to pin down a number, and I answered about 15, I knew the number was about 17 or 19 reptiles off the actual number of 32-34!
I know to some degree, many of you face this same dilemma with your partner, spouse, parents, roommates, or possibly a Landlord.
Apply Legal Strategies
I spent 15 years practicing law, and even though I'm a recovering attorney, taking it one day at a time, some of the legal strategies we commonly apply in the courtroom can be used here.
Prepare For All Objections
The number one strategy you must first implore is to remove or address as many of your partner's objections to you starting a reptile business in the house.
The Smell
The first and most common complaint is the smell from reptiles, dirty tubs, substrates, feeders, and everything else living in your tanks.
Look, this is a legitimate complaint. You can do everything right, and sometimes your reptiles will smell for whatever reason.
This can't happen. You have to commit to keeping the reptile's cages pristine clean, and smell-free, regardless of if you just changed the cage 10 minutes ago.
We had a beautiful Albino T- blood python that would poop and pee like once a month, and when he did, it would fill his cage.
We kept them in these 6-foot vision cages, and it was very time-consuming to get one clean.
One time I guess he only had done half his business because not 10 minutes after I'd thoroughly cleaned his cage, he released the other half… that was a tough two hours, but these are the types of commitments that will allow you to start a reptile business from home.
Today, we mainly focus on geckos and have found that there are virtually no smells coming from the spare bedroom by cleaning their cages every ten days.
You will need to figure out a regular cleaning schedule and stick to it.
If you can't, you probably shouldn't be increasing the number of reptiles and investing more money into your hobby.
Standard Sample Weekly Reptile Cleaning Schedule
If you want to have a reptile business, you have to do all the things that a business would do, which means that sometimes your job sucks, and one of the suckiest parts about a reptile business is the cleaning and washing of stuff.
It never ends. If you feed them, they reward you by growing and pooping everywhere. If you don't feed them, they die. There's just no way around it; 2/3rds of your time will be spent feeding and cleaning, at least in the beginning.
Embrace it, so the roadblock that is holding up your dreams will support you completely. Let's face it; they have a lot of legitimate reasons to be against you starting a reptile business if you can't keep what you have clean and tidy—just saying.
There may be other good reasons for the roadblock to object to you taking over the spare room. Maybe you have discussed having a child and giving them that room. I'd argue that the reptiles are a trial run to see if you can handle the responsibility of a child.
MOther - in - Law
Or maybe your mother-in-law likes to show up a week every month and use the spare room? Chances are your partner is regretting this situation, too, and may jump at the excellent opportunity for you to start a business, and sorry, Mom, we need that spare room. It would be best if you were prepared for every eventuality and possible complaint.
You can even get hints of those objections by saying things like, 'This spare room just sits here empty. Do you have any ideas on how we could use it to make us some money?'
They may know what you are hinting at and immediately start the objections. Take note, don't argue, file all of them away and start strategizing how to defeat each objection they may have.
Use Jedi Mind Trick
The second strategy you will want to use when attempting to convince someone to agree to something that they usually wouldn't agree to is to convince them that they are winning, or at the least, there is something in it for them.
If you think this kind of sounds like a Jedi mind trick or possibly something involving bribery, you are correct!
Imagine walking in the front door carrying a couple of Reptile Express and Reptiles2You boxes, and you see your loved one start to say something about 'more reptiles'...
And you say, 'These aren't the reptiles you are looking for,' while you clumsily waive your hand out in front of you.
Then you calmly exit stage right, and they never mention it again.
That, my friends, is my life!!!!
Here's how I did it.
Clean, Tidy, and Smell Free Reptile Room
Convince them they are Winning or openly Bribe them
Many of you should be able to sit your roadblock down and explain how you can add additional money to the household by breeding reptiles on the side with some well-thought-out mathematics.
In 2021, it was estimated that the reptile industry collectively accounted for 2 billion dollars in revenue in the United States alone.
So, yes, that doesn't include South Korea, the country that buys up all of the best reptiles.
Reptiles Can Be Very Profitable
If you run your reptile business like a business, there is no reason why you shouldn't be profitable within two to three years if you start from year zero with nothing.
But, most of you have a whole menagerie of reptiles and may only need a small investment to ramp up your hobby to a business. If that is the case, you could be profitable this year.
I only caution that you don't Enron the numbers (cook the books, inflate the numbers, possibly mislead the roadblock) because the roadblock is only going to trust you if you give them reason too.
Let's face it, telling someone that isn't in the reptile hobby that you could make 10's of thousands of dollars next year if you can take over the spare bedroom sounds a lot like [insert your favorite word here] (BS, bull shit, kaka, poop, lies, untrue, you may be unbalanced, or any other synonym).
Now, I'll be honest. I don't care if you drop down a 25-page business plan. They probably aren't going to believe much of it and aren't going to be generous and say, 'Show me, prove it.'
They are just going to thank you for your efforts and they may politely say, 'Fuck No!'
When this happens, all is not lost… this is what happened to me. My wife didn't care how much money the reptiles brought in.
My wife and I are both business professionals with graduate degrees. We live a comfortable life.
What Does Your Roadblock Desperately Want?
So she didn't care if we made a couple of extra racks a year... until she was told how that money would benefit her.
Every person has a weakness for something, maybe its travel, clothes, the day spa, vintage somethings, whatever.
My point is that you need to know what your roadblock loves but, for whatever reason, can't afford or choose not to spend their money on it.
"Top 10 Most Expensive Crested Geckos Sold in 2021!"
See a list of the most expensive crested geckos sold by morph in the US.
That, my friends, is your golden goose. Figure out what that is, and then offer a percentage of your profits to be used to purchase that luxury for the roadblock.
Results
In my case, my wife has a soft spot for luxury handbags. Do you know those outrageous purses that cost thousands of dollars? Yep, she is also a very practical person, and while she could afford to buy more than she already has, she does not because they are super expensive and completely impractical.
But, so is having hundreds of reptiles in your spare bedroom… right? I think you see where we're going with this. My wife now tells her friends she breeds geckos to pay for her luxury handbags.
She even screenshots the best-looking ones and shows her friends pictures of them, most of which she could even tell you their name.
Truth be told, her involvement in the care or breeding of the geckos is minimal, and that is probably being generous. But her excitement when we have beautiful new babies and, more importantly, sell them is real.
I have even gotten her engaged in discussing why we NEED to reinvest all of the money into newer and better reptiles (less her handbag cut). Talk about smoke and mirrors!
In Conclusion
My wife supports our reptile business and even supports us buying more and more expensive geckos. Yes, there is a cost, but that is to be expected when you take over the spare bedroom.
When my wife asks, 'How many reptiles do you have now?' She isn't asking because she is upset with the additions. She is doing the math on how many luxury handbags they could potentially bring her in the coming years.
And that is how I convinced my wife to let us start a reptile business in the spare bedroom of our house.
Want to see a list of the best crested gecko breeders?
We love red crested geckos. So much so that we’ve dedicated most of our breeding plans to producing only red crested geckos.
Crested geckos come in a variety of colors and patterns and through line breeding you can enhance these colors and patterns.
It is very common for reptile breeders to focus on improving a particular trait within a reptile species. Our focus is on producing the reddest crested geckos possible.
Cherry Bomb - Red Phantom Bicolor Female Crested Gecko
The easiest way to do this is for us to breed the reddest crested geckos to the reddest crested geckos. But first you have to acquire red crested geckos.
Buy Top Quality Ready To Breed (RTB) Red Crested Geckos
Top quality adult red crested geckos cost a lot of money. A top male red breeder can cost anywhere from $750 - $1,500 depending on color, pattern and most importantly, lineage (what their parents and grandparents looked like). And a top breeder quality red female can sell for $1,500 - $2,500, of course, you can find ‘B’ quality red females for $750 - $1,250.
Secret Sauce - Red Extreme Harlequin Crested Gecko Female
The other problem is finding top quality red breeders for sale, everyone is looking for one, so when they become available they usually sell quickly.
This leaves you with two other options.
"Top 10 Most Expensive Crested Geckos Sold in 2021!"
See a list of the most expensive crested geckos sold by morph in the US.
Buy Reddish Crested Geckos With Good Lineage (Red Parents)
The first option is to buy kind of reddish breeders for less and hope that these 'kind of red breeders' produce you real red baby cresties. This route can be effective and a lot less expensive, if you can find kind of reddish breeders who have a good red lineage.
From Top To Bottom: Ruby - Red Lilly White, Secret Sauce - Red Extreme Harlequin, Cherry Bomb - Red Phantom Bicolor
This means that the sire/dam (parents) of your breeders are/were good solid red crested geckos. Presently our top red crested gecko is Cherry Bomb and her sire/father is Kamikaze.
He is a real interesting breeder because he has a nice white wall and a full cream dorsal stripe but his color is better described as brick red with orange highlights. I guess you could call him ‘reddish’.
Kamikaze - Father of the Cherry Bomb Line - Red Extreme Harlequin White Wall Crested Gecko
But his parents are both solid red harlequins and his red harlequin grandmother, Baharat, can be found in the lineage of many of the top red breeders across the US.
Baharat Granddam to Kamikaze. Photo credit to Gecko Haven.
Larceny Sire to Kamikaze. Photo credit to Gecko Haven.
Margaux Dam to Kamikaze. Photo credit to Gecko Haven.
What is cool about Kamikaze is that he produces quality red crested geckos no matter who we breed him too. But, we got lucky, at first glance, he probably isn’t a crested gecko you’d imagine building a red program around.
Buy Baby Crested Geckos Before They Have Turned Red
The difficult thing about breeding for red crested geckos is that many of your best reds don’t turn red until they are close to adult size. This can mean that you have to hold onto your babies until they are 12 - 18 months to see how red they will actually be.
For some reason the red doesn’t usually start developing and showing until 15 - 20 grams. Up and until that point they will usually just look like a light colored brown which is also what most brown crested geckos look like at that age.
So how do you pick out a baby crested gecko that is probably going to be red when it grows up?
Devil Spawn at 10 grams - Future Red Extreme Harlequin Crested Gecko (see below)
Research, a lot of research into their lineage and the offspring of the crested geckos. We make this easy at Tenny’s Crested Geckos because we have an entire page dedicated to each of our breeders that includes their lineage and pictures of their offspring.
Usually, this isn’t available and breeders are reticent (reluctant) to put together this information for you. So you have to dig around on their websites, instagram posts and Facebook posts to find pictures of parents and offspring.
Sometimes, the lineage takes you to other breeders websites, instagrams and Facebook pages. It can be exhausting to research the lineage of the baby you wish to buy.
This is why breeders who track lineage and provide pictures of lineage usually charge more for those babies. First, because they are able to show a possible projection of what that baby will look like in 12 months. Second, it saves you a ton of time having to do all the detective work to figure out the lineage of the baby.
If you are looking to get red crested geckos, I would suggest you only buy babies that have a proven lineage of producing red crested geckos.
Devil Spawn at 40 grams - Red Extreme Harlequin Crested Gecko
I would not purchase a young crested gecko without its parents and grandparents having a solid red track record. If the seller doesn't know the lineage of the baby gecko, I would recommend that you keep looking based on many experiences of being disappointed.
We have built up one of the top red crested gecko breeding programs in the country in only a few years by properly projecting brownish baby crested geckos who would ultimately turn red as adults.
Devil Spawn Progression - The difference between 10 grams and 40 grams
The strategy is pretty straight forward, we are constantly looking for crested geckos with a nice pattern and lineage with a strong history of red. We purchase multiples of these babies each year for much less than an adult breeder and grow them up.
The ones that turn red we keep and the others that don’t we sell to people who like nicely patterned brown or dark crested geckos.
Buy Powerhouse Top Quality Red Male Crested Geckos
We usually try and only purchase female baby crested geckos that are projected to be good quality reds when they mature.
This is because most reptile breeders search far and wide looking for the best looking males to breed to their females. It makes sense, a mature male crested gecko can breed multiple females throughout the year. While a female can only breed to one male a season and produce a limited number of eggs.
By investing the most money into a top quality red male crested gecko you are giving your program a much better chance of having successful red babies one day. If you are looking for an investment quality red male, check out our Cherry Bomb Line of male red crested geckos on our for sale page.
Rogue - Our Powerhouse Red Lilly White Stud Male Breeder
The most popular and most expensive red crested geckos are the red extreme harlequins and the super reduced patterned red lilly whites. For that reason we invested a ton of money, $2,400, in Rogue, our extremely reduced red lilly white male.
We bought Rogue when he was only 9 grams as he already had the look of an A+ breeder. In a lot of cases you won’t be sure until they get a bit bigger but the price will also go up as they mature and are closer to bein the STAR in a red breeding program.
If your intended red breeder male isn’t the best looking or a close second to the best looking red crested gecko in your collection, you need to start looking for a new male.
All of TCG’s red crested gecko breeder males are either incredibly red or have lineage and offspring to secure their spot in our program.
Make sure you invest into a top quality red male that you can be proud of and everyone else can be envious of.
So if you want to get into the red game look for crested geckos that have a proven red lineage regardless of their age.
Breed the best reds to the best reds and grow them all up to almost adult size to see how their red will develop.
Contact us via email, Facebook messenger, or Instagram DMs if you’d like to discuss putting together a red program with some of our available Cherry Bomb Line crested geckos.
For years hobbyists wondered why certain crested geckos hatched as oddball patternless or bi-color animals. Many breeders avoided pairing reds together because they feared producing “phantoms,” an unwanted morph that looked plain and lacked the bold contrast of more marketable geckos. The genetics behind this were poorly understood until just the last several years, when serious breeding projects finally confirmed that the phantom trait is recessive.
That single revelation reshaped how keepers view the morph. Phantoms went from being an afterthought to one of the most intriguing genetic tools in modern crested gecko projects. Today, the phantom gene is prized for its ability to intensify melanin, suppress patterns, and create striking combos like Phantom Lily Whites.
Red Phantom Lilly White by Tenny's Crested Geckos
What Is the Phantom Trait?
The phantom trait is a recessive genetic mutation in crested geckos. A recessive trait requires two copies of the gene (homozygous) to be expressed visually. If a gecko only has one copy (heterozygous, or “het”), it will look like a normal animal but silently carry the gene, capable of passing it on to offspring.
When expressed, phantoms typically show:
Darker body coloration with an increase in melanin.
Reduced or “washed out” white markings compared to normal morphs.
Patterns that appear muted, almost as though someone turned down the brightness on the gecko.
Unlike incomplete dominant or polygenic traits, recessives can completely skip visible detection for generations. This is why the phantom gene caused so much confusion in the community.
How the Phantom Trait Is Inherited
Breeding phantoms follows the rules of simple Mendelian inheritance.
Het × Het: 25% phantom, 50% het, 25% normal (non-carriers).
Phantom × Normal (non-carrier): 100% het offspring, no visible phantoms.
This is why many phantom genes were hidden in lineages for years. A gecko could look completely ordinary but still be a carrier. Breeding two such “ordinary” animals could suddenly produce phantom babies, leading to confusion before the recessive nature was confirmed.
Cherry Bomb - Red Phantom Crested Gecko by Tenny's Crested Geckos
Why Reds Were Suspect
For years, keepers noticed that “red” crested geckos seemed to produce phantom offspring more often than other pairings. This likely occurred because many red lines happened to carry the gene heterozygously. Breeders sometimes avoided red × red pairings entirely to minimize the risk of producing too many phantoms, which were less desirable at the time.
Today, with phantoms being actively sought out, this stigma has shifted. Red phantoms can actually be some of the most striking examples.
Shifting Popularity of Phantoms
Phantoms were once regarded as “undesirable,” even selling for less than common harlequins. That perception changed dramatically once their genetics were better understood and when breeders began using them to create combo morphs.
Phantom Lilly White Crested Gecko by Tenny's Crested Geckos
Phantom Lily Whites
One of the most popular combinations today is Phantom × Lily White. Because Lily White is co-dominant, the resulting Phantom Lily White is a dark, high-contrast animal with strikingly unique patterns.
Phantom Axanthics
Crossing phantoms into axanthic lines intensifies their grayscale look, producing nearly monochrome animals with ghostly appearances.
Phantom Tigers, Stripes, and Pinstripes
Because the phantom gene reduces white, pairing it with line-bred traits like tiger or pinstripe can yield subtle yet powerful effects, muted stripes that stand out differently than their non-phantom counterparts.
Track Lineages Carefully. If one parent is phantom, all offspring should be sold as “hets” if they are not visually phantom.
Label Hets Properly. One of the biggest frustrations in the market is sellers not labeling phantom carriers correctly. This leads to misunderstandings for new breeders.
Plan Pairings for the Long Game. Producing phantoms requires pairing carriers, so often the first generation is just a “step” toward building phantom projects.
Top to Bottom: Red Lilly White, Red Extreme Harlequin and Red Phantom Crested Gecko
Market Pricing and Trends
Historically, phantom crested geckos were some of the cheapest on the market, often selling for as little as $150–$225 in the early 2020s. Because they were perceived as “patternless” or less flashy, demand was limited.
Once breeders proved the recessive nature of the gene and began producing high-end combos, the market shifted. By 2023–2024:
Standard phantoms often sold in the $200–$400 range.
Phantom Lily Whites could reach $600–$1,200 depending on color and structure.
Rare phantom combos (Phantom Axanthic, Phantom Super Stripe, etc.) fetched over $1,000.
Today in 2025, phantoms are firmly established as a desirable morph, especially when paired with other proven genetic traits.
What is a Phantom Crested Gecko?
Common Misconceptions
“Phantoms are just ugly harlequins.” False. The phantom trait is a distinct, proven genetic mutation, not a low-quality morph.
“You can’t prove a gecko is het for phantom.” You can, by knowing its lineage. While the animal itself won’t show it visually, if it comes from a phantom parent, it is guaranteed to be a carrier.
“Phantoms ruin projects.” On the contrary, phantoms enhance many projects by introducing dark tones and suppressing excessive white.
Why the Phantom Gene Matters
The confirmation of phantom as a recessive trait was a major turning point in crested gecko breeding. It showed that the species has more complex genetics than previously assumed and opened doors for future discoveries.
Phantoms are no longer “throwaway geckos.” They are now essential building blocks for next-generation combos, driving excitement in the hobby much like Lily Whites did when they first emerged.
Conclusion
The phantom crested gecko has evolved from misunderstood oddity to one of the most important genetic tools in the hobby. Its recessive inheritance makes it challenging yet rewarding to work with, and its ability to darken, mute, and reshape patterns has made it highly sought-after in combination projects.
For breeders, phantoms represent patience and foresight, a long-game gene that can transform entire lines. For collectors, they are striking, mysterious animals that embody the ever-changing world of reptile genetics.
![\"Crested](\"https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/crested-gecko-breeders-in-new-hampshire.png\")
<a href="https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/new-hampshire-crested-gecko-breeders/" target="_blank"><img src="https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/crested-gecko-breeders-in-new-hampshire.png" alt="Crested Gecko Breeders in New Hampshire" width="300" height="300" /></a>
![\"Crested](\"https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/crested-gecko-breeders-in-alaska.png\")
<a href="https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/alaska-crested-gecko-breeders/" target="_blank"><img src="https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/crested-gecko-breeders-in-alaska.png" alt="Crested Gecko Breeders in Alaska" width="300" height="300" /></a>
![\"Crested](\"https://tennyscrestedgeckos.com/crested-gecko-breeders-in-hawaii.png\")
![Crested Gecko Investment Guide Market Trends & Analysis [3rd Qtr of 2021]](https://i0.wp.com/tennyscrestedgeckos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Crested-Gecko-Investment-Guide-Market-Trends-Analysis-3rd-Qtr-of-2021-400-x-400-px.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 "Crested Gecko Investment Guide Market Trends & Analysis [3rd Qtr of 2021]")
![Crested Gecko Investment Guide Market Trends & Analysis [3rd Qtr of 2021]](https://i0.wp.com/tennyscrestedgeckos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Crested-Gecko-Investment-Guide-Market-Trends-Analysis-3rd-Qtr-of-2021.png?resize=580%2C258&ssl=1 "Crested Gecko Investment Guide Market Trends & Analysis [3rd Qtr of 2021]")
