Line-Bred Leopard Gecko Morphs

[AntMan612]

If I understand the concept correctly, line breeding to enhance a desireable genetic trait would likely involve a succession of inbreeding (i.e., by pairing the best offspring with each other over several generations). This brings to mind a few questions: 1) Do you ever experience problems with health-threatening birth defects, as a result? 2) Are there certain rules/guidelines that breeders typically follow to avoid such problems? 3) How many generations is it considered safe to progress, before needing to introduce a new bloodline into the gene pool?

 

[Ccrashca069]

I have looked at some line-breed tangs and I was not impressed with them. Either you get the awesome color and no carrot tail or you get the carrot tail but a faded washed out tang color.

I have also seen some Line-Breed Snows that are awesome looking.

So maybe it depends which morph you want to line breed.

 

[Mel&Keith]

We try to have at least 2 pairs of the same morph from different lines so that we can cross the offspring of one back to the other. You can breed hatchlings back to a parent or to each other but it's definitely important to out-cross every couple generations. In breeding for too many generation can result in many problems such as kinked tails, pig tails, turnip (extra short) tails, failure to thrive, as well as many other issues.

It's usually not too hard to find someone working on a similar project that's willing to trade for out-crossing.

 

[fallen_angel]

I love the line bred snows, they really are amazing! I read that a "tail-kink" came from this line breeding, but that is just an ascthetic deformity, not an actual health-problem. Plus, not all line breds have the tail kink (ours doesn't). Perhaps your best bet is to PM someone who has line bred, like Albey.

As Mel said, many other problems can arise.

 

[AntMan612]

Interesting. Sounds like it would be okay for a couple of generations for a hobbyist, but more complicated for a commercial breeder.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Yes, basically, it just gets more difficult if you're trying to have a line that everyone knows you for. Marcia could probably shed more insight on this. She's specialized in Patternless for years. When they first came out, they were inbred to be reproduced (like any new morph) and most of them had kinked tails. She's been able to create an identifiable line without the ill affects of too much inbreeding.