what is this color phase?

[TribalGecko]

Hi, just wondering if anyone can tell me what this leo is called. I bought him as a leucistic 4 months ago as a hatchling and he had a distinct black and white pattern at the time. This is how he looks today and I am just wondering what his color/pattern is called. He doesn't seem like a true leucistic to me. I don't care one way or the other but it is nice to know what he is called.http://images.andale.com/f2/113/110/6962062/1057623028658_leucistic.jpg

[Ryan]

It is probably a Leusistic, I had one that looked very similar, some are just not blessed with the bright yellow.

[Tim and Julie B]

Leucistic. Some call those ones "chocolate". Not as brilliant as the yellow, but still a patternless:D

[TribalGecko]

Oh, okay. I got confused by the meaning. I thought leucistic meant "deviod of color" like the gorgeous leucistic rat snake I have my eye on! White and patternless and that is what they are calling leucistic. Well my leo is kinda dull, sorta a gray purple color but I still like him. I have noticed that many leucistics pictures I have seen have that crick in their tail. Or is that just coincidence?

[LISA127]

It is leucistic, actually patternless. I had two males that looked just like that.
One of mine also had that tail thing you're talking about.

[Zoe]

The term "leucistic" is not properly employed in this circumstance. It does mean devoid of colour. Blizzards would have been better candidates.

And yes, many leu's have kinks in their tails because the original leucistics were so inbred.

Zoe

[Clownfishie]

What you have is a patternless -- formerly known as leucistic (this is no longer the proper term -- there are no "leucistic" leos, although blizzards are close). Patternless leos vary in colour from a bright lemon yellow to a muddier brown/yellow. When your little one is fully grown, it should lose those last traces of "pattern" on its back...

Jen

[Emily-Fisher]

that looks like a patternless to me! A very cute one too :)

[TribalGecko]

Thanx for all the info. I did notice that at times he gets a yellow caste along the bumps on his back. Maybe he will get brighter as he ages.

[Blazin]

One more point on patternless. They also can be very variable under stress and even mode changes! I have seen beautiful yellow ones turn brownish grey when under stress. Also the statement up top about them being very inbred and alot of them have kinks is true. Another thing I have noticed is a good majority have a slower growth and development rate than most leopards. THEY NEED TO BE OUTCROSSED! Same with many albinos!

[andrea1784]

Definately a patternless. Many animals get brighter as they grow while many grow duller as they grow. My blizzard's colors change dramatically with the temperature and light intensity, check out these pics.

[andrea1784]

pic 1

[andrea1784]

pic 2

[TribalGecko]

Wow, love that white one! I am always looking to see pure white reptiles.