Question 1

What are the main types of genetic inheritance in leopard geckos?

Accepted Answer

•	Recessive: Needs two copies to show visually (e.g., Tremper Albino, Eclipse, Blizzard).
•	Dominant: One copy shows (e.g., Enigma, White & Yellow).
•	Co-Dominant (Incomplete Dominant): One copy = visible trait, two copies = super form (e.g., Mack Snow → Super Snow).
•	Line-bred/Polygenic: Controlled through selective breeding over generations (e.g., Tangerine, Bold).

Question 2

What are the 3 main albino strains?

Accepted Answer

•	Tremper Albino (aka Texas Albino)
•	Bell Albino
•	Rainwater Albino (aka Las Vegas Albino)

Note: These strains are not compatible. Never mix them.

Question 3

What is NDBE?

Accepted Answer

Noir Désir Black Eye is a recessive eye trait from Gecko Genetics tangerines. Often intensifies color. Females are commonly infertile and may show eye deformities.

Question 4

What is Hyper Xanthic?

Accepted Answer

•	Developed by JMG; characterized by bright yellow (xanthic) coloration and high contrast.

Question 5

What is a Tangerine?

Accepted Answer

Popular Tangerine Lines
•	Blood – JMG Reptiles
•	Black Blood
•	Purple Blood – From Sin City Gecko’s pure Blood group.
•	Blood Emerine
•	Blood Hypo – Blood mixed with Hypo traits.
•	Electric – HISS line
•	Mandarin – A derivative from Gecko Genetics
•	Torrid – Albey Scholl line
•	Tangerine Tornado – TUG line
•	Atomic – A&M Gecko line
•	Purple Head – Lavender-tangerine combo from GeckoBoa
•	Afghan Tangerine – Line-bred crosses with Afghan heritage (Ultimate Gecko)
•	Inferno – Luxurious Leopards; combination of Albey, TUG, and Electric lines
•	Hot Gecko Tangerine – From Dan Lubinsky; foundation for the Firewater line

Question 6

What is an Emerine?

Accepted Answer

•	“Emerine” refers to geckos selectively bred for green coloration, often just a variant of Tangerine lines.

Popular Emerine Lines
•	Pacific Green – Kyle Golinveaux
•	Sykes Emerine – Steve Sykes
•	G Project – Matt Baronak; derived from A&M’s Rainbow Stripe line
•	Clown – Combination of G Project, Electric, and other Tangerine lines
•	Green & Tangerine – Ultimate Gecko
•	Blood Emerine – Crosses between Blood and Emerine lines

Question 7

Is Giant/Super Giant a gene?

Accepted Answer

Debate exists. It behaves recessively or could be line-bred. True SGs are rare and often confused with overfed geckos. Focus on length, not weight.

Question 8

Are there dominant traits in leopard geckos?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Examples:
	•	Enigma: Linked to severe neurological issues (“Enigma Syndrome”).
	•	White & Yellow: Brightens color and pattern.
	•	Lemon Frost: Prone to tumors—avoid breeding. (Some sources have it listed as incomplete dominant)
	•	Gem/TUG Snow: Possibly just line-bred versions of each other.
	•	Ghost: Rare, acts dominant.
	•	Line-Bred Snow: May act dominant or polygenic.

Question 9

What’s the best-known co-dominant morph?

Accepted Answer

Mack Snow
	•	One copy = lighter coloration
	•	Two copies = Super Snow, usually with solid black eyes

Question 10

What are some common line-bred traits?

Accepted Answer

•	Hypo / Super Hypo: Reduced or no black spotting on body
•	Carrot Tail/Head: Orange tail/head
•	Baldy: No head pattern
•	Tangerine lines: Blood, Electric, Inferno, Mandarin, G Project, etc.
•	Emerine: Selective breeding for green tones
•	Lavender, Bold, Jungle, Stripe, Red Stripe: Based on visual traits, refined over generations

Question 11

What are Melanistic Lines?

Accepted Answer

These are dark-colored geckos, often black or nearly black. Some are misrepresented.

True Melanistic Lines
•	Black Pearl
•	Charcoal – JMG line
•	Black Night – Created by Ferry Zuurmond.
•	Carbon – Ultimate Gecko’s melanistic project
•	Akoya – A name used for Black Pearl x Charcoal x Black Night crosses

⚠️ Caution: Not all dark geckos are Black Nights. Many labeled as such are mixed with hets or snow and are not pure.

Question 12

What are combo morphs? Part 1

Accepted Answer

Names for geckos with multiple traits. Common combos include:

Tremper Albino Combos:
	•	Raptor: Tremper + Eclipse
	•	Nova: Tremper + Eclipse + Enigma
	•	Diablo Blanco: Tremper + Blizzard + Eclipse
	•	Dreamsickle: Mack Snow + Tremper + Eclipse + Enigma
	•	Ember: Tremper + Eclipse + Murphy Patternless
	•	Aptor: Patternless Tremper het Eclipse

Bell Albino Combos:
	•	Radar: Bell + Eclipse
	•	White Knight: Bell + Blizzard + Eclipse

Question 13

What are combo morphs? Part 2

Accepted Answer

Rainwater Albino Combos:
	•	Typhoon: Rainwater + Eclipse
	•	Cyclone: Rainwater + Eclipse + Patternless
	•	Firewater: Rainwater + Tangerine + Albino (Hot Gecko line)
	•	Lava: Exceptional Firewater variant

Other Combos:
	•	Galaxy/Total Eclipse: Super Snow + Eclipse
	•	Universe: Super Snow + Eclipse + W/Y
	•	Snowglow: Tangerine + Snow + Albino
	•	Creamsicle: Line-bred Tangerine + Snow
	•	Banana Blizzard: Blizzard + Murphy Patternless
	•	Super Platinum: Super Snow + Murphy Patternless

Question 14

What Terms to Know?

Accepted Answer

•	Hybino: Hypo + Albino
•	Sunglow: SHTCTB + Albino
•	Pastel Raptor: Selectively bred pastel-colored Raptors
•	Sunrise/Sunset: Tang + Albino + Blizzard (from Nick Stark line)
•	Raining Red Stripe: Red Stripe + Rainwater Albino
•	G Project: Tangerine line from A&M’s Rainbow Stripe
•	Bandit / Halloween Mask / Firebold: Bold stripe lines
•	Stonewash/Diorite: Unique patterns and speckling

Question 15

Incomplete Dominant / Co-Dominant Traits

Accepted Answer

One copy shows a visual effect. Two copies result in a stronger, “super” form.
•	Super Snow x Super Snow
→ 100% Super Snows
•	Super Snow x Snow
→ 50% Super Snows, 50% Snows
•	Super Snow x Wild Type
→ 100% Snows
•	Snow x Snow
→ 25% Super Snows, 50% Snows, 25% Wild Type
•	Snow x Wild Type
→ 50% Snows

Question 16

Recessive Traits

Accepted Answer

•	Visual Albino × Visual Albino
🧬 Result: 100% Visual Albinos
•	Visual Albino × Het Albino
🧬 Result: 50% Visual Albinos, 50% Het Albinos
•	Visual Albino × Wild Type
🧬 Result: 100% Het Albinos
•	Het Albino × Het Albino
🧬 Result:
•	25% Visual Albinos
•	75% that are genetically not visual
•	Of that 75%, statistically:
•	50% are Het Albinos
•	25% are Wild Type (but indistinguishable from hets, so all are labeled 66% possible het Albino)

Question 17

Dominant Traits

Accepted Answer

One copy is enough to express the trait.
•	2 Copy W/Y x 2 Copy W/Y
→ 100% 2 Copy W/Ys
•	2 Copy W/Y x W/Y
→ 50% 2 Copy W/Ys, 50% W/Ys
•	2 Copy W/Y x Wild Type
→ 100% W/Ys
•	W/Y x W/Y
→ 25% 2 Copy W/Ys, 50% W/Ys, 25% Wild Type
•	W/Y x Wild Type
→ 50% W/Ys

Question 18

What is a “het” gecko?

Accepted Answer

“Het” stands for heterozygous, meaning the gecko carries one copy of a recessive gene. It looks normal (wild type), but can pass that gene on to its offspring.

Question 19

What does “homozygous” mean?

Accepted Answer

In simple terms, homozygous means the gecko has two copies of the same gene. This is sometimes also called a “super” form. A gecko that is homozygous for a trait will always visually express that trait (if it’s not hidden by other genetics).

Question 20

Why is breeding ethics such a big deal in the reptile hobby?

Accepted Answer

Ethical breeding practices are vital for preserving genetic clarity, preventing long-term issues in morph identification, and maintaining the health of future generations. With morph combinations becoming increasingly complex, irresponsible breeding can quickly muddy gene pools and create irreversible confusion—especially with hidden hets or mixed morph lines.

Question 21

Why are reputable breeder geckos so expensive compared to pet store geckos?

Accepted Answer

Because reputable breeders invest in:
	•	Clean genetics
	•	Lineage documentation
	•	Morph testing
	•	Ethical breeding practices

You’re paying not just for the animal, but for the peace of mind, predictability, and integrity of the genetics behind it.

Dreaded

23 y/o Small batch gecko breeder & reptile nerd in WA 🌲Sharing the wild, weird, and wonderful side of reptile life 🦎🖤

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