Albino (Bell) Leopard Geckos
The Bell is an albino strain with light pink eyes and lavender tones. You cannot tell the difference between the three albino strains just by looking at a gecko. Because hatchlings from a Bell paired with a Tremper or a Rainwater look normal, the paperwork is just as important as the gecko.
About the Albino (Bell) gene
The Bell is one of three albino strains for the leopard gecko, alongside Tremper and Rainwater, and it is the one found most recently. Keepers buy the Albino (Bell) for its lavender-washed body and pale pink eyes. The Bell line also carries its own set of named combos.
Appearance
A Bell albino has a base with a lot of lavender in it and light brown spotting over it. The tail has the same lavender tone as the body. Most keepers check the light pink eyes first. While Bells often run darker than Tremper albinos, they do not always do so, and all three strains can be line-bred in different directions. Eye colour varies too. Some hatchlings have a pink iris and reddish pupils, but others have dark, near-normal eyes. The red tint fades as the iris thickens to a light golden colour and the animal matures. You cannot tell a Bell from a Tremper or a Rainwater with certainty by looking at it. Only the breeding records can.
Genetics
Because Bell albino is recessive, a gecko with one copy looks like a normal leopard gecko. The family includes Albino (Bell), Het Albino (Bell), 50% Het Albino (Bell), 66% Het Albino (Bell) and Pos Het Albino (Bell). These three albino strains are separate, incompatible genes. If you pair a Bell with a Tremper or a Rainwater, the young look normal while carrying both strains. Sorting out a line muddled that way is slow. RADAR (Bell with Eclipse) and White Knight (Bell, Blizzard and Eclipse) are combos built on Bell. Stealth and Super Stealth add Enigma and Mack Snow or Super Snow to a Bell Eclipse, while Lavender Bell crosses Bell with the line-bred Lavender trait. Mark Bell of Reptile Industries found the strain.
Known issues
Opinions differ on whether albino leopard geckos are sensitive to light. One group says photophobia is part of albinism because an iris without pigment cannot filter bright light. The other group believes albinos are no more light-shy than any other leopard gecko, which is a nocturnal animal that seeks shade anyway.