How many kinds of leopard gecko morphs are there? That is a great question and one we will detail today.
Leopard Geckos come in a variety of morphs, colors and patterns. In this guide, we’re going to go over the most common morphs seen in Leopard Gecko breeders.
In addition to these popular types, you may also see some less-common ones from time to time such as Albino, Hypo Blue or Cafe’ Pearl. These rarer morphs can be worth a small fortune but it’s unlikely that you’ll find one for sale anywhere other than through a breeder or another private seller since they would have been specially bred by someone who specializes in them.
The following list is not exhaustive but does cover the more common Leopard Gecko morphs you are likely to come across, so let’s take a closer look!
Morph Terminology
In order to learn about and shop for leopard geckos, it’s a good idea to have a general awareness of the terminology you’ll encounter. Keep in mind that these are very elementary and fundamental definitions of reptile genetics (and genetics in general).
Eye color and size are two examples of traits that can be traced back to a person’s genetic makeup.
Recessive traits are those that are the result of a recessive genetic mutation. Recessive qualities can only be manifested in children if they are inherited from both parents equally.
Dominant qualities: Even if only one parent carries the dominant gene, dominant traits are still visible. One recessive and one dominant gene is passed down through a family, and the dominant trait usually manifests itself in the progeny.
An offspring’s manifestations of two distinct but equally dominant qualities are referred to as “co-dominant traits.”
Phenotype is a term used to describe the features that can be observed in an organism.
It is the organism’s genetic make-up that is being discussed here.
Geckos with similar attributes are bred together in order to produce offspring with the same (or better) characteristics. Line bred traits, also known as polygenic traits, are a type of genetic variation.
Out-Crossing: The practice of breeding reptiles with a diverse range of features is known as “out-crossing.” For the most part, this is done for two main reasons. As a first step, increasing genetic diversity should reduce the likelihood of genetic abnormalities. Another reason for doing so is to introduce new traits or to ensure that the offspring’s look will meet a given standard.
When a leopard gecko is homozygous, it has two copies of the same characteristic.
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As the name suggests, heterozygous varieties have two copies of a recessive or designer feature in addition to the normal or wild characteristic.
In-Short
There are various variants of the leopard gecko.
Leopard gecko variants are adored by pet owners for their beauty and uniqueness.
A new leopard gecko morph is created each year by reptile breeders.
Leopard geckos can inherit morphs from one or both parents, depending on the species.
Today, the leopard gecko has over 25 recognized variants.
Health problems have been reported in some leopard gecko variants.
Types of Leopard Gecko Morphs
The number of morphs and morph combinations for leopard geckos is always expanding since breeders are constantly developing new variations on leopard gecko traits.
Purchasing a leopard gecko as a pet might cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the lizard’s individual traits.
The availability of specific leopard gecko morphs may be restricted to a small number of selective breeding facilities; in addition, the classification and naming of leopard gecko morphs may vary widely among those facilities.
If you’re looking for a leopard gecko morph, or if you’re just curious about different reptile kinds, this article can help you learn more about them.
Normal Leopard Geckos
The leopard geckos you’ll commonly find at Petco or other national pet chains are known as “normals.” These morphs aren’t as expensive as the more rare ones, but they’re still amazing!
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These are the sorts of leopard geckos that can be found in the wild and are sometimes referred to as Wild Type. Leopard geckos are known for their distinctive yellow bodies and black patches. Leopard geckos of this variety are usually the least priced and most widely available. This is a yellower and less black-spotted version of the Standard. A lot of people have these, and they’re often not too expensive.
Banana Blizzard
Banana blizzards are patternless morphs that feature a yellow base hue, as opposed to the lavender, gray, or white of a true patternless morph. Banana blizzards are typically $75-$150 and are a solid yellow color with no patterns or dots.
Baldy
Depending on the shade, baldy geckos can be orange or yellow. They have no spots on their skulls, which makes them extremely hypo melanistic geckos. On average, they cost between $50 and $100, however darker colours can cost more.
Black Night
There are only a few of Leopard Gecko morphs that are completely black except for their white bellies. They can be speckled, but that isn’t always the case. Due to their scarcity, these Leopard Geckos are melanistic and among the most expensive types of Leopard Geckos. A black night Leopard Gecko can cost as little as $1,000 and as much as $3,500, depending on its rarity and quality.
Black Pearl
Years of selective breeding were necessary to get the black pearl variant. They’re a melanistic morph, which means they’re completely black on top, including their head, torso, and even their tail. A brilliant white color contrasts sharply with the black on the top. Rare and pricey to a fault. There aren’t many of these because they’re a relatively new morph.
Blazing Banana Blizzard
The blazing banana blizzard morph is a cross between a blazing blizzard and a banana blizzard gecko, as evidenced by the name. A hybrid of blizzard and albino features, they are continuing in development.
Bold Stripe
Bold & Striped Geckos (@bold and striped) published this photo on Instagram. Stripes of black are found on the body of most geckos. There are distinct differences between these two types of stripes. Rather than stripes on their backs, these geckos have stripes that run down their sides. And these stripes don’t go across their bodies; they run down their body’s length, making them look extremely different from a regular Leopard Gecko. Although some of these lizards may be had for as cheap as $75, the best ones can cost as much as $200.
Super Giant Leopard Gecko
One of the most expensive morphs are the super giants, which can cost between $200 and $700.
same genes as the gigantic but homozygous genotype.
A single dominant allele characterizes giants, but two alleles distinguish supergiants.
With each dominant allele in the gene, the gecko’s size grows by an average of 5%.
Even though they are born the same size as giants, they eventually reach a maximum length of 12 inches.
Patternless
Morphs that have no pattern at all cost anywhere from $75 to $230 and are referred to as Murphy Patternless.
As their name implies, they are absolutely free of any spots or patterns whatsoever (i.e. leucistic).
It is common for them to be lavender, gray, or white in hue.
Patternless Black Pearls and Black Nights are not considered blizzard morphs, however.
Halloween Mask
Those breeds whose heads and bodies are adorned with spectacular patterns are known as “Halloween Mask Morphs.”
Dark bands, lines, or circles may adorn the top of their heads, depending on their individual coloring. Most morphs’ skulls do not have spots, which sets them apart from the rest.
Spots or bands of dark brown or black against a yellow or white ground hue are prevalent.
They are one of the most expensive morphs on our list, costing $200 to $350.
Gem Snow
Genes for gem snows have been passed down through generations.
They might be white, yellow, or lavender in color, depending on the species.
In addition to being white or yellow, they may also be pink with black markings. In certain cases, the skin around their eyes is blue.
Blood
The tangerine and blood leopard gecko morphs are quite close.
The primary distinction is an intense red tint, as opposed to an orange pigment, on their skin.
This species, unlike tangerine variants, retains its vibrant coloration into adulthood.
They range in price from $200 to $400, and like tangerines, the more vibrant the color, the more expensive they are.
Marble Eye
The marble is a very rare characteristic.
These morphs are known as Marble Eyes because of the three-dimensional look of their eyes.
First spotted in 2006, this is a very recent development.
Some of Marble Eyes are offered for $75 – $100 a piece.
Hypo Ghost
For a cool $200, you can have one of these extremely uncommon melanistic morphs known as Hypo Ghosts.
The hypo gecko has a pale body color that will darken with time. When they are young, they may have a yellow or purple tinge to their hair, but this will lighten as they age.
Occasionally, this morph is mistaken for a mack snow.
Lavender Stripe
In 2003, a red stripe and a lavender morph were initially bred to produce the lavender stripe.
Adults have yellow bodies with lavender stripes going down the sides of their bodies as a base morph.
Blizzard
Unlike the Murphy Patternless leopard gecko, this one has no patterns at all. If you see a blizzard that’s entirely white or yellow or even purple, it’s called a Midnight Blizzard. One of three morphs with eclipsed or completely black eyes is the Blizzard.
Tangerine
Any leopard gecko with orange markings is classified as the Tangerine morph. The Super Hypo Tangerine morph has a tail that is lighter than the rest of the lizard’s body and no black spots on its body.
Carrot Tail
Only the tail has this morphological characteristic. Carrot Tails are leopard geckos that have at least 15% of their tails covered with orange.
Reverse Stripe
This leopard gecko morph has a stripe running the length of its back, from the base of its skull to the tip of its tail. If you’re looking for a specific hue, the Reverse Stripe name will be utilized in conjunction with other morph names.
What to Look for in a Good Breeder
Be cautious and do your homework before purchasing from any breeder or pet store. Here are a few things to keep an eye on.
Expertise
Knowledge of leopard gecko genetics and morph variants is essential for successful breeding. Ideally, they should be able to answer all of your inquiries in detail and accurately.
Communication
In addition to being able to answer your questions before you buy, a breeder should also make themselves available to you after you buy. After you bring your new pet home, find someone who encourages you to contact them if you have any questions.
Attitude
There may be a problem with a breeder if he or she is abrasive or rude when asked inquiries. You may want to search elsewhere. Breeders who appear to truly care about the animals they deal with should also be sought out.
Reputation
The reputations of good breeders are often good. Do some research on the company’s prior customers and read any reviews or testimonials they may have left. Reptile communities can be found in your neighborhood or online. Insights into various breeds can be gained from these groups rather frequently.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are tons of different leopard gecko morphs that can be found. If you’re looking for specific colorations, don’t be afraid to ask the breeder what morphs they may have.
The best way to learn about leopard gecko morphs is by doing your own research. Have fun in search of your next pet!
Leopard Gecko Morphs FAQ
How Many Morphs Are There?
There are around 30 distinct morphs.
There are dozens of different combinations and bloodlines to choose from inside these morphs.
Currently, there are over a hundred morphs that have been given names. Every year, breeders create new bloodlines and crossbreeding combinations. It’s not always easy to stay on top of things!
find the most important mutations and characteristics. Some of the most popular lineages and morphs will also be identified.
What Is a Leopard Gecko Morph?
An animal’s appearance can be drastically altered by a genetic mutation or a line-bred feature known as a leopard gecko morph. The lizard’s:
Size
Color
Pattern
A Morph can be one of the following:
One or both parents may be the source of a genetic mutation. It’s either there or it isn’t there.
Line-bred A trait is anything that emerges in varied degrees of intensity and in an inconsistent manner. Tangerine, for example, can be found in both geckos that are barely orange-tinged and those that are neon orange. There is no certainty that a person’s traits will be passed down to their children.
Breeders from pre-existing line-bred qualities develop a bloodline that focuses on a single attribute. Line-bred qualities can be traced back to several generations. The Tangerine characteristic is present in both Blood and Mandarin lineages.
Combinations are morphs that have more than one type of genetic mutation or trait, or a combination of the two. This morph combines the Tremper Albino and Eclipse variants, for example.
Where can I find leopard gecko morphs?
Leopard geckos at pet stores tend to be “normals,” meaning they have the characteristic yellow and black splotchy pattern. You’ll need to contact a breeder if you want to get your hands on any of the more unusual hues and patterns. A local reptile breeder may be able to help you, or you may be able to find one at a reptile expo or exhibit.