Numerous leopard gecko morphs are not genetic. One of those is the hypo. In this article, we’ll explain what a hypo leopard gecko is and how it is bred.
What is a Hypo Leopard Gecko?
A hypo leopard gecko is a name provided for a gecko that has between one and ten spots on the body. The head and tail are not considered when counting spots, as these generally have spots on them.
The size of the spots does not determine the hypo. For instance, a hypo leopard gecko could have one large spot or a couple of small spots on the body.
How do you Breed a Hypo Leopard Gecko?
Unlike some of the other morphs that we’ve covered before in the blog (Mack Snow, Ghost, Albino Tremper, etc.), the Hypo is not considered a genetic morph, but rather a line-bred trait or polygenic. What this means is that there is no guarantee when you breed a hypo leopard gecko that you will get a hypo leopard gecko in the offspring.
Even if you breed two hypos together, there is the chance of a normal being bred.
To work out whether the colour or pattern is genetic, it is about the odds. When breeding two of the same together, a recessive gene would always give 100% of that same look/pattern.
If the gene was co-dominate or dominant at least 50% of the offspring would have the same pattern/colour and 25% would either be a super form (like the Super Mack Snow) or the same pattern/colour (when there is no super form).
When hypos are bred, there is a random chance that the trait will display. And sometimes, a hypo will appear when neither lineage has displayed the hypo trait before. What breeders tend to do is to combine hypos together and test breed them to see how many of the leopard gecko babies keep the hypo gene. The best parents are often kept.
What is a Super Hypo Leopard Gecko?
Related to the hypo is the super hypo leopard gecko. This is a similar trait, but instead of there being a reduced set of spots on the body, there are no spots. Again, the super hypo leopard gecko is a trait rather than a gene. A super hypo leopard gecko can produce a wide range of appearances of babies without any consistency.
Again breeders try to use super hypos to breed other super hypo leopard geckos. One of the problems with super hypo leopard geckos is that they tend to be born with spots and these fade as they age.
Combinations to go with the Hypo Leopard Gecko Trait
There are lots of combinations that are often added to the (super) Hypo Leopard Gecko trait. For instance, a Tremper Albino Super Hypo Leopard Gecko is also known as a Sunglow. These can be rather expensive as they hold a recessive gene and a line-bred quality.
A Mack Snow Super Hypo is also known as a Creamsicle. This is a challenging gecko to try and breed because the Super Hypo is hard to breed on its own and then breeders have to ensure the Mack Snow is also in the mix.
A final, and more common trail combination is the Super Hypo, Tangerine, Carrot-tail (or SHTCT) combination. These can look stunning. And there is also a version that adds baldy to the combination.
What is a Baldy Leopard Gecko?
A baldy leopard gecko is an individual that has no spots on the head. It is rather distinctive. As with the hypo leopard gecko, the baldy is polygenic. And like the Super Hypo, their spots may appear when the leopard gecko hatches but fade before they reach full maturity.
Final Word: What is a Hypo Leopard Gecko?
A hypo leopard gecko is a beautiful trait. It’s genetic, but whether the hypo is a distinct morph, line bred or, a polygenic trait is still a matter of debate. That doesn’t mean it is very expensive, there are often numerous individuals available, but many breeders label them incorrectly. To be sure of a hypo, there must be 10 or fewer spots. For the individual to be a super hypo, they must have no spots on their body.
