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Phantom Line
NAMING COLLISION: Phantom is a recessive gene (per Foundation Genetics), the name of a pinstripe look (Phantom Pinstripe), and a loose line name for animals with ghostly, reduced-contrast patterning. Always ask which the seller means.
Phantom is one of the trickier terms in crested gecko vocabulary. Foundation Genetics identifies Phantom as a simple recessive gene: two copies add dark pigment and mute pattern, and one copy (Het Phantom) looks normal. In Geck Inspect a plain "Phantom" tag means a visual Phantom. "Phantom Pinstripe" is the hobby name for a pinstripe whose raised dorsal scales stay the base color, a look Foundation Genetics links to the same gene. Some breeders also use "Phantom line" for any project animal with low-contrast, washed-out patterning, which may or may not involve the gene. Ask the seller which they mean before assuming.
Founder: No single founder; term is used inconsistently in the hobby. Origin: United States and Europe. Established: mid-2010s usage. Typical price: $300-$900.
How to identify the line
- Always ask the seller: "Do you mean the Phantom gene (visual or het), Phantom Pinstripe, or a Phantom line look more broadly?"
- A visual Phantom bred to another visual Phantom should give all Phantom babies; that is the cleanest proof the gene is there
- Phantom Pinstripe is well-recognized; broader Phantom lines are not standardized
- Compare contrast levels between Phantom and standard animals from the same breeder
Canonical URL: https://geckinspect.com/MorphGuide/lines/phantom-line
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