GENETICS
This page is being researched, is rough and being built in real time. Please allow for the time required to complete such a heavy task. Once it’s done, it will always be here for everyone. This page is the pride and joy of our website. I’m not even listing animals here currently bc I can’t focus on it while working on this. I will complete the build and then update each individual morph and gene often. Please feel free to reach out and contribute.
LINES / POLYGENIC MORPHS
BOLDS
BANDIT
BOLD
FIREBOLDS
BENGAL
MONARCH
HALLOWEEN MASK
EMERINES
CLOWN
G PROJECT
JOKERS
PACIFIC GREEN
HYPER XANTHIC
JUNGLE
MELANISTIC
TANGERINES
RED DIAMOND
RED STRIPE
RECESSIVE
BAE
BELL ALBINO
BLIZZARD
CIPHER
ECLIPSE
GIANT & SUPER GIANT
MARBLE EYE
NDBE
PATTERNLESS
RAINWATER
TREMPERS
DOMINANT
ALBEY SNOW
GEM SNOW
LEMON FROST
PASTEL
TUG SNOW
WHITE & YELLOW
WILD CAUGHT
INC-DOMINANT
CHARCOAL
GIANT & SUPER GIANT
MACK SNOW
COMBO TRAITS
APTOR
AURORA
BANANA BLIZZARD
BEE
BELL BLAZING BLIZZARD
BELL HYBINO
BLACK HOLE
BLAZING BLIZZARD
CREAMSICLE
CRYSTAL
CYCLONE
DIABLO BLANCO
DREAMSICKLE
EMBER
FIREWATER
HYBINO
NOVA
PHANTOM
PREDATOR
RADAR
RAINWATER HYBINO
RAPTOR
SHT
SHTCT
SHTCTB
SNOWGLOW
SNOWFLAKE
STEALTH
SUNGLOW
SUNRISE
SUNSET
SUPER NOVA
SUPER PLATINUM
SUPER STEALTH
SUPER TYPHOON
TANGELO
TOTAL ECLIPSE
TYPHOON
UNIVERSE
VORTEX
WHITE KNIGHT
Ethical practices within Genetics are the responsibility of us all.
This is probably the thing about our website that I enjoyed the most. It will NEVER be complete. I’ll have a lot completed before I launch so if you’re reading this, know that I’m working on much more. If you notice something that could be added, or is NOT correct; please email me directly. joe@wildcardgeckos.com. I do not claim to be perfect. If you do not like a detail on here but cannot prove it to not be true otherwise, just know that I’ll hear you out. I will only share what I know. I want this to be an organized genetics spot for all to reference when they need to.
Content Coming Soon
This content is going to be some of my most prized information. Check back often as I’m putting study time and attempting to interview many in order to receive these details.
Feel free to make any requests for the future and/or challenge ANYTHING you see written here. As long as it’s within reason, I’ll of course work with you on it. My genetics page is going live but is extremely rough. I will be improving on it slowly in an attempt to get things right so that I can be happy with the results.
No I will NOT remove any links from here as it is simply used for referencing the animal in question and I typically will only link those I respect and who are more knowledgable than myself. Sometimes getting details from one source is not enough. Things can be understood in a greater capacity from many.
This genetics page is NOT an original idea. My organized layout and constant growth and details will be the only difference that I bring to the table. You can expect me to nerd out here often. I enjoy this part of the hobby and I’m going to love having this additional reference page.
Bandits
- Type: Polygenic
- Discoverer: Ron Tremper
- Year: 1995
First discovered as a random mutation in 1995, these animals are bred to have a distinctive bold band across their nose and reduced head spots. This stripe or “mask” is located between the eyes and nasal openings and stretches all the way across without a break in pattern. There are many different line bred forms of this Morph. Bandits patterns come in banded, reversed and albino. They typically have an aggressive temperament and can bite. If you have a bandit animal that is proven to have zero hets, you have all the fresh genes of a wild caught animal, aka Normal.
Example of a specific line look, the Zorro Bandit is a specific Bandit with a preferred look first coined by Breeder and author Ray Roehner. The Zorro Bandit has been shipped worldwide and is a favorite amongst breeders. All Zorro bandits are a direct descendent of Ray’s Bandit named Zorro.
Health
Fertility: Great • Eye: Great size • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Standard • Neurological: Good • Tail: Standard
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Appear as normals
- Juveniles: Body color and bands lighten up.
- Adults: Bold markings that keep their darkness into adulthood.
Albino (Rainwater)
- Aka Las Vegas Albino
- Type: Recessive
- Discovered by: Tim Rainwater
First discovered in 1998, these albinos have a pink white color.
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: photophobia • Deformities: none • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Reddish pupils and a pink colored iris. Some very dark eyes.
- Juveniles: Reddish pupils faid.
- Adults: Eyes become a solid light golden color.
Links:
Albino (Bell)
- Aka: Florida albino
- Type: Recessive
- Discovered by: Mark Bell
The most recent of the 3 albino strains to be discovered by Mark Bell of Reptile Industries, this gecko is less commonly called the Florida Albino. I personally call them Bells b/c there isn’t a leopard gecko native to Florida or any of the United States. Mark is Bells seem to be the the only albino strain that have minimal sensitivity to light. Do NOT breed to any other albino.
Health
Fertility: Good • Eye: Less sensitivity to light • Deformities: none • Growth rate: Greaty • Neurological: Good • Tail: Good
Characteristics
- Eyes: Light Pink color. Commonly hatch with black irises that slowly turn red over time.
- Body: Brown spots and some have lavender colors.
- Tail: Some carroting.
Links:
Albino (Tremper)
- Aka: Texas albino
- Type: Recessive
- Discovered by: Ron Tremper himself.
Bodies can range in color. Light yellows, oranges, pinks and even dark browns. It is responsible for many different morph combos and was the first albino discovered and worked with.
Health
Fertility: good • Eye: distinct • Deformities: none • Growth rate: standard • Neurological: good • Tail: follows the coloration of the body.
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: Silver eyes with red veins
Links:
DO NOT BREED THIS GENE
Lemon Frost
- Type: Dominant
- Creator: Gourmet Rodent
It is UNETHICAL to breed this gene. You are not allowed an argument to this and you will not be given any understanding from any credible breeder if you choose to stand in ignorance and harm leopard geckos. I say this FOR YOU and for the animals. Science (actual scientific study with educated scientists) has already been done. YOU CANNOT FIX THIS. Let it go…
Note: If you do decide you breed this gene. If you support others who breed this gene, know that once I learn who you are, I will use my platform to publicly shame your hobby handle and personal name. Consider yourself an outcast in the hobby. That consideration will be the only thing you have in common with the rest of us credible breeders. I will also never buy from you or sell to you. It is one thing to be capable of breeding many animals. It is an entirely other thing to be actually and ethically responsible for them and their well-being. This responsibility costs more than you’ll ever earn as a breeder. This is NOT a numbers game. You are an ethical reptile breeder or you are not. DECIDE!
If you don’t care for the feelings of animals, I do not care for your feelings. Feel free to reach out and tell me you have an issue with this. I am not afraid of confrontation.
Health
These animals are and always will be riddled with tumors and cancers. They exist INTERNALLY even if you are able to prevent them from displaying externally. This causes pain and discomfort to the animals. It is wrong to breed them no matter the excuse.
“An animal shouldn’t have to suffer for it’s beauty”
– Seth Hoffpauir
Albey Snow
- Type: Recessive
- Creator: John Scarborough
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First hatched 2012. CONTENT
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: n/a • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: CONTENT
Links:
Bengal Project
- Type: Polygenic
- Creator: Bold & Bright Geckos
- Project Start: 2013
Bengals contain the following morphs listed below. They basically have thrown everything at it that is BOLD & TANGERINE. Their unique soup of morphs has created a visually stunning animal. The project is still on going and will continue to do so as long as they can infuse bold & tangerine into the animals.
- Bandit
- Bold Stripe
- Firebold
- Halloween Mask
- Extreme Bold
- Gecko Genetics
- Emerine
- Blood
- Bold
- Tangerine
Health
Fertility: Great • Eye: Good • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Great • Neurological: No issues • Tail: Carroted
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Have crisp colors that come reverse striped and banded.
- Juveniles: Color explosion while keeping crisp bold color.
- Adults: High contrast tangerine colors as well as deep bold markings
Links:
Blue Amber Eye
- Type: Recessive
- Creator: Helene Tremper
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First discovered in 2018 through noticed random mutation, Helene set out to create Striped Blood Rainwater Albinos. She spent the next few years proving out all necessary hets and has these details online for the public. I have supplied a link below. Very good read.
Unlike the eclipse eye gene, BAE does not degrade color in the animals and will be soon likely crossed into other albino strains once the hets are proven out through years of test breeding. Note: Breeding season 2023 would be the soonest that anyone could make this happen with any certainty due to the long process of proving geckos to be het free.
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: n/a • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: CONTENT
Links: BAE Details
Black Nights
- Type: Polygenetic
- Creator: Ferry Zuurmond
- Genetics: These are not genetic traits. They are line bred visual traits.
Ferry put over 15 years of work into creating a hypermelanistic gecko. These geckos are beautiful and a truly great addition to any collection but they have some issues due to over a decade of inbreeding for results. I recommend you spend real money and only buy from trusted breeders. I’ve heard rumors of lowering their temps to make them appear darker than they truly are during sales times. You would still be buying a gecko worthy of care, but you might pay an unnecessarily increased price for it this way.
Health
Fertility: Lay bad eggs • Eye: Good • Deformities: They are bad breeders and some do not shed well, they can have an overbite • Growth rate: Slow. Some that are born will not grow but will live • Neurological: None • Tail: Often kinked
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Most show patterns that are later enveloped by blackness. They prefer to be tong or hand fed.
- Juveniles: Pattern tends to begin to fade. Shedding becomes easier.
- Adults: Most of the pattern will be swallowed up and they take to a normal existence as a gecko.
Links:
Blizzards
- Type: Recessive
- Discoverer: Jay Villa of Prehistoric Pets
- Year: 1995
Devoid of pattern on their body, the blizzard comes in several forms as well as trait combos. The two standard are Banana Blizzard for it’s patternless yellow body and what some used to call the Midnight Blizzard due to it’s deep purple display and are now being referred to as one of the first Melanistic geckos. Banana blizzards = Murphy Patternless geckos. No matter how melanistic a blizzard may become, they tend to have the yellow coloring shine through into adulthood. The photo demonstrates this. Some other trait combos are…
- Diablo Blanco (Ron Tremper Line) Note that eclipse can hide the blizzard gene.
- Sunrise (Nick Stark Line)
- Sunset (Nick Stark Line)
- Blazing blizzard
- White Knight
Health
Fertility: Good • Eye: Eclipse gene can hide many things and you may not own what you think you own • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Good • Neurological: Good • Tail: Good
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Patternless (see thought)
- Juveniles: Color sharpening
- Adults: Some paradox spotting at times and solid color. Multi-colored at times
Bold Stripes
- Type: Polygenic
- Creator: Unknown
You can find this version of leopard gecko in various forms including snows and all albino strain forms. They are reverse striped running from the head to the tail typically and have the classic bold crisp markings. Some believe them to be incomplete dominant though we do not agree. We’re happy to be wrong with some proof.
Health
Fertility: Good • Eye: Good • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: Normal • Neurological: None • Tail: Some carroting, unaffected by the trait.
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Sold dark sides and bright yellow top reverse stripe.
- Juveniles: Solid pattern begins to break apart in some areas but the stripes hold.
- Adults: They keep their bold crisp dark color into their later years
Ciphers
- Morph Type: Recessive
- Creator: John Scarborough
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First hatched in 2015 from a collection of pure marble eye groups. They are all ph marble eye for this reason however this is the only recessive in them due to coming from pure marble eye groups from wild type stock. Ciphers are not linked directly to the marble eye gene but are believed to be a spontaneous mutation in John’s personal collection. He has since proven that an animal from 2012 did in fact carry the gene. A truly amazing animal, I look forward to seeing what is done with these in the future. If it has come from John, you can stand behind it.
Health
Fertility: n/a, Eye: n/a, Deformities: n/a, Growth rate: n/a, Neurological: n/a, Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Juveniles – Body and full tail broken reverse stripe (no bands), reduced pattern, color enhancer, and solid eyes (no partial).
- Adults -At the moment there are only Ciphers with wild type background genetics. Adults will lose a lot of the boldness of their stripe as they age, but this may change once more lines are added to them. Adults tend to show nicer colors than their het (wild type) siblings. Their eyes stay solid as adults. (From John)
Links:
Clowns
- Polygenic (Line Bred)
- Creator: Matt Barronak
The Clown Project started in 2012. It is Line Bred. Basically this is “G Project”, crossed it to a line of high contrast tangs (Electric line). It has…
- A&M Jungle Giant
- A&M Tangerine
- HQ Red Stripe
- Emerine
- Albey Tangerine
- Nevies Tang
- Electric Tangerine
- A touch of Bold Bandit (in the newer stuff).
Mix that all up in a pot and selectively bred for a few different looks and Clown is what you get.
Health
Fertility: n/a, Eye: n/a, Deformities: n/a, Growth rate: n/a, Neurological: n/a, Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings –
- Juveniles – a great project in that it stems from G-Project and so the variations of visuals are vast. Clowns are brightest at this stage.
- Adults – Color variation is typically jungle pattern but can be banded and striped. These colors are impressive for the first few years.
Links:
Diablo Blanco
- Type: Trait Combo (Line Bred)
- Creator: Ron Tremper
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First produced in 2006. Ron created these by combining Blizzards to RAPTOR’s.
This is a blend of the following 4 recessive genes.
Blizzard • Tremper Albino • Patternless • Eclipse
Health
Fertility: Good • Eye: Light sensitivity • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Normal • Neurological: Good • Tail: Good
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: CONTENT
Links: Ron Wiki
Lines to look for
Geckoboa Emerine
Pacific Green
Green & Tangerine
Clown / G-Project
Sykes Emerine
Lime Emerine
Lavender Striped Emerine
Striped Emerine
Emerines
- Type: Polygenic
- First Produced by: Ron Tremper
- Alias: Emerald
- Year: 2004
The original purpose of the Emerine was to line breed for green coloration. As a line of Tangerine, these have been bred specifically for they greens. Over time they have branched off into several projects and lines.
This unique color mutation was noticed by Ron and line bred from there to produce many different variations of greens. Emerine is considered a base morph and you can label your crosses as Emerines.
Health
Fertility: Great • Eye: Great size • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Standard • Neurological: None • Tail: Standard
Characteristics
-
Head: There are many head variations and pattern types. None set in stone.
-
Body: Can be in banded, jungle, striped and reverse stripe. Green undertones but nothing yet is completely green.
-
Adults: Display intense and not-intense greens throughout the body.
Firebolds
Content Coming Soon…
These are a line bred Tangerine Bold originally started by Italian Breeder Carlo Maia. As I understand it, the first malewas an Electric bandit cross from Monsoon Reptiles. Carlo bred this animal into an Afghan Tangerine, Redstripe, Hyper Xanthic and then several Tangerines.
John Scarborough took over the project in 2013 and mixed them into his best Bold Tangerines which carried Bandit lines from Gecko Genetics. They have since been line bred by John into what they are today.
One of the most beautiful Polygenic Morphs out there today, You can pick up a quality Firebold from many trusted breeders. My personal favorite being Joe Yingling of Lake Erie Leopard Geckos (LELG) or “Head Pattern Guy” as I sometimes call him.
Links:
Hyper Xanthic
- Type: Recessive
- Creator: Jeff Galewood – JMG Reptiles
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First hatched 2012. Xanthism is a relatively unknown term that means “yellow”.
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: n/a • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: CONTENT
Links:
Mack Snow
- Type: Incomplete Dominant
- Discovered by: John and Amy Mack of Reptiles by Mack
- Gene: Heterozygous
- Year: 2004
Random find, the Macks came across hatchlings that they described as “looking like snow”. They have a white-ish base color, speckled with black dots with a tendency for yellow tones.The following season they bred them back to each other and created normals, snows and super snows. Super Snows are the homozygous form of the Mack Snow gene and are born with roughly a 25% chance.
Note: Mack snows are one of the few morphs that are not proven to be consistently temperature sex.
Health
Fertility: Temperature sex inconsistencies • Eye: Good • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Slower than normal • Neurological: Good • Tail: Good
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Banded view. Some are white and dark and others can be a light yellow and dark.
- Juveniles: Bands and head coloration start to match as they grow.
- Adults: Full body coloration match. Decreased amount of yellow pigment.
Monarch
- Type: Tangerine Bold Line
- Discovered by: John Scarbrough
- Gene: Line
- Year: 2024
Description Here
Health
Fertility: Temperature sex inconsistencies • Eye: Good • Deformities: None • Growth rate: Slower than normal • Neurological: Good • Tail: Good
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: Content
- Juveniles: Content
- Adults: Content
Reverse Stripe
- Type: Recessive
- Creator:
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First hatched 2012. CONTENT
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: n/a • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: CONTENT
Links:
- Bold Stripe
- Firebold
- etc
Snows
- Type: Recessive
- Creator:
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
First hatched 2012. CONTENT
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: n/a • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: CONTENT
- Juveniles: CONTENT
- Adults: CONTENT
Links:
Mack:
TUG:
Gem:
Albey:
Hi! Click the Photo on this one.
Wild Caught
- Aka: Normal
- Type: Dominant
- Creator: Evolution
The “common leopard gecko” (Eublepharis Macularius) is a ground dwelling gecko native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, pakistand, India and Nepal. It has become a popular pet and has become known as the first domesticated species of lizard.
First described as a species by zoologist Edward Blyth in 1854 as Eublepharis Macularius. Eublepharis (a generic name) is the combining of two Greek words “Eu and Blepharos” which mean Good Eyelids.
Health
Fertility: sound • Eye: good • Deformities: none • Growth rate: standard• Neurological: sound
- Teeth: are polyphyodonts and are able to replace each one of their 100 teeth every 4 nmonth. Next to the full grown tooth is a small replacement tooth developing from the odontogenic stem cell in the dental lamina
- Tail: distinctly thick and store fat they act as an energy reserve that they use as a source of nourishment that they can utilize if there is no available food supply. Leopard geckos have the ability called “autotomy”. Their tails can regenerate when lost. They typically lose them when being hunted by predators. The tails jump around dramatically when dropped distracting predators so they can get away.
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: on average are 2.8 to 3.9″ and weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 g.
- Juveniles: on average are 4 to 7″ long and can weigh between 20 to 45 g.
- Adults: females are about 7 to 8″ long. They can weigh between 50 and 70 g. Males are 8″ to 11″ long and can weigh 60 to 110 g
Links: Wikipedia
Aliases: Wild Type, Classic, Common, Normal or Banded Gecko
White and Yellow
- Type: Dominant
- Creator: Sergey and Raise Prohorchik of Prohorchik Reptiles
- Gene Proving method: Medelian Inheritance
White and Yellows first appeared in 1996. Breeders from Belarus saw the morph spontaneously appear in their collection as a random mutation. A Female that looked different than all the others. She was later bred back to her Sire and the results put them on the path to proving the new gene. The strong white or yellow coloring from the first batch of hatchlings is how the name was coined. In 2002 Sergey and Raise sold their first batch of White and Yellow Leopard Geckos. A large amount were sold to Russia, the others across Europe.
Health
Fertility: n/a • Eye: n/a • Deformities: n/a • Growth rate: n/a • Neurological: n/a • Tail: n/a CONTENT NEEDED
Characteristics
- Hatchlings: polymorphic look.
- Juveniles: Intense white and yellow look. Especially when crossed.
- Adults: Color starts high on the sides and the belly in white.
Links: Prohorchik Reptiles Leo-Wiki