A leopard gecko morph is a gecko bred for a particular colour, pattern, eye or size trait. There are well over 100 named morphs, but most are combinations of about 20 base genes and line-bred traits. The most common are Normal, High Yellow, Tangerine, Hypo, Mack Snow, the three albino strains (Tremper, Bell and Rainwater), Blizzard, Murphy Patternless, Eclipse and Enigma. All morphs need the same care, though a few carry health problems you should know about before you buy.
Below is a chart of the main morphs, how each one is inherited, the popular combinations breeders sell, which morphs have known health issues, and what they typically cost.
Leopard gecko morphs chart
| Morph | What it looks like | Inheritance |
|---|---|---|
| Normal (wild type) | Yellow body with black spots; banded as a hatchling | Wild type |
| High Yellow | Brighter yellow with fewer spots | Line-bred |
| Tangerine | Orange body, often with an orange tail (Carrot Tail) | Line-bred |
| Hypo and Super Hypo | Reduced spots; a Super Hypo has no spots on the body | Line-bred |
| Tremper Albino | Brown spots instead of black, pink or silver eyes | Recessive |
| Bell Albino | Lighter, pinker albino with pale pink eyes | Recessive |
| Rainwater Albino | Smaller and paler albino, often with a lavender tint | Recessive |
| Mack Snow | White or pale yellow with black spots, black and white bands as a hatchling | Incomplete dominant |
| Super Snow | White with black spots and solid black eyes | Two copies of Mack Snow |
| Blizzard | No pattern; white, grey or pale yellow | Recessive |
| Murphy Patternless | Spotted as a hatchling, fades to a plain lavender or yellow adult | Recessive |
| Eclipse | Solid black (or red, in albinos) eyes, often white on the nose and feet | Recessive |
| Enigma | Speckled, broken pattern instead of bands | Dominant |
| White and Yellow | White sides, bright yellow back, reduced spots | Dominant |
| Lemon Frost | Very bright yellow with a white frosted look | Incomplete dominant |
| Black Night | Dark brown to almost black all over | Line-bred |
| Giant and Super Giant | Normal colours, larger body (see our size chart) | Incomplete dominant |
Breeders also select for pattern traits such as Jungle (broken bands), Stripe and Bold Stripe, and these are often stacked on top of the colour morphs above.
How leopard gecko morph genetics work
Every morph is inherited in one of four ways. Knowing which one tells you what babies a pairing can produce.
- Recessive (albinos, Blizzard, Murphy Patternless, Eclipse). A gecko needs two copies of the gene to show it. A gecko with one copy looks normal but carries it, and is sold as "het" (heterozygous) for that morph.
- Incomplete dominant (Mack Snow, Lemon Frost, Giant). One copy shows the trait, and two copies give a stronger "super" form, such as Super Snow or Super Giant.
- Dominant (Enigma, White and Yellow). One copy shows the trait, and two copies look the same as one.
- Line-bred (High Yellow, Tangerine, Hypo, Black Night). Many genes are involved, so breeders improve the look over generations by pairing the best examples. Results are less predictable.
Some common pairings and what they produce:
| Pairing | Expected babies |
|---|---|
| Albino x Normal | All normal looking, all het albino |
| Het albino x Het albino | 25% albino, 50% het albino, 25% normal |
| Albino x Het albino | 50% albino, 50% het albino |
| Mack Snow x Normal | 50% Mack Snow, 50% normal |
| Mack Snow x Mack Snow | 25% Super Snow, 50% Mack Snow, 25% normal |
| Enigma x Normal | 50% Enigma, 50% normal |
The three albino strains are separate genes. A Tremper Albino bred to a Bell Albino gives normal looking babies that are het for both, not albinos. Breeders keep the strains apart for this reason, so always ask which strain an albino is.
Popular morph combinations
Combination morphs stack two or more genes and get their own names. These are the ones you will see most often.
| Combo name | Genes |
|---|---|
| RAPTOR (Red-eyed Albino Patternless Tremper Orange) | Tremper Albino + Eclipse, usually from orange lines |
| APTOR | Tremper Albino + Patternless orange lines, without Eclipse |
| Blazing Blizzard | Albino + Blizzard |
| Diablo Blanco | Tremper Albino + Blizzard + Eclipse |
| Snow Albino | Mack Snow + any albino strain |
| Super Raptor | Super Snow + RAPTOR |
| Black Night Mack Snow and other "dark" combos | Black Night lines + Mack Snow or Eclipse |
Do any leopard gecko morphs have health problems?
Most morphs are as healthy as normal leopard geckos. Three have known problems that you should weigh before buying.
- Enigma. Many Enigmas show Enigma syndrome, a neurological problem that causes head tilting, circling, stargazing and trouble catching insects. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can appear at any age. There is no cure.
- Lemon Frost. The Lemon Frost gene is linked to iridophoroma, a skin tumour that can be fatal. Super Lemon Frosts are the most affected.
- White and Yellow. Some keepers and breeders report neurological signs similar to Enigma syndrome, though less often. It is less studied.
Albino and Eclipse geckos often have sensitive eyes and poorer eyesight. They do well with the usual setup, but give them plenty of hides and keep any light gentle. Our leopard gecko light guide covers low-output UVB and day lighting that suits light-sensitive morphs.
How much do leopard gecko morphs cost?
Prices vary a lot by breeder, age, sex and how strong the look is. Rough US prices are:
| Type | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Normal and High Yellow | $30 to $80 |
| Common morphs (Mack Snow, Tremper Albino, Tangerine) | $75 to $200 |
| Combinations (RAPTOR, Blazing Blizzard, Super Snow) | $150 to $500 |
| Rare or high-end lines (Black Night, top Tangerine lines) | $500 to several thousand |
Hets and females usually cost less than visual males. Buy from a breeder who can tell you the parents and what the gecko is het for, and ask for a feeding record.
Do morphs need different care?
No. Every morph needs the same enclosure, heat, food and supplements as a normal leopard gecko: a tank of at least 36 x 18 x 18 inches, a warm side at 90 to 95°F, gut-loaded insects dusted with calcium, and a humid hide for shedding. Our leopard gecko care guide covers the full routine, and the starter kit checklist lists everything a new gecko needs.
If you want to go deeper into genetics before breeding, The Leopard Gecko Manual has a clear chapter on morphs and inheritance, and our leopard gecko books list covers more.
Leopard gecko morphs FAQ
How many leopard gecko morphs are there?
Well over 100 named morphs, but almost all are combinations of about 20 base genes and line-bred traits such as Albino, Mack Snow, Blizzard, Eclipse, Enigma, Hypo and Tangerine.
What is the rarest leopard gecko morph?
There is no single rarest morph, since new combinations appear every year. Black Night and high-end Tangerine lines are among the rarest and most expensive commonly sold today.
What is the most common leopard gecko morph?
Normal and High Yellow are the most common, followed by Mack Snow, Tremper Albino and Tangerine.
What does het mean in leopard geckos?
Het means heterozygous: the gecko carries one copy of a recessive gene, such as albino, without showing it. Breeding two hets gives about 25% visual babies.
Which leopard gecko morphs have health problems?
Enigma (Enigma syndrome, a neurological condition) and Lemon Frost (skin tumours) are the main ones. Some White and Yellow geckos show neurological signs too. Albino and Eclipse geckos can have sensitive eyes.
Do different leopard gecko morphs need different care?
No. All morphs need the same tank, temperatures, food and calcium. Light-sensitive morphs such as albinos benefit from extra hides and gentle lighting.