Leopard Gecko Morph represents the variations in color, pattern, and genetic traits that result from selective breeding. Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are native to the arid regions of Central and South Asia, particularly in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, North West India, and Iran. They are popular reptiles because of the incredible variety of morphs available.
Morphs are variations in color, pattern, and genetic traits that result from selective breeding. Over the years, breeders have developed numerous leopard gecko morphs, including Baldy, Carrot Tail, Blizzard, and Creamsicle, offering collectors and hobbyists various geckos with unique looks and characteristics.
What Is a Leopard Gecko Morph?
A leopard gecko morph is a genetic variation that changes the appearance of the gecko without affecting its health or behavior. Leopard gecko morphs come in different colors, patterns, or even sizes. These variations are usually passed down through selective breeding. The study of morphs involves understanding dominant, recessive, and co-dominant traits, much like the study of genetics in other animals.
20+ Types of Popular Leopard Gecko Morphs
There are approximately 100 species of leopard gecko morphs, which come in various colors, patterns, and designs. Many are familiar with the common yellow leopard gecko with black spots. But there are other leopard gecko morphs, too, which we are going to discuss there.
1. Normal-Wild Type Morph
The normal morph is the most common type of leopard gecko. These geckos have yellowish-brown bodies with black spots and bands. Although normal morphs are less flashy than others, they are still highly sought after due to their natural beauty. These geckos are easily available in pet stores and not so expensive as compared to other rare gecko morphs.
2. Albino Morphs
Albino morphs lack melanin, which gives them their bright colors. There are three types of albino morphs: Tremper, Rainwater, and Bell. Each type of albino has subtle differences in coloring:
Tremper Albino
Tremper Albino has a light pink or peach base color with brown or yellow patterns. It’s the most common albino morph. Ron Tremper bred this albino gecko in 1996. Tremper albino colors range from light pinks, yellows, and oranges to dark brown, often with subtle hints of white.
Rainwater Albino
Rainwater albino typically has a lighter base color, with pinkish or lavender hues and smaller eyes. They may have yellow or pink markings and can even show yellow bands or pink spots on their legs and tails.
Bell Albino
Bell albinos are known for their bold, reddish eyes and lavender or pinkish body patterns. The Bell albino gecko is the most recently created albino gecko. Bell albinos have light pink eyes, which makes them different from other albinos.
3. Mack Snow Morph
Mack Snow geckos are famous for their distinct white and black coloration when they hatch. As they mature, the black often fades to yellow, but some maintain a high-contrast look. This morph also has super variations like the Super Snow, which shows more vivid white and black markings with a solid-colored tail.
4. Hypo and Super Hypo Morphs
A hypomorph has reduced black spots or markings on its body. Super Hypomorphs have no spots at all, except on the tail, with clean, vibrant yellow or orange patches.
5. Tangerine Morph
As the name suggests, Tangerine geckos have striking orange coloration, which ranges from light peach to deep, vivid orange. Selective breeding has enhanced the orange hue, making it one of the most vibrant and popular morphs.
6. Blizzard Morph
Blizzards are known for their solid, patternless appearance. These geckos lack the traditional leopard spots and instead have a uniform color, which can range from white to yellow or purple. Blizzards are known for their striking appearance, featuring completely black eyes that create a dramatic contrast against their light bodies. The Midnight Blizzard variant has a darker, almost purplish hue, which sets it apart.
7. Patternless Morph
Similar to the Blizzard morph, the Patternless Gecko completely lacks any spots or patterns on their body. However, Patternless geckos are generally lighter in color, often displaying shades of yellow or greenish hues. They are also known as Murphy Patternless.
8. Enigma Morph
The Enigma morph is known for its unique swirling patterns and random spots that are unlike any other morph and has yellow or orangish bodies with orangish spots. However, Enigma geckos can sometimes develop a condition known as the “Enigma Syndrome,” which can affect their balance and coordination. They have a white tail.
9. Giant and Super Giant Morphs
Giant and super giant morphs are larger than the average leopard gecko, with giant morphs typically reaching around 10 inches and super giant morphs exceeding 12 inches in length. They were developed through selective breeding, with size being the primary trait.
10. RAPTOR Morph
RAPTOR stands for “Red-eyed Albino Patternless Tremper Orange.” These geckos are a combination of albino, patternless, and tangerine traits, with striking red eyes. The lack of patterns and the vibrant orange hue make them a popular choice for breeders and buyers.
11. Carrot Tail Morph
This morph refers specifically to the coloration of the tail. Carrot-tail geckos have a distinct orange color on their tails, which can vary in intensity, and have lighter yellow or orange bodies. The more orange on the tail, the more valuable the gecko would be.
12. Carrot Head Morph
Carrot head morphs are similar to carrot tail morphs, but they have a dark orange color on their head and a slightly lighter orange or yellow color body.
13. Bold Stripe Morph
Bold Stripe morphs have strong, dark stripes running down their bodies from head to tail. These stripes can be black or dark brown, contrasting with their yellow or orange body color. This morph is especially popular for its striking appearance.
14. Red Stripe Morph
The Red Stripe morph is named for the two bold red or orange stripes that run along the sides of the gecko’s back, from head to tail. These stripes contrast sharply with the lighter, sometimes yellow or orange base color of the body, creating an eye-catching appearance. These geckos often have fewer spots or patterns compared to wild-type geckos, allowing the stripes to dominate the visual presentation.
15. Reverse Stripe Morph
The Reverse Stripe morph features a single, solid stripe running down the center of the gecko’s back, but the stripe is located where a normal leopard gecko would have spots. Instead of being positioned on the sides like with the Red Stripe morph, the Reverse Stripe has a bold stripe down the middle of its dorsal region. Unlike standard leopard geckos that have spotted or banded patterns. These geckos have a continuous, unbroken stripe down the back. The rest of the body may or may not have additional spots or markings.
16. Lavender Morph
The lavender morph is named for the pale purple or lavender hue on the body. While most lavender geckos maintain their coloration as juveniles, some may lose the purple tones as they grow. Breeders are working to develop lavender geckos that retain their striking colors throughout adulthood. This morph can often be combined with others, such as the Lavender Albino or Lavender Tangerine, to create dazzling hybrids.
17. Melanistic Morph
Melanistic geckos have an abundance of melanin, the pigment responsible for black or dark coloring. These geckos may have solid black or dark brown bodies, similar to the Black Night morph. Melanistic morphs can also have dark patterns that stand out against lighter backgrounds and create unique combinations of light and shadow on their skin.
18. Black Night Morph
The Black Night morph is one of the darkest and most striking leopard geckos in the reptile species. These geckos have a solid black or very dark brown coloration, which gives them a dramatic appearance. Due to the complexity of breeding for this deep coloration, Black Night geckos are among the rarer and more expensive morphs available. The darker the color, the more valuable the gecko tends to be.
19. Baldy Morph
The Baldy morph is a variation of the Super Hypo morph, known for its lack of head spots, giving the gecko a “bald” appearance. This morph is highly valued for its spotless head, which makes it distinct from other leopard gecko morphs that typically have spots or markings on their heads. They are often combined with other morphs, such as Tangerine, to enhance their visual appeal.
20. Creamsicle Morph
The Creamsicle morph is a hybrid of Tangerine and Albino morphs, resulting in a beautiful blend of orange and cream colors. This morph is known for its vibrant coloration and often displays a mix of white, yellow, and orange, reminiscent of a Creamsicle dessert. This feature makes them one of the most eye-catching morphs available.
21. Halloween Mask Morph
The Halloween Mask morph gets its name from the bold, dark facial markings that resemble a mask, giving it a spooky and striking appearance. These geckos typically have well-defined, bold patterns on their heads and bodies, with an overall dark, dramatic look. Their trait is polygenic, meaning that it is the result of selectively breeding geckos with bold patterns over several generations.
22. Eclipse Morph
The Eclipse morph is known for its solid black eyes. In some cases, geckos may have partial Eclipse eyes, resulting in a half-black, half-normal eye pattern. This morph can be combined with others, such as the RAPTOR or Blizzard, to create incredible eye and body color combinations. Breeders often look for ways to introduce the Eclipse gene into other morphs, enhancing their visual appeal.
23. Diablo Blanco Morph
The Diablo Blanco morph is one of the most visually striking leopard geckos, known for its solid white body and solid red eyes. This morph is a combination of several genetic traits, including the Blizzard morph (for the white body) and Eclipse (for the solid eyes), resulting in a completely patternless and albino gecko. Since the Albino gene is part of the Diablo Blanco morph, the gecko lacks dark pigmentation, resulting in light body color and red eyes.
Considerations for Buying Leopard Gecko Morphs
If you are considering adding a leopard gecko morph to your collection or buying a new one, you need to understand some important factors before buying one.
Health
You need to ensure that you always purchase from reputable breeders who prioritize the health of their geckos. You must ask for information on the gecko’s genetic history to avoid potential health issues, especially if the morph is prone to genetic conditions.
Care Requirements
While morphs don’t typically require special care compared to standard leopard geckos, some, like the Enigma morph, may have specific needs. So you need to be prepared to provide the right environment, diet, and medical care so that they can thrive in your home stress-free.
Cost
Some leopard gecko morphs cost around $25-$30, especially common leopard gecko morphs. But other morphs, scarce ones like Black Night or Super Giant morphs, can be expensive and range up to a thousand dollars. So, research the pricing and understand the value of the gecko you’re purchasing.
Breeding Considerations
If you plan to breed geckos, you need to understand the genetics behind morphs. Pairing certain morphs can result in beautiful offspring, while others might lead to undesirable traits. So, do proper research or take the help of someone who has an understanding of it.
Conclusion
Leopard gecko morphs have a variety of colors, patterns, and genetic diversities that captivate reptile lovers. Whether you are drawn to the Tangerine’s fiery hues or the Black Night’s shadowy depths, there are many morphs. As selective breeding continues to evolve, new and exciting morphs will continue to emerge, expanding the possibilities for these already fascinating reptiles. With proper care, understanding, and attention, your morph gecko can thrive and bring so much excitement into your life.
