What could make a leo get spots?

[Zoe]

Are there any external factors that could make a super hypo develop spots?

Zoe

[DragnDrop]

If you check the "Leopard Gecko Manual", you'll find that the colour change isn't all that unusual. Near the end of the chapter "Effects of Incubation Temperature On Hatchling Sex and Pigmentation", he explains that adults can change colour due to many things, including environment and hormones. Breeding can cause it, as well as health issues and crowding. According to the author, " Few breeding adults maintain the intensity of colour that they exhibited as yearlings."

[Zoe]

Yeah, that I know, but I'm talking about actual spots. The leo I got had zero spots on her body, and after a shed she now has several.

Zoe

[Neo]

what dragndrop said about color is the same for spots cause technically spots are colors

[Blazin]

Yep! Seen this before in several animals. Stress,breeding,temperature changes and housing in groups can all cause spotting and color changes.

[Zoe]

Really, damn! Thats two for two super hypos I buy that get spots. Very frustating, all I want is a super hypo!

Zoe

[Neo]

did u get those 2 from the same breeder?

[Zoe]

Yup. They both had no spots when I got them, and then after a shed or two had a bunch, like 10 or something.

*cries*

Zoe

[Youkai]

How old were they when you bought them? Juveniles from superhypos, or juvies that look superhypo, quite often gain spots. Most superhypos you want to buy as slightly older animals...
I have some juvies I COULD sell as superhypos...but I deffinately would not, as I've seen time and time again that young animals will gain more spots.

[Zoe]

One was very young, a few weeks, so I wasn't too suprised. But the other was older, must have been a few months old.

Zoe

[Neo]

my guess would be that it's genetic and u should switch breeders.. it's not unusual to see pattern changes even at a few months old.

[Zoe]

How would that be genetic? And if it's not unusual, why switch?

Zoe

[Neo]

well if u were going for super hypos these breeders obviously dont have them cause they keep giving u ones w/ spots.. just my guess.. maybe u just got unlucky.. they're probably still very good geckos but super hypos are expensive and i wouldnt spend it on something that it's not

[Zoe]

They didn't give me ones with spots, techincally, they gave me super hypos that got spots weeks later. I dunno, I'm just frustrated!

Zoe

[Neo]

you should see if u can arrange something w/ that breeder

[damzookeeper]

Well, this might sound funny but maybe give you some hope if they are still young. I bought hypos (not supers) from a breeder and they had no spots when I got them, they were only a few weeks old, as they got older they developed quite a few sopts, like 20 or 30 or more, and then around 3 or 4 months they started losing the spots again along with turning bright orange. One that was bought as a hypo turned out to be a super hypo tangerine, another bought as a tangerine (not even hypo) has lost so many spots she would be considered a hypo, also they never got spots on thier legs or feet, just their backs. Well, heads and tails as well. lol.