Dark
Morph
A dark crested gecko is selected for charcoal, chocolate, deep brown, blackish, or heavily shaded coloration, especially when fired up. The term is descriptive rather than a single uniform morph, and it may include animals from different lines that happen to produce strong dark pigment. Dark geckos are often paired with cream, white, pinstripe, harlequin, or dalmatian traits because the contrast can make pattern edges stand out clearly.
The main caution with dark crested geckos is interpretation. A gecko photographed at night, after misting, or in a high-stimulation state may look much darker than it does during the day. Buyers comparing animals should ask for fired-up and fired-down images when color is important. Husbandry should not be warmer because the animal is dark; crested geckos generally do best at moderate room temperatures and can suffer in sustained heat. Shade, ventilation, climbing cover, and a reliable prepared diet matter more than attempts to intensify color.
