A few updated pics of Merauke #2

[Scincoides]

#2 decided to take a stroll through a fresh poop this morning, so i decided to give him a bath. I figured since i had him out anyways, might as well snap a few pics and post them. For those of you who dont know, poor #2 had a rough start. The poor guy came down with the merauke mystery illness as a baby, and later developed a respiratory infection, thanks to a ton of love and hard work from his previous owner (Susann ) he recovered from everything just fine, although he was smaller and a little thinner than the others. He Has since caught up in size and weight and is doing fantastic.

[Scincoides]

Oops forgot, here he is a few days after i got him settled in for comparison

[Susann]

Look at all that orange!!! Man, I've GOT to get Xyla bred again, #2 was always the least colorful of the 6, but even he is coloring up nicely! What about #6; any orange on him?
I'm so glad I listened to my intuition and let you take #2; there is no question he is more than thriving at your place!
That is one good looking boy! Talk about a GORGEOUS example of a classic Merauke!

[Dakota]

I love his short snout! Usually Meraukes tend to have long narrow snouts.

Either your camera isn't picking up the orange, or does this skink have the colors of Hunter??

[Scincoides]

Thank you I'm going to take pics of all the others today and I'll post them this evening. #2 is still the ugly duckling and even so, he's amazingly orange. The others seem to be getting more reddish as they age. They are huge to, easily larger than jazz. Not anywhere near as much color on the sides though. It makes for a REALLY cool contrast. Lots of belly color coming in on all of them as well. I really wish I had a decent camera, the color just doesn't show up well at all in these pictures. They are so bright that it almost hurts your eyes

[Scincoides]

Two of them seem to have the short snout, I absolutely love it!

Oh Susann... is it too early to reserve the whole next litter?

[Dakota]

After you feed off my scraps!

If I don't save up enough money to get the Axanthic pair, I'm going to snatch up a couple of babies.. I'm #3 on the list.

[Scincoides]

Haha fine, but I'm still two years ahead of you!

[Dakota]

True..

[Susann]

I love the short, grumpy looking faces! Remind me of Blotchies. I look forward to seeing pics of the others.
Dakota, that was my first thought as well; he looks just like Hunter. Too bad they are both boys, that would have been an amazing pairing!

[Dakota]

I have an unrelated orange Merauke.

[Scincoides]

Yes you do. But even if you bought a few babies next year to ensure that one ended up female, you will still have to raise her up for two years. So that's nearly three years till you can do anything I have 2.2 now. Pointless conversation though lol this isn't a competition you've got a nice skink and I'd love to see how his babies look when the time comes. Might even have to buy one... or all of them.

[Scincoides]

Susann, its funny you made the blotchie comment, I said that exactly yesterday when I was taking the pictures.

[Dakota]

I'm ecxcited, too..

I was thinking maybe holding one back.. but I just have so many things to come, I couldn't make any room.. 2-3 Axanthics.. or 2-4 Meraukes?? Whew..

Back on topic, though. He is very beautiful!

[Scincoides]

I've been meaning to ask, has the axanthic gene been proven out to be a genetic trait yet? Has anyone bred them in captivity?

[Dakota]

I believe ML said something about them being thought to be double recessive?? ..something to that manner.

[Dakota]

They have been bred in captivity, just not in the US, and very few times.. reason why the ones I'm getting are $1,000 each.

[Scincoides]

It would be a simple recessive, not a double. I'm interested because since Indos come in soo many different colors, why is the silver considered axanthic?

[Susann]

Susann, its funny you made the blotchie comment, I said that exactly yesterday when I was taking the pictures.

I've always thought #2 looked to be built like JJ, and I've always thought JJ has a very "blotchie" face.

[Dakota]

I would tell you for sure.. but I have about 1m. PM's in my inbox.

I think they just got that name.. Silver and black, with the lack of all yellow and red, right? Their bellies are mostly black with white specks, so can't really judge by their bellied like you can with Meraukes, lol.