Leopard geckos are a popular pet lizard known for their docile temperament, ease of care, and wide variety of color and pattern morphs. While most leopard geckos have yellow or tan base colors with black spots, through selective breeding a rainbow of colors has been produced over the years, including albinos, tangerines, lavenders, blues, and patternless. So can leopard geckos be pink? The short answer is yes, pink leopard gecko morphs do exist. However, true pink leopard geckos are quite rare. More common are lavender, red, and orange morphs that can appear somewhat pinkish depending on lighting conditions. This article will explore the genetics behind pink coloration in leopards geckos and discuss the most notable pink morphs like lavenders, pink whiteouts, and fancies.
Genetics of Leopard Gecko Color
Leopard gecko skin and pattern color is determined by two pigments:
– Eumelanin – Produces black/brown colors
– Xanthophores – Produce yellow/red colors
The distribution and concentration of these pigments produce the typical leopard gecko coloration of yellow base color with black spots and bands. Albino leopard geckos lack melanin production entirely, resulting in white skin and eyes. Selective breeding to isolate and enhance different pigment traits has allowed for a rainbow of color morphs. Two key genes involved are:
Tremper Albino – Causes a lack of black pigment, resulting in pale yellow to white coloration. When combined with other morphs it removes dark areas and enhances lighter colors.
Carrot Tail Baldy – Causes a lack of yellow/red xanthophore pigment. Removes yellows and enhances darker greys and lavenders.
Common Pinkish Leopard Gecko Morphs
While true bright pink leopard geckos are quite rare, here are some morphs that can appear pinkish:
Lavenders – Caused by combining the albinism and carrot tail baldy mutations. Removes black and yellow pigments, resulting in a light purple or lavender color. The lack of dark pigments causes lavenders to appear more pink, especially when young.
Pink Whiteouts – Leucistic geckos that lack most skin pigment. Their transparent skin reveals the pink color of their circulatory system underneath, giving them a distinctive pinkish hue.
Fancies – Bred for reduced spotting and unique colors like peach, apricot, and deep orange. Their light base color coupled with orange hues can make some fancies appear very light pink.
Tangerines – Vibrant orange and red morph produced by enhancing xanthophores while suppressing melanin. Tangerine neonates often look vivid pink at hatching before developing more orange tones with age.
Reds – Recently developed mutation that causes a dark burgundy red coloration. Very young reds can sometimes appear pink before intensifying.
| Morph | Genetics | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Albino + Carrot Tail Baldy | Light purple with pinkish hues |
| Pink Whiteout | Leucistic | Transparent pink skin |
| Fancy | Selective Breeding | Peach/apricot with pink tones |
| Tangerine | Enhanced xanthophores | Vivid pinkish orange as babies |
| Red | Red color mutation | Burgundy red, pink as babies |
True Pink Leopard Geckos
Truly vibrant pink leopard geckos are still quite rare. Producing a true pink phenotype requires a precise combination of genetics and breeding. Two lines of pink leopard geckos do exist:
Galactic Pink – Very limited morph developed by breeding together snow albinos, rainwaters, and orange hues over multiple generations. Has a bright baby pink base color with faint banding.
Cinderpink – Newer pink strain produced by combining Raspberry morphs, known for their rich red-pink colors, with Blazing Blizzard genetics to remove dark pigments. Result is a striking uniform pink color.
Both galactic pinks and cinderpinks are exceptionally rare. But as breeding efforts continue to build on their genetics we are likely to see more vibrant pink leopard geckos in the future. They come at a high price though, sometimes commanding over $5000 per gecko.
Conclusion
While true bright pink leopard geckos are still quite rare and expensive, selective breeding has produced several morphs with distinctly pinkish hues. Lavenders, pink whiteouts, fancies, tangerines, and reds can all display varying shades of light pink. As breeders continue to refine and combine genetics, we will likely see more leopard geckos with exotic pink coloration emerge. But for now only a handful of lineages have achieved that vibrant baby pink look. With their friendly personality and manageable care though, these pink geckos are sure to become increasingly popular pets.
