Leopard geckos come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. While some color morphs like normal, high yellow, and albino are quite common, others are extremely rare and hard to find. Breeders are constantly developing new color mutations through selective breeding, making some morphs rarer and more valuable. In the leopard gecko community, rare color morphs are highly coveted.
So what are the rarest and most unique leopard gecko color morphs? In this article, we’ll discuss some of the rarest and most exotic leopard gecko colors and patterns. We’ll look at how these morphs occur genetically, why they are so uncommon, and what makes them special in the reptile trade. Read on to learn about some of the most prized and beautiful leopard gecko specimens!
The Genetics Behind Leopard Gecko Colors
To understand rare morphs, it’s important to first understand the genetics behind leopard gecko colors. Normal leopard geckos have a yellow and brown spotted pattern on a tan or pale yellow base color. This pattern is controlled by two genes:
– The mainland or wild-type gene (M/m) – Causes the normal leopard pattern of spots and bands.
– The albino gene (A/a) – Removes black pigment when homozygous recessive (aa).
Other genes control the base color, including genes for yellow, orange, and melanin-based black/brown. Through selective breeding, new morphs are produced by modifying these core genes. Rare morphs occur when breeders combine unusual genes together in new ways.
Some other important genes that factor into rare morphs include:
– Patternless or stripe genes – Reduce pattern and create solid or striped morphs.
– Eclipse genes – Cause large black eyespots.
– Enigma genes – Create abstract broken patterns.
– Mack snow genes – Convert black to blue/grey.
– Giant genes – Increase size dramatically.
New morphs arise when breeders mix and match these genes in novel combinations. The rarer the genetic combo, the fewer breeding specimens exist, making some colors incredibly uncommon.
The Rarest Leopard Gecko Colors
Now let’s look at some of the rarest and most coveted leopard gecko color morphs sought after by breeders and collectors:
1. Gem Snow
The gem snow is an extremely rare snow morph created by combining three recessive genes – snow, yellow, and patternless. Gem snows have a bright vibrant yellow or orange base color with very reduced dark pigment. They are essentially patternless snow leopard geckos with a brilliant clean color. The lack of dark spots and bands gives them a unique pristine appearance.
Gem snows are challenging to produce because they require three rare recessive genes to coincide randomly during breeding. Even when gem snows are bred together, only a small percentage of the offspring inherit the right gene combo. As a result, gem snows are practically priceless in the reptile trade.
2. White & Yellow
White and yellow leopard geckos are another exceptionally rare morph with a striking bright color. As the name suggests, white and yellows have a clean white body set off by bright golden yellow bands and spots. The white base occurs due to a lack of melanin, while the vibrant yellow comes from carotenoid pigments.
Achieving this precise combination of white and yellow requires meticulous selective breeding over many generations. White and yellows remain one of the rarest mutation combos, commanding premium prices up to $5000 for breeding specimens. They stand out for their fiery golden patches contrasting with snow-white skin.
3. Purple Passion
The purple passion morph has an otherworldly violet-grey to lavender body color accented with dark markings. The unique purple hues result from high levels of lavender albinism that dilutes melanin and allows violet pigment to show through the skin.
Breeding leopard geckos with the exact lavender albino genes and pattern to produce purple passion’s vibrant violet colors is extraordinarily challenging. Their cosmic appearance makes purple passions highly coveted by collectors, and they remain an exceptionally rare find.
4. White Laced Super Giant
White laced super giants combine three rare traits – white lacing, giant genetics, and super giant genetics. White lacing reduces dark pigment leaving a network of white bands over the body. Giant and super giant genetics boost size up to 25% larger than normal.
The result is a massive leopard gecko with an intricate white laced pattern. As you can imagine, getting the genetics just right to produce white laced super giants is difficult. Their huge size and intricate lacing make white laced super giants an incredibly uncommon sight.
5. Black Pearl
The black pearl exhibits a deep dark grayish-black body color. Intense black skin pigment covers most of the body while allowing some normal patterning to show through faintly. Black pearls are created through selective breeding for dark pigmentation genes.
True jet-black skin remains exceedingly rare in leopard geckos. Black pearl is likely the darkest morph ever achieved. This sinister appearance causes black pearls to command high prices. Their rich dark coloration stands out as one of the most unique leopard gecko traits.
Why Are These Colors So Rare?
These rare color morphs are highly valued for their beauty, but why are they so unusually hard to produce? There are a few key reasons:
– They involve multiple recessive genes coinciding, which is statistically unlikely.
– Some genes that remove pigment result in health issues, limiting breeding success.
– Small gene pools exist for newer morphs, limiting mating options.
– The genetics are not fully understood yet for newer morphs.
– Most breeders focus on easier, more profitable morphs.
– Solid demand for rare morphs is still emerging.
However, with targeted breeding programs and genetic research, rare morphs can become more widespread over decades. For example, albino and patternless leopard geckos used to be extraordinarily rare, but are now commonly captive bred. Rare morphs gradually gain traction and availability in the trade through specialist breeders.
Breeding Rare Morph Leopard Geckos
Breeding leopard geckos with rare genetics takes passion, dedication, expertise, and plenty of luck. Here are some tips:
– Study genetics to identify compatible morphs that could produce the desired offspring.
– Connect with other breeders working with rare traits and exchange breeding stock.
– Invest in unrelated leopard geckos that already exhibit the rare traits.
– Expect low offspring numbers and be prepared to holdback generations for future breeders.
– Line breed siblings with desired genes to concentrate the rare traits.
– Cull unhealthy specimens unsuited for breeding.
– Promote and market the rare morphs to other collectors.
– Be highly selective when choosing breeding pairs.
– Document the pedigree and genetic history of specimens.
– Expect to take many years to establish rare morph lines.
– Enlist genetic testing services if needed to identify hidden genes.
With incredible patience and dedication, it’s possible for specialist breeders to develop new ultra-rare morphs.
Costs for Rare Leopard Geckos
So how much do these exceptionally rare gecko colors cost? They are certainly not cheap! Here are typical price ranges:
| Morph | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Gem Snow | $1000 – $5000+ |
| White & Yellow | $1500 – $5000 |
| Purple Passion | $500 – $2000 |
| White Laced Super Giant | $800 – $3000 |
| Black Pearl | $200 – $1000 |
Of course, prices vary based on breeding lines, genetics, age, gender, demand and morph combinations. The rarest specimens with top genetics can fetch prices above $5000. However, these creatures are truly one of a kind!
Finding Rare Morphs from Trusted Breeders
The best way to find ultra-rare leopard gecko morphs is through networks of specialist breeders. They dedicate themselves to these niche mutations.
Some top sources to find the rarest gecko colors include:
– MorphMarket – Online classifieds for rare reptiles.
– Facebook Groups – Connect with devoted leopard gecko breeding communities.
– GeckoBoa – Curated marketplace for exotic gecko morphs.
– Reptile Expos – Check local reptile conventions and shows.
– Direct from Breeders – Contact breeders working on rare projects.
When contacting breeders, ask questions about the origin, genetics, health, and age of the gecko. Ensure you see current photos and vet references. Rare morphs should come from ethical, responsible breeders with sound reputation.
Conclusion
The rarest and most coveted leopard gecko color morphs arise from improbable genetic combinations. Breeders devote huge efforts to manifesting these otherworldly colors and patterns. Rarity drives desirability and prices in the reptile trade, making exotic gecko morphs highly prized.
With innovative breeding and proper care, these magnificent living art pieces can thrive in captivity. For the gecko collector able to acquire them, it’s the chance to care for an incredibly uncommon creature. The genetics behind rare morphs provide insights into nature’s palette. We can appreciate these leopard geckos as masterpieces painted through the unseen hand of heredity.