One of the first decisions to make, whether you are starting a breeding project or simply acquiring a single Gila, is which subspecies to work with. There are two subspecies of Gila monsters, the banded Gila monster and the reticulated monster.  When considering which subspecies to acquire, there are several factors to consider.

The first is appearance. Although both subspecies appear similar as hatchlings, as reticulated Gila monsters mature, their pattern breaks and can be described as reticulated (surprised, huh?). The banded Gila monster retains much of its juvenile banded pattern. Click here to learn more about these ontogenic changes. Which appearance you want to work with is a subjective decision. It is my opinion that nothing can beat the appearance of a high color, intense salmon pink banded Gila monster.

The second factor to consider in choosing which subspecies to work with is cost. Since the banded Gilas are rarer in captivity and high quality specimens are in great demand, their price is higher. But it is not only the cost of acquiring breeding stock that should be considered, but is also the price and demand for any offspring you produce.

The reality is that both subspecies are in good demand and the supply is very limited. Consequently, the decision of which subspecies to work with boils down to a personal decision.

A note about interbreeding is appropriate. Both subspecies will readily interbreed, however, I prefer not to mix them. Understand, though, that there is a wide range of appearance in Gilas. Even in the wild, there are examples that look reticulated, but are well within the range of banded Gila monsters and visa versa. Add  the fact that locality data on captive Gilas is scarce at best, even for specimens in zoo collections. In spite of these complicating factors, I prefer to breed true for the characteristic differences between the subspecies.