Lilly White Crested Gecko
The Lilly White is one of the most recognisable morphs of the crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus), a small arboreal lizard native to New Caledonia.
🗓️ Last reviewed: July 2026
Overview
The Lilly White is one of the most recognisable morphs of the crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus), a small arboreal lizard native to New Caledonia. It is prized for the bold cream to white edging that spreads across the back, flanks, and legs. Unlike most crested gecko traits, the Lilly White follows a clear genetic pattern rather than being purely line-bred.
What it is
Compared with a normal or wild-type crested gecko, which shows a fairly even ground colour broken up by fringing and pattern, the Lilly White carries large areas of pale cream to near-white that flood inward from the outer edges of the body. The lighter colour typically frames the dorsal area and washes down the sides and limbs, giving the animal a high-contrast, "painted" look that a standard crested gecko does not have.
The genetics
The Lilly White is an incomplete-dominant trait, which sets it apart from the many crested gecko looks that are only line-bred. A single copy of the gene produces the visible Lilly White appearance, so it does not need to be paired with a second hidden copy the way a recessive trait does. Importantly, the homozygous form - two copies, often called the "super Lilly White" - is lethal and non-viable. For that reason the trait is only ever worked with as a single-copy (heterozygous) animal, and there is no living super form on the market.
Appearance
The signature feature is the broad, bright cream to white edging that runs along the dorsal ridge, down the sides, and out onto the limbs and sometimes the head. The base colour underneath can vary widely - reds, oranges, browns, and near-black are all possible - so no two Lilly Whites look the same. As with crested geckos generally, colour and contrast can shift with mood and "firing up" or "firing down" through the day. Hatchlings often show the trait early, and the white areas usually become more defined and more contrasting as the animal matures.
How it is bred
In plain terms, recessive traits need two copies to show, so an animal can carry one hidden copy (a "het") without looking different. Dominant and incomplete-dominant traits like Lilly White show with just a single copy. Line-bred looks are different again - they are not simple on-off genes but the result of selecting the best-expressing animals over many generations. Because Lilly White is incomplete-dominant, pairing one Lilly White with a normal gecko passes the trait to roughly half the clutch on average. Two Lilly Whites are not paired to make "supers," since that double-copy form does not survive. Breeders can also stack Lilly White with other traits and line-bred looks to build combos.
Cost and availability
Lilly Whites are widely available and remain popular, so they are easy to find compared with rarer morphs. Price varies a lot with the underlying colour, contrast, and any additional traits stacked in - clean, high-contrast, or multi-trait animals sit at the higher end, while simpler examples are more modestly priced.
Health and ethics
The specific ethical point with this morph is the lethal homozygous form: breeding two Lilly Whites together will produce non-viable "super" embryos, so responsible breeders avoid that pairing and work with the trait only as a single copy. A single-copy Lilly White is otherwise a normal, healthy crested gecko with no special defect tied to its looks. As with any gecko, choose a reputable breeder who is open about genetics and lineage, and see a qualified reptile (herp) vet for any health concerns.
Care
Care for a Lilly White is the same as for any standard crested gecko - the morph changes appearance only, not the animal's needs. Provide the usual arboreal setup, temperatures, humidity, and diet recommended for the species. For specifics, follow guidance for crested geckos generally and consult a herp vet.
Lilly White Crested Gecko - frequently asked questions
Is the Lilly White a recessive morph?
No. It is an incomplete-dominant trait, so a single copy of the gene is enough to see it. This is unusual for crested geckos, where many looks are line-bred rather than simple genes.
Can you breed a "super" Lilly White?
No living super exists. The homozygous two-copy form is lethal and non-viable, so the trait is only kept as a single copy and two Lilly Whites are not deliberately paired to make supers.
Does the Lilly White trait affect the gecko's health or care?
A single-copy Lilly White is a normal, healthy crested gecko and needs the same care as any other. The only welfare issue is at the breeding stage, from the lethal double-copy form.