Among the most adored species of reptiles is without a doubt the leopard gecko. They are amiable, gentle, and comparatively simple to handle.
They are very alluring to reptile lovers, and even reptile haters frequently find them to be utterly adorable.
Every reptile owner will undoubtedly discover a variation of leopard geckos (more frequently referred to as morphs) that they enjoy due to the TONS of distinct species that exist.
But, what are morphs?
A variation in a leopard gecko’s size, color, patterning, or other physical characteristics is known as a “leopard gecko morph.” Random mutations can lead to some morphs.
However, many (and increasing) novel leopard gecko variants have been produced through selective breeding.
Many of the leopard gecko morphs that are already in existence as well as a few that are still under development will be covered in this guide.
Be aware that there are several leopard gecko morphs and combinations, and that there is nearly limitless room for development.
Keep reading to find out about 35 awesome leopard gecko morphs, as well as what leopard geckos are like as pets and things to keep in mind when purchasing them from a breeder.
The leopard gecko is a wonderful pet. They come from regions around India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and are composed by nature.
They require little particular maintenance and are a joy to care for. They are excellent starter pets because of this!
Additionally, they are extremely resilient and rarely experience health issues.
Leopard geckos can live for 10 to 15 years and sometimes even 20+ years. This implies that you’ll be taking care of them for a while.
Handling Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos aren’t really the best pet for handling.. Even though they are primarily a display lizard, they are manageable for brief periods of time.
Once they become acclimated to it, they are quite easy to manage when you have to handle them.
It’s a good idea to start getting your leopard gecko accustomed to handling now because it might come in handy later.
It is considerably simpler to assist with shedding or remove them from their tank when you need to clean it if they are accustomed to you.
All things considered, leopard geckos are amazing pets!
Leopard Gecko Housing
Leopard geckos are accustomed to rugged and warm surroundings because they typically inhabit close to India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
A leopard gecko’s natural environment consists of warm, rocky terrain.
In the wild, they inhabit regions near India and Afghanistan; it is our responsibility as reptile caretakers to provide them with a suitable environment.
An enclosure for a leopard gecko needs to be at least 10 to 20 gallons in size and broader than it is tall.
Leopard geckos require a lot more area on the floor than other geckos do since they cannot climb flat surfaces as other geckos do.
An enclosure that is bigger than this is required if you choose to use heat lamps. Since the lamp will heat the air more effectively than a heat pad, they require the room to be able to control their body temperature.
Additionally, a bigger habitat gives your gecko more room to explore. In addition to needing to be big enough, terrariums work best when they open from the side.
This is since it will make it simpler for you to reach the various locations you must visit.
Also, your leopard gecko feels less threatened when you approach it from the side rather from the top. You should also consider your terrarium’s durability.
Get a stronger one if it won’t support the substrate and the other items you plan to place inside of it.
Nothing is worse than lifting your terrarium and having the bottom fall out! Additionally, it’s risky for your Leo.
Leopard Gecko Diet
The only thing that leopard geckos consume is insects. Mealworms and crickets are the best prey for leopard geckos.
You can occasionally treat your gecko to wax worms or super worms as a treat or if they need to put on weight.
These are not a staple food, but they are excellent for helping your gecko gain weight if it is underweight.
Your feeder insects must constantly be gut loaded. Essentially, this basically involves giving the insects to the leopard gecko first.
The insects you feed a leopard gecko must always accommodate their mouths in terms of size.
It’s common to employ a rule of thumb of no more than two-thirds of their head size, however this might be misleading. For instance, mealworms are much wider than they are long.
Your leopard gecko won’t eat too big of a cricket if you attempt to offer it to it. Usually, feeding a leopard gecko with a food dish is ideal.
As a result, the meal worms won’t be able to dig, crawl, or hide inside the enclosure. You aren’t really able to do much about crickets.
The best prey are crickets since you can watch the leopard gecko hunt them.
It’s really better to play around with this a little and keep a close watch on their weight. When it comes to the quantity you can feed your leopard gecko, there is no one size fits all.
It will avoid eating when it is full and typically won’t require feeding for several days after that.
Because they are still developing when they are young, you may feed them around four times per week. As they age, once or twice a week is sufficient.
Heating
Leopard geckos in their terrarium definitely require heating. They are cold-blooded, like all reptiles, and rely on outside heat sources to maintain body temperature.
Leopard geckos aren’t particularly hardy when it pertains to heating. In a nutshell, they require cooling in the remaining portion of the terrarium and heating in roughly 20–30% of it.
Leopard geckos require a warm surface to rest on because their belly absorbs heat. This aids in their meal digestion.
Make sure to lay the heat pad under the glass when using one. Make sure there is space for air between both the heat mat and tank.
This will shield the glass from harm and keep the heat pad from overheating.
Supplements
Calcium is the essential food supplement for leopard geckos. However, it can also profit from a combination of additional vitamins and minerals!
Most pet stores provide these supplements, and you can also order a quality supplement for geckos online.
You should coat the insects in the supplement to ensure that your gecko consumes enough of it.
You might also put a small dish of supplement in the enclosure you have for your geckos. When necessary, they will sometimes “bulk up” on the supplement.
Although a dish can be added, it’s still important to routinely cover the feeder insects to ensure they are getting plenty of the supplement.
Leopard Gecko Shedding
Leopard geckos typically shed once every month. Some people shed more often than others. As it stops growing, your gecko is likely to shed little as it ages.
Shedding is one of the most difficult aspects of caring for a leopard gecko. In some circumstances, you may need to put in some additional effort.
Leopard geckos lose their skin for both regular regeneration and the ability to expand.
When your leopard gecko sheds poorly, it may be a sign of more serious problems. Shedding can reveal a great deal about the condition of your leopard gecko.
For instance, if a leopard gecko is not shedding (you can tell because of the colors and the fact that it hasn’t shed in quite a while), this could be a sign of environmental or health issues.
Always make sure the leopard gecko is living in a secure environment if you want a decent shed. Make sure it is parasite-free and kept in good condition.
Clean the water dish, get rid of any dead insects and feces, etc. Diet is also a crucial component in regards to shedding.
Leopard Gecko Morph Terms
It’s a smart idea to have a basic awareness of the jargon you’ll encounter when you study about and search for leopard geckos before we discuss the various variants that are available.
Take into account that these are quite basic concepts because reptile genes (and genes overall) is a tremendously complex field of research.
Genetic traits: Personalities that are inherited, like eye color or size.
Recessive traits: Recessive traits are those that are caused by recessive genes. Recessive qualities need to be inherited from both parents in order for them to manifest in offspring.
Dominant traits: These traits manifest themselves even if only one parent carries the gene.
The dominant trait will often manifest in the progeny when one parent has a recessive gene while the other has a dominant gene.
Co-Dominating Features: This term depicts a situation in which a child exhibits manifestations of two distinct but mutually dominant traits.
Phenotype: Phenotype is a term used to describe an organism’s observable traits.
Genotype: This refers to the genetic composition of the organism.
Line breeding: Geckos that have similar (or enhanced) qualities are crossed in order to produce offspring. This process is known as line breeding.
Polygenic characteristics: Polygenic characteristics are another name for line-bred qualities.
Out-Crossing: This describes the mating of reptiles with various traits. There are typically two reasons for doing this.
First, diversification should be used to reduce the danger of genetic abnormalities. Additionally, it is done in an effort to pass on a new trait and produce kids with a specific appearance.
Homozygous: Leopard geckos that are homozygous for a certain trait have two copies of that trait, each from a different parent.
Heterozygous: Heterozygous varieties have two copies of each trait, one of which is dominant or designer and the other of which is recessive or normal.
Leopard Gecko Morphs: Types
The number of morphs as well as morph combinations keeps growing as breeders continue to create variations of leopard gecko traits.
If you’re looking to buy a leopard gecko to keep as a pet, be aware that costs might vary greatly based on the lizard’s qualities.
Here are a few examples of the morph categories that this tutorial will cover:
High & Normal Yellows
Albino Morphs
Stripe Morphs
Hypo/Hyper Melanistic Morphs
Numerous others, including Blizzard Morphs and Patternless Morphs!
There may be some variations in how various breeders categorize and label specific leopard gecko morphs, and some morphs might only be accessible from particular breeders.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about other reptile species or you’re looking to get a leo of your own, this article should help you become more knowledgeable about leopard gecko variants.
35 Awesome Leopard Gecko Morphs
Here we list 35 of the coolest leopard gecko morphs, from high yellows to hypo ghosts – there are so many different variants to choose from.
Whichever morph your leopard gecko is, you’re sure to enjoy many years with this adorable and unique reptile.
Normal
You’ll often find “normal” leopard geckos at Petco and other large chain pet retailers.
They are still great even though they typically cost a little less than the rarer morphs!
These leopard geckos, sometimes referred to as “Wild Type,” live in the wild.
These lizards have the distinctive black markings and yellow bodies that give leopard geckos their name.
These leopard geckos are typically the most affordable and easily accessible.
High Yellow
This version of Normal has less black dots and more yellow coloring than typical. Again, these are very typical and ordinarily affordable.
Albino Morphs
Leopard geckos’ albinism differs slightly from that of other animals in some ways.
Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is often deficient in albinism, as it hinders the production of melanin in the affected animal.
Leopard geckos that are albino create extremely little melanin and do not lack this particular enzyme.
Technically speaking, they are not true albinos; rather, they are melanistic. ‘Albino’ leopard geckos typically have some light coloring.
Mack Snow
Mack Snow leopard geckos have bands of black and are pale. As hatchlings, they are typically white, but as they become older, they start to get some light color.
Super Snow
Super Snows, which are homozygous, typically develop from mating two Mack Snow variants. This morph is distinguished by its solid color eyes, heavy speckles, and white coloring.
The Texas Albino Or Tremper
One of the earliest albino leopard gecko variants to be found was the Tremper albino. They typically have silver eyes with noticeable red veins, but they can also be brown, yellow, pink, or orange.
Bell Albino
This particular morph is sometimes referred to as the Florida Albino. They frequently have brown markings and are purple in color. The Bell Albino’s pale pink eyes are one among its most distinctive features.
Rainwater Albino
Compared to other albino morphs, rainwaters are often lighter in color and smaller. They most frequently have pink bands and yellow bodies as hatchlings.
Rainwaters’ eyes are also darker than those of other albinos. Las Vegas Geckos are another name for rainwaters.
Striped Morphs
Striped morphs have stripes that are visible all the way down their bodies. (Bands, which are bands that loop around the body’s width, should not be confused with stripes.)
Bold Stripe
Instead of having patterns and stripes running down the center of their backs, Bold Stripes have them running down each side of their bodies.
This hybrid is highly sought-after and frequently sells for $200 to $300, sometimes even more!
Red Stripe
Two colored stripes run down either side of the back of this red stripe leopard gecko morph. Around six months of age, these stripes typically begin to appear.
The young gecko will first have some brown coloring where the striping will eventually be before that.
Raining Red Stripe
Crossing Red Stripe or Bold Stripe types with Rainwater Albinos produces this morph. These variants have red stripes and resemble Rainwater Albinos.
Similar to their other striped brethren, Raining Red Stripes may be rather expensive; the one shown above is worth more than $600!
Giant Morphs
As Giants are larger than the typical leopard gecko, the title of this group of morphs pretty much speaks for itself. However, not all huge leopard geckos are actually Giant species.
Super Giant
The homozygous form of the Giant is known as the Super Giant, and as you might have guessed, it gets its name from the fact that it is larger than other Giant morphs.
Godzilla Super Giant
This is the largest variety of huge leopard gecko, as the name suggests. They are scarce and frequently difficult to locate.
The super gigantic seen above, dubbed “Godzilla,” weighs 142 g and has a price tag of more than $1,200. What an actual beast!
Melanistic Morphs
A leopard gecko needs to be entirely black in order to be described as melanistic. There are presently no known genuine Melanistic leopard geckos, despite claims that a melanistic variant was successfully developed.
Breeders are continually working to improve them, nevertheless. At the moment, Black Velvets as well as Black Pearls are the closest morphs accessible.
Whenever Melanistic morphs are eventually produced, they will command extraordinary prices, that much is certain.
Hypo/Hyper Melanistic Morphs
Hypo/Hyper Melanistic morphs have no more than ten spots on their body and much less melanin than some other morphs.
Spots that could show up on the head and tail are not included in this. The pigmentation of hypermelanistic morphs is darker because they have more melanin.
Super Hypo
Super Hypos are yellow hypomelanistic leopard geckos without any spotting at all. Super Hypos frequently have patches on their head, as seen in the image above.
Baldy
Baldies lack patches on their heads and are Super Hypos. Based on the amount of reddish tone they have, they often cost $150 and above. Blood Super Hypes could sell for as much as $700!
Hybinos
A Super Hypo as well as any albino strain can be combined to produce Hybinos, also known as Hypo-Albinos.
They typically have eyes that are an albino variation with a solid yellow and orange-yellow color. These can be referred to as Sunglow morphs by some breeders.
Hypo Ghost
Ghosts, often known as hypo ghosts, have incredibly pale coloring. As they become older, this tends to diminish even more. Since they resemble Mack Snows so much as juveniles, Hypo Ghosts can be challenging to distinguish.
Blizzard Morphs
Variants of the blizzard gecko lack markings and exhibit a single uniform hue all over their bodies. Typically, blizzards are either white or yellow. Blizzards with deeper hues are sometimes referred to as Midnight Blizzards.
Banana Blizzard
Banana Blizzards are occasionally available as blazingly yellow Blizzard morphs. But a genuine Banana Blizzard is actually a yellow Patternless.
Blazing Blizzard
Blizzard variants that have been crossed with Albino morph kinds are known as Blazing Blizzards. Rainwater as well as Tremper Blazing Blizzards have so far been successfully produced by breeders.
Patternless Morphs
These leopard geckos, also known as Murphy Patternless, lose their distinguishable spots as they get older. They resemble Blizzard morphs.
While a few are green or yellow in hue, the majority are purple or gray. Popular morph combinations include Patternless Albinos, Patternless Blizzards, and Carrot Tail Patternless geckos.
Additional Leopard Gecko Variations
Other awesome leopard geckos that don’t fall within the aforementioned categories include the following:
Eclipse
Eyes in an eclipse are one solid color. Mack Super Snows, Tremper Eclipses, and Blizzards all have this characteristic.
Due to the recessive nature of the Eclipse mutation, Snake Eyed offspring can also be born from two Eclipse Leopard Geckos.
Snake Eyes
Blizzards and Tremper Eclipses can produce snake eye variants, which are distinguished by having partially solid eyes which in some cases resemble snake eyes.
Leopard gecko percentages are typically reported by breeders. The proportion of the lizard’s eye that is solid-colored is represented by this number.
Enigma
Enigmas have white tails and mottled markings. Enigmas frequently develop more spots as they age and typically feature blotches rather than distinct bands.
Tangerine
Any Leopard Gecko that exhibits an orange color might be categorized as a Tangerine. Super Hypo Tangerines, like the one pictured above, typically sell for more money than ones whose orange hue isn’t as vivid.
Carrot Tail
Specifically, it alludes to a gecko with an orange tail. RAPTORs, Tangerines, Patternless, Hypos, and Albinos are the most frequently affected by carrot tails. Recent reports also mention carrot-tail morphs in Blizzards.
Carrot Head
Leopard geckos with orange-colored heads are known by this name. Similar to carrot tails, the cost of carrot head geckos frequently rises as the orange hue’s intensity does.
Aberrant
Patterns that are inconsistent or broken define aberrants. The fragmented pattern must appear on either the tail or perhaps the body, not both, in order to qualify as an Aberrant.
The Normal as well as Mack Snow morphs are where aberrants are most frequently encountered.
Jungle
Similar to an Aberrant, a Jungle morph has a fractured pattern both on the tail as well as the body. The gecko pictured above is a Jungle Tremper Albino, Carrot Head, and Carrot Tail hybrid.
Marble Eye
The Marble Eye characteristic, which is uncommon in leopard gecko morphs, refers to reptiles whose eyes have a three-dimensional, marble-like appearance.
Lavender
A leopard gecko exhibiting lavender and violet color combinations on its body typically goes by this name.
This is an especially tough morph to create because most newborn Lavenders age and gradually lose their distinctive hue.
Halloween Mask
These leopard geckos, sometimes known as Halloween Geckos, have striking patterns on their bodies and heads. These markings are typically extremely black and noticeable.
RAPTOR
RAPTORs have orange bodies and red eyes. The Eclipse and Tremper Albino morphs were combined to create this morph. During attempts to make the RAPTOR morph, Reverse Stripe, APTOR morphs, and Carrot Heads were all produced.
APTOR
The RAPTOR and the APTOR are quite similar – but it doesn’t have red eyes.
Diablo Blanco
This hybrid morph combines features from RAPTOR and Blizzard. They are all white, with bright red eyes.
Although a solid white leopard gecko may not initially seem exciting, as you can clearly see, these creatures are very eye-catching.
Dreamsicle
The Enigma, RAPTOR, plus Mack Snow morphs are combined to create the Dreamsicle morph. They typically have orange and white patterns, therefore the name “dreamsicle.”
Nova
Enigma with RAPTOR morphs are combined to create Novas.
Purchasing Leopard Geckos
It’s crucial to choose your vendors carefully when buying any kind of animal.
Some people who have gotten on the selective breeding bandwagon don’t have the knowledge or skills they should because it has become such a well-liked hobby.
Leopard geckos can develop deformities, diseases, and even pass away as a result of careless breeding.
Make sure you’re capable of caring for your leopard gecko for a considerable amount of time because they are long-lived reptiles.
Although it’s easy to get these very popular pets, it’s always recommended to buy geckos from a reliable breeder, which might cost $20 to $40.
Rare morphs can run as high as $100. At a local reptile exposition or reptile show, you could be able to identify a reliable reptile breeder.
Consider your pet’s tail before making your decision. It needs to be swollen and fatty, ideally wider than the area in between your gecko’s shoulders.
Its mouth, nose, and eyes should all be clear and dry. Its aperture for urination and feces should appear clear and not bloated.
The Qualities Of A Good Breeder
Make sure to do your homework on any breeder and pet shop you are thinking about buying from. Observe the following items.
1. Knowledge
A good breeder will be knowledgeable about the genetics and morph variations of leopard geckos. They must be competent and able to respond to your inquiries completely and truthfully.
2. Interaction
A breeder should be accessible to you after you buy, in addition to being ready and able to respond to your inquiries before you buy.
Once you have taken your new pet home, find someone who will encourage you to contact them if you’ve any questions.
3. Mentality
When a breeder is combative when questioned or otherwise difficult to work with, that could be a warning sign. Take another look, if necessary.
A breeder that looks to sincerely care about the animals they are dealing with is another quality to look for.
4. Recognition
Generally speaking, good breeders have good reputations. Look for testimonials or reviews left by previous clients.
Additionally, you can locate reptile communities online or in your neighborhood. These organizations frequently have valuable knowledge regarding various breeders.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this guide has been helpful in teaching you about the various amazing leopard gecko morphs that you can purchase, as well as how to care for your pet.
Remember, it’s important to check the reputability of the breeder you intend to purchase your leopard gecko from – as they can be susceptible to diseases.
Leopard geckos make fantastic and highly entertaining pets no matter which morph you choose, but it’s important to know how to care for them effectively to keep them happy and healthy.
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