Are snake eyes a negative with a mutation?

[anfsurfer]

Hello,

I've been looking around to acquire my first Leopard Geckos. I'm planning on getting four. I visited a local breeder last week and fell in love with some morphs I never thought I would. I placed a hold on a Diablo Blanco and an Ember. There was one Snake Eyed version of each of these that were less than the Red Eyed versions. I thought these were so beautiful with their simpler body colors and their very distinct Snake Eyes. I preferred them to the Red Eyed versions. To be honest, I couldn't even see that the others had Red Eyes, they just looked dark.

My question is, are Snake Eyes thought of as a lesser quality of these mutations? Would they be considered a bad quality of these morphs and a poor example to breed with if I chose to do so down the line?

 

[jbs81890]

Snake eyes are just a lesser version of full eclipse. They still have the eclipse gene present in the phenotype but just not full eclipse eyes. To some yes snake eyes are lower quality but yoi can produce full eclipse eyes with two snake eyed parents.

 

[RampantReptiles]

It all depends on the breeder and what the project is and what you are trying to achieve. Some people only like solid eyes, some only like snake eyes. I personally price my solid eyed animals slightly higher since it is often more difficult to produce a solid eye than a snake eye.
In no way are partial eye animals inferior genetically or bad to breed. They are just different and can provide a nice variation among offspring. I also think that "abyssinian" or pigmented eyed geckos with no eye pigment are really neat looking, especially in the non albino version, so having a low percentage pigment eye would be more likely to produce an "abyssinian" than a solid eyed cross and in this situation more desirable.

 

[100yan]

In terms of genetics, solid-coloured eye Eclipses and snake-eyed Eclipses are absolutely identical being both homogenous in the Eclipse gene.

In terms of the phenotype, it is up to the preferences of the breeder and if you want - your esthetical criteria what you will rate higher. For me both of them are splendid and can not never say, that the snake-eyes are less attractive than solid eyes, especially concering the 50/50 snake eyes.

Bellow is an example of one of my snake-eyed females which I found gorgeous:

 

[anfsurfer]

Thanks everyone! That was exactly what I needed to know. I will probably end up getting the Diablo Blanco and Ember in Snake Eyes then....I just love em!!!

Do those who are owners get to appreciate the red eyes of eclipses? I was so psyched to own a Red Eyed Leopard Gecko, but because of their sensitivety to light, I was only able to view their eyes in a lower light setting, and they just looked dark. How do you get to appreciate them? Maybe that's why I'm so into the Snake Eyes. They're different and you can see them plain as day.

 

[Art Geckos]

Hey! Good Post - I like to have a variety of eyes too! And yes, its tuff to see 'ruby red' its more like a blackout , but in certain lighting [super dim] they look the coolest!

Here's a few from my collection with various eye pigmentation ;D [good choice with the ember/DB]

Ember

Equinsu Orcha!

Eclipse

Enigma

 

[Art Geckos]

Abyssian?? can anyone back me up on this? [CH High Contrast Rev. Strip]

 

[anfsurfer]

AWESOME PHOTOS!!! Thanks for posting Ben!
I haven't gotten any Geckos yet because I need to save for a rack first, but the Ember is tops on my list of morphs. I saw that breeders adults too and thought they were probably the most beautiful geckos out of all of them. Like the Diablo Blanco, they have to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Pictures just don't do them justice.

 

[katie_]

Snake eyes are hilarious. I always giggle when mine look at me.
I have a diablo with one snake eye and one solid. I love him.

 

[rigomez4]

I do prefer solid eyes in my eclipse. With that being said, I do not "fault" a leo because they have snake eyes. I look more at the overall picture of the gecko. Look at depth and purity of color, the carrotting on the tail, etc. That is more important to me than the eyes. Imho.

 

[RampantReptiles]

I doubt it but its possible. What were the parents?

Abyssian?? can anyone back me up on this? [CH High Contrast Rev. Strip]

 

[RampantReptiles]

Snake eye awesomeness

Solid eye awesomeness

Not eclipse but blizz snake eyes