you know the drill <3 and I've got three I'm unsure of

[kitten]

Banana, my 7 and 1/2in female:




Pumpkin, my 5in unsexed juvenile:




and Muffin, my 3 and 1/2in unsexed juvenile:



I'm not exactly sure how old Muffin is although I know he's young, so how can I know whether he has taken on the color/morph he'll have as an adult? is there an average age where that change happens?

[MF Cody]

I really like the way Muffin looks. his color is pretty sick.

[kitten]

as do I! he tends to vary from rust to dark brown, but I'm curious to know whether I can expect his color to remain or if he'll end up looking different as an adult. any idea?

[johnsredline]

still looks pretty young, he could change drastically. you never really know for sure, only time will tell.           ive seen some like that turn yellow, and others red.   so its hard to say for sure

[kitten]

I've been pouring over countless pictures, and I'm wondering if Banana and Pumpkin are Harlequins? I'm guessing Muffin would be considered a bi-color for now.

[MF Cody]

Yeah i agree with you i would consider them Harlequins. They have the side markings that make them more then a flame. but that is just what i think.lol

[daniellec]

I think muffin is definitely a bi-color and has some stuck shed on the eye cap btw.  The first two are kind of in between being sweet flames and o.k harleys.  These days the mprphs have changed so much and technically harleys usually have markings that extend above the upper lateral area into the mid dorsal zone.  There necks and limbs should also be pretty heavily patterned so I would just call them flames really.

[bad-one]

yeah, id say the first two are flames and the last a bi color

[kitten]

flames and bicolor it is then! and Muffin just got done shedding but he's had that piece on his eyelid and toe for a few days now, I called my vet and he reccommended just waiting a few more days and mist him directly a few times a day to make sure he's not unusually dry...that is my regular vet though, as I have been looking for one that specializes in reptiles, not very many that are within an ideal range.

[daniellec]

Bad sheds can be from too little or too much humidity- I know WTF!!  I would take a washcloth with cool to warm water and remove it yourself.  If he is too dry or too humid it may not come off by itself and while loosing a toe isn't bad an eye infection can be.

[kitten]

eeeek, I didn't consider they could become a full-on infection! the one above his eye is hanging off of an eyelash crest, and the one on his toe is just hanging on at the very tip--but whenever I try to remove them myself he panics, which makes me panic!

[daniellec]

You can't be scared of them they are tiny little monsters and their bites are harmless.  Wear a rubber glove if it helps you feel more confident and get them off.  Of course they freak their supposed to- if someone was yanking on your eye and toe you would do the same, but really its almost good to get bit once so you know what it feels like, then theres nothing to be afraid of!

[johnsredline]

yea, there bites are nothing, doesnt hurt at all.    feels like if you tap your finger on your hand.       totally nothing

[kitten]

my main concern was stressing the little guy out, but the issue is resolved and I managed to get the shed remnants off. biting is never an issue or fear for me. the way I see it is if I happen to get hurt or attacked it's my own fault and not the animals. when I encounter or approach an animal I need to go into it knowing the risks, and it's vital to understand the animals actions are a direct result and reaction to my own.
I socialize feral (wild) cats and kittens for the Buddy Foundation (any other local place will euthanize them) and I'm not even phased--aside from a wince or two--anymore when I've got cat claws or teeth tearing into me...in the summer when I did it on a daily basis every inch of my forearm and hands had scratches or puncture wounds. it sucked but given time I could correct their behaviors as they learn to trust, and watching them get adopted made it worth the pain. only one out of all my cases was I not completely convinced would do wonderfully in a new home due to how far my socialization skills were able to reach her, so I adopted her myself. she can be a handful at times but I adore my Little Miss!
so anyways....as a general rule of thumb, as long as the end result helps an animal or critter in some way, I just have to take the pain in stride.
goodness I rant a lot.