Crested geckos come in a huge range of colors and patterns, and the names for them can be hard to sort out. The reason is simple: only a handful of morphs are true genetic traits with predictable inheritance. Most of the rest are selectively bred patterns and colors that blend into one another.
This guide groups the main morphs into three sets: genetic morphs, pattern morphs, and color morphs. It isn't exhaustive, since breeders keep inventing new labels, but it covers the names you'll see most often.
Genetic morphs
These are the traits with predictable inheritance, which makes them the foundation of most breeding projects.
- Lilly White: an incomplete dominant trait that gives bright white or cream patterning. Never pair two Lilly Whites, since the super form is considered non-viable.
- Cappuccino: an incomplete dominant trait with dark, coffee-brown tones. Don't pair two cappuccinos, since the super cappuccino is considered non-viable.
- Frappuccino: the combination of cappuccino and Lilly White, which looks like a Lilly White with a cappuccino poured over it.
- Axanthic: a recessive trait that removes yellow and red pigment, leaving grays, blacks and whites. It's rare and takes two copies to show.
- Super stripe: another rare recessive trait.
- Phantom: a recessive trait that shows up most often in combination with other morphs.
- Sable: a separate named morph that appears in most morph listings.
Pattern morphs
These are selectively bred, so expression varies from gecko to gecko and the lines between them blur.
- Flame: a lighter pattern along the back and sides, one of the most widely bred looks.
- Harlequin: a heavier pattern running down the sides and legs.
- Extreme harlequin: harlequin with pattern covering most of the body.
- Tricolor: a harlequin with three distinct colors in the pattern.
- Pinstripe: raised scales running down both sides of the back, in full, partial and dashed versions.
- Quadstripe: a pinstripe with additional stripes on the sides.
- Dalmatian and super dalmatian: spots scattered across the body, from a few to many.
- Tiger: side-to-side bands.
- Brindle: fragmented, uneven stripes, usually on light red, tan or yellow geckos.
- Bicolor: a base color with a second color on the sides.
- Patternless: little to no pattern.
- Empty back: a clear, patternless back with pattern on the sides.
- Porthole: small round markings along the sides.
Color morphs and other labels
Color labels describe a gecko's base color and can be paired with any pattern.
- Red, orange and yellow: the classic warm base colors.
- Cream and cream-on-cream: pale bases, with the second being a cream pattern on a cream body.
- Dark: deep brown or near-black bases.
- Lavender: a purplish-gray base color.
- Halloween: an orange and black look, popular with first-time keepers.
- Moonglow and white wall: names for pale, high-white looks.
You'll also see snowflake, hypo and other terms, as well as combo names like Sorak, which is a super cappuccino with Lilly White.
Reading a morph label
A name on a listing is only as good as the breeder behind it. Similar-looking geckos get different labels, and a high-cream harlequin can easily be mistaken for a Lilly White. Ask how the animal was identified and whether the parents are documented.
Above all, pick a gecko for its health, structure and temperament. Whatever morph you choose, the care is the same, and a healthy gecko is worth more than any label.
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