How to Read a Crested Gecko Pedigree
What a crested gecko pedigree actually tells you: generations, het notation, visual versus carried traits, and how to verify lineage before you buy.
When you buy a crested gecko beyond pet quality, you are not just buying the animal in the photo, you are buying its genetics, and a pedigree is how those genetics are documented. A good pedigree answers questions a single photo never can: what is this animal carrying that you cannot see, how consistent is the line behind it, and can any of it actually be verified. This guide explains how to read one.
At its simplest, a pedigree is a family tree with genetic information attached. The animal sits at the bottom, its sire (father) and dam (mother) sit above it, their parents above them, and so on back through as many generations as the breeder recorded. Each node ideally carries the animal identifier, its visual traits, and any known heterozygous (het) traits.
This is why recessive traits like axanthic make pedigrees essential. Axanthic is recessive, meaning an animal needs two copies to look axanthic. A gecko with one copy is het axanthic: normal-looking, but able to pass the trait on. If you pair two het axanthics, roughly a quarter of the offspring are visual axanthic. None of that is knowable from the animals in front of you. It is only knowable from the pedigree behind them, which is exactly what makes lineage records worth money in this hobby.
Published 2026-07-08.
TL;DR
- A pedigree is a family tree with genetics attached: it shows the sire and dam back through as many generations as the breeder recorded.
- Visual traits are what you can see. Het (heterozygous) traits are carried but hidden, and only a pedigree or a test breeding reveals them.
- Depth matters: a two-generation pedigree is a starting point, a four-plus generation pedigree is real provenance.
- A pedigree is only as trustworthy as its source. Look for verifiable lineage tied to each animal, not a name typed into a listing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crested gecko pedigree?
A pedigree is a documented family tree for a crested gecko: its sire and dam, their parents, and so on back through as many generations as the breeder recorded, with the visual and heterozygous (het) traits noted at each level. It tells you what an animal is carrying genetically, not just what it looks like.
What does het mean on a crested gecko pedigree?
Het is short for heterozygous: the animal carries one copy of a recessive trait but does not visually express it. A het axanthic gecko looks normal but can pass axanthic to its offspring. Because hets are invisible, they can only be known from a documented pedigree or proven through test breeding.
How many generations should a good pedigree have?
Two generations (the parents) is a starting point but says little about consistency. Four or more generations, with traits that repeat down the line, is real provenance and is what distinguishes a documented project animal from a nice-looking gecko with an unverified story.
How do I verify a crested gecko pedigree before buying?
Trace each trait and het claim back to an ancestor that supports it, and ask the seller for verifiable records, not just names typed into a listing. A verifiable digital pedigree or passport that ties each ancestor to a real record and transfers with the animal is the strongest form of proof. If a claim cannot be supported by the lineage, price the animal as unproven.
Why does pedigree matter more for recessive traits?
Recessive traits like axanthic are invisible in carriers, so a normal-looking gecko may or may not be het for them. The only way to know is the pedigree behind the animal. That hidden information is exactly what makes documented lineage valuable, it lets a breeder plan pairings that produce visual recessives.
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