Back in the 1970s, little was known about leopard geckos. They were being captured and imported into the United States to be sold as pets. Leopard geckos are typically classified into various species and subspecies.
The term "morph" refers to the different colors, genetics, and size variations found in geckos. These traits are typically inherited genetically, such as color or pattern. "Morphs" originally arose from genetic mutations that made these geckos different from others. These unique geckos stood out in the wild, making them more visible to predators.
Today, there are numerous leopard gecko morphs available, including recessive morphs such as Murphy Patternless and Blizzards, dominant morphs such as Enigma, and combos such as R.A.P.T.O.R.s, as well as poly genetic and co-dominant morphs such as Giants.
The carrot tail trait is often seen in Albey's Tangerine line and in the R.A.P.T.O.R.s, and has appeared in many different morphs. This trait is characterized by an orange pigment at the base of the tail, which may cover up to 90 percent of the tail. To qualify as a carrot tail, the tail must be at least one-quarter orange. Although it is rare, sometimes the tail can be entirely covered in orange. The carrot tail trait is line bred, meaning that two of these geckos are bred together, and their offspring will usually possess the carrot tail. The carrot head trait is also exclusive to Tremper Albinos and is characterized by orange spots on top of a leopard gecko's head.
Breeding leopard geckos requires considerable responsibility, space, time, and resources. It is important to consider what will happen to unsold babies and to be prepared to care for them.