Key Takeaway:
- Crested geckos are available in various morphs created through selective breeding.
- Morphs refer to physical variations, while lines refer to related ancestry in crested gecko breeding.
- There are 20 popular crested gecko morphs, each with unique characteristics, colors, and patterns.
- The cheapest crested gecko morph is often the “normal” or “wild-type” morph.
- Morphs and lines are terms used in crested gecko breeding to describe different aspects of appearance and genetics.
Crested geckos, also known as Rhacodactylus ciliatus, are popular pets due to their attractive appearance and docile nature.
Over the years, selective breeding has produced a wide variety of morphs, or color and pattern variations, in crested geckos.
In this article, we’ll explore 20 of the most popular crested gecko morphs, detailing their unique characteristics, colors, and patterns.
Whether you’re a seasoned crested gecko enthusiast or a newcomer to the hobby, this guide is a comprehensive resource for learning about the different morphs and finding the perfect one for you.
20 Types Of Crested Gecko Morphs
The 20 most popular types of crested gecko morphs have been listed below for your reference.
Solid Crested Gecko Morph
Also known as the Patternless morph, this morph of crested geckos is one solid color. These crested geckos do not have any patterns such as stripes or spots on them.
Bi-color Morph
A bi-color crested gecko is also patternless, but it has 2 colors instead of 1. It is a sub-type of a solid morph crested gecko.
Tricolor Morph
In continuation of the previous two morphs, the tri-color morph is one which is often patternless or may occasionally have some spots or stripes. It has three colors.
Harlequin Morph
The harlequin morph has a single solid color, known as the base color, on most of its body. Then on the dorsal, head, legs, and sides of the belly, it has stripes, spots, or some other pattern.
Flame Morph
The flame morph has a base color on its body and legs and contrasting stripes on its head and dorsum.
Green Flame Morph
The green flame morph has the same patterning as the flame morph. The difference is that it is visibly greenish in color.
A crested gecko does not have the pigments for blue and green colors. So the greenish pigmentation that you observe in this morph is actually a blend of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns, to finally make an olive greenish shade.
Tiger Stripe Morph
These crested geckos have a base color on the head, dorsum, tail, and legs. On the base color, you will notice vertical contrasting stripes that resemble a tiger’s stripes.
Axanthic Morph
The axanthic morph is one in which due to a genetic mutation, the crested gecko has greyish neutral colors of skin.
Pinstripe Morph
The pinstripe morph may look similar to a lot of other morphs. The reason behind it is that pinstripe crested geckos also show patterning similar to other morphs.
The only distinguishing feature of these morphs is the set of elongated scales that run from the neck to the base of the tail.
Dalmatian Morph
The dalmatian morph of crested geckos, as the name suggests, is one where the crested gecko has a lighter base color and its body is covered with small black spots.
White Spotted Morph
The white spotted morph can be thought of as the “anti-dalmatian” morph. In this, the base color of the crested gecko is usually darker and the body is covered with white spots.
Lilly White Morph
The Lilly white morph, as the name suggests, is one where the body of the crested gecko is completely white.
It is not a bright white color but a shade between white and off-white.
Whitewall Morph
The lower lateral of White Wall crested geckos is covered in a solid block of white or cream.
There should be no breaks in the white or cream, and a clear line separating it from the base.
Lavender Morph
The basic color of the gecko will be pale grey when it is fired down. The base color will be somewhat darker when fired up than when fired down, which will have a faint blue or purple tinge.
Wild-Type or Normal Morph
This is basically a crested gecko that hasn’t been selectively bred for any particular morphing mutations.
Such crested geckos are identical in appearance to the ones found naturally in rainforests.
Extreme Harlequin Morph
Any color combination may be seen on an Extreme Harlequin. This gecko differs from a typical harlequin in that it has a large amount of design.
An Extreme Harlequin will exhibit patterns all over the body, including the upper lateral region of the belly, neck, head, and occasionally even the underside of the belly, in contrast to Standard Harlequins, which typically exhibit patterns on the sides of the belly (typically within the lower lateral region) and legs.
Quadstripe Morph
Quad-stripe Crested Geckos are identical to typical pinstripes, but they have two well-defined lateral stripes on their bodies.
Creamsicle Morph
These geckos, which are often referred to as “Creamcicles,” have the same color scheme as the well-known frozen dessert by the same name.
The original classification of this morph called for an Orange base color with a Cream or White pattern, although in recent years, geckos with a Yellow base color have also been given this designation.
Halloween Morph
These geckos are black and orange, which are two really unique hues. A good example of a Halloween will have a base color that is Black (or nearly Black) and a pattern color that is Orange.
It doesn’t seem to matter, in terms of definition, if the orange pattern color appears as a light, bright neon, or dark orange; but the pattern must be clearly Orange – not yellow, cream, or white.
This gecko may appear as Gray and Orange or Lavender and Orange when it is not fired up.
Tricolor Harlequin Morph
This is a combination of the tri-color and harlequin morphs. It has a harlequin pattern but in three colors instead of two.
What Is The Most Common Crested Gecko Morph?
The most common crested gecko morph is the “normal” or “wild-type” morph, which has a base color of brown or grey with white or yellow spots and stripes.
This morph most closely resembles the natural appearance of wild crested geckos and is widely available in pet stores and from breeders.
What Is Crested Gecko Morph?
A crested gecko morph refers to a specific color or pattern variation in crested geckos (Rhacodactylus ciliatus) that is achieved through selective breeding.
Crested gecko morphs can vary in terms of their base color, pattern, and other physical characteristics, such as the presence or absence of crests, and can range from the natural “wild-type” appearance to highly sought-after and unique morphs.
The term “morph” is commonly used in the reptile community to refer to these variations, and there are many different morphs of crested geckos available to pet owners.
Can You Breed Different Morphs Of Crested Geckos?
Yes, you can breed different morphs of crested geckos to produce offspring with a variety of colors and patterns.
This is known as cross-breeding and can result in a mix of both parent morphs or new, unique morphs.
It’s important to note that the genetics of crested gecko morphs can be complex, and breeding different morphs can result in unpredictable outcomes.
Additionally, it’s important to only breed healthy, genetically diverse individuals to prevent health issues in offspring.
Breeding crested geckos should only be done by experienced and responsible breeders who understand the genetics and proper care for the species.
What Is The Cheapest Crested Gecko Morph?
The cheapest crested gecko morph is often the “normal” or “wild-type” morph, which has a brown or grey base color with white or yellow spots and stripes.
This morph is widely available and is usually less expensive than other morphs that are rare or have more unique coloring and patterns.
However, the cost of crested gecko morphs can also vary based on factors such as the breeder, geographic location, and the demand for the morph.
Additionally, more expensive morphs may also come with a higher cost of care, as they may require specialized care or diet.
It’s important to consider all these factors when deciding which morph to purchase and to research the cost of care for the specific morph you are interested in.
Morphs Vs Lines
In the world of crested gecko breeding, the terms “morph” and “line” are often used to describe different aspects of a crested gecko’s appearance and genetics.
A morph refers to a specific color or pattern variation in crested geckos that is achieved through selective breeding.
There are many different morphs of crested geckos available, each with its own unique characteristics and physical traits.
A line, on the other hand, refers to a group of crested geckos that are related through their ancestry.
Crested gecko lines can be traced back to a specific pair of parents or founder animals and are used to maintain and preserve certain traits or morphs within a population.
By tracking the genetics of a specific line, breeders can better understand the traits that are passed down from generation to generation and can more accurately predict the outcome of future breeding efforts.
In short, a morph is a physical variation in a crested gecko, while a line is a group of related crested geckos with a shared ancestry.
Summary
the world of crested gecko morphs is a fascinating one, offering a diverse range of colors, patterns, and characteristics.
Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or just starting out, you’re sure to find the perfect crested gecko morph for you.
The beauty of selective breeding is that it has created an endless variety of morphs, each with its own unique and captivating feature.
