Albinos: More prone to health problems?

H

Hale

Guest
I'm - to my knowledge - getting an albino gecko (I've had geckos before) but as I've experienced - and constantly hear, albinos in general is deficiency in the genes, and thus their immune system is weak, and they are prone to tumors and such.

I read from another site - that I don't remember cuz I was googling - that one owner of an albino noticed a hard swelling by the geckos arm, and sometime later it had died. It is possible that it was a tumor because that is a very common area for tumors.

If so, does this happen often? Or is there a way to keep the gecko from having this occur and other such problems?
 

Mel&Keith

Mod Squad Member
Messages
7,181
Location
Pasadena, TX
Most albinos have been outcrossed enough through the years that they don't suffer the same problems as albinos of other species. There can definitely be congenital problems caused by weak genetics but but that can be with any morph. If you buy a gecko from a respectable breeder and take good care of it there will be less chances for problems like your friend had.
 
P

PacHerp

Guest
not at all in my experience... my albinos are some of my biggest and best growing geckos! :)
 
H

Hale

Guest
Well that is good then, because my friend's mom was telling me not to get albino because of the deficiency in their genes and they may end up with a lot of health problems...but I think the albinos are gorgeous.
 

TokayKeeper

Evil Playsand User
Messages
718
Location
Albuquerque, NM, USA
albino mammals tend to be prone to issues it seems, tumors, immune system problems, etc. However, albinism in reptiles appears to really not be an issue. Aside from any other issue(s), genetic or congenital disease/defect, the only problem I know of albino reptiles having is the inability to produce melanin or normal levels of melanin (such as the case in the 3 strains of albino leo gecko). The only reptile species that come to mind in not doing well in an albinism form are western hognose and pictus geckos. They, albino reptiles in general, may or may not have vision problem depending on the type of albinism they are. In general though most albinos have vision problems due to the lack on melanin within the eye itself. No melanin = no protection from the sun. You may have noticed many photos of Tremper albinos and some Bell albinos the animal's eye looks painfully closed. Aside from that, I know of no other genetic health issues in the 3 strains of albino leopard gecko. The Tremper line has been around since 96, Rainwater since 98, and Bell I'm not sure (99 or 00?). There have been thousands of them produced and no one's said anything to date yet.
 

Golden Gate Geckos

Mean Old Gecko Lady
Messages
12,731
Location
SF Bay Area
I think that the first albinos (all three strains) may have been weaker due to inbreeding when creating and proving out the genetics, but they have all been outcrossed and are just as robust as any other morph now.
 

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