lethal and deleterious genes

Out of the many reptiles being bred these days, I know that some species have morphs that have deleterious/defective genes (is that the right terminology?) and some lethal. The ones I know that either cause defects or are lethal are:

Ball python: Spider, woma/pearl, desert
Leopard gecko: Enigma
Carpet python: Jaguar / Super Jaguar
Boa constrictor: Super Motley

Please correct me if I'm wrong with any of these. I got most of this info from googling. Are there more defects that a potential purchaser, or someone wanting to breed, should know?

I would recommend asking that question in the appropriate forum of that species, only because I know the problems with ball pythons, and there are way more than just 3 genes that can cause issues.

Originally Posted by Dbz4246

I would recommend asking that question in the appropriate forum of that species, only because I know the problems with ball pythons, and there are way more than just 3 genes that can cause issues.

Will do. With so many morphs of just one species, and many species in captivity, it's good to get info from people who has extensively worked with a particular species.

One of the most common beginner reptiles is the Leopard Gecko, so I think it is very important to mention this morph.

The Enigma Leopard gecko is a dominant morph and is very popular. Enigma on Leopard Gecko Wiki This is good, basic explanation about the Enigma morph, with a brief explanation near the end about the Enigma syndrome.

The Enigma syndrome is the name given to balance and locomotive issues of Enigma leopard geckos. They have, to varying degrees, difficulty moving, and this often increases due to stimuli. They sometimes have difficulty feeding themselves. Here's a well written article on it: Enigma Syndrome in Leopard Geckos: An Autosomal Dominant Disorder

A study was done in the UK on Enigma syndrome: TESS

Always ask about the lineage and health of the parents when looking to buy an Enigma leopard gecko, and don't breed ones with severe symptoms.

I am attaching the The Enigma Syndrome Study results here as well.