oh wow.....i just happened upon this---
so sorry Anna!! at this point i guess it appears that he must have been stolen, however if you are still searching i completely agree with the nighttime aspect for best success. being motionless and very bright when sleeping is so much easier to pick out than moving, hiding behind branches as you move around, and darker colors.
unfortunately Vermillion (né Tsunami) passed away in January (as Anna knows). fortunately i currently have several clutches between currently hatching-->4 mos-->7 mos, and about 3 egg clutches left. most of the dam's are Pixel's daughters with at least one exception. during the day i have yet to see them take on the type of coloration he had, but i literally just went and took this photo of one of the 7 month males, and it looks like he is heading that way. his brother is my only current holdback; however many of the juvies have deposits down. thankfully his genes are still working for us, and you may yet recover your boy!! you are a super-kind person based on all of the interaction we have had together, and you really didn't deserve this!! my hope is that some kid did take him as per your suspicions, and even if they're not trying to flip him for a sale, maybe someone's parent is going to walk into a bedroom somewhere and begin questioning where "the new lizard" came from. he's anything but subtle!!
wishing you the best, and email me anytime if you like,
o-
photos--my holdback, his brother by day, same brother tonight