Bandit Leopard Geckos
A dark band across the snout and some bold marks on the head define the Bandit, which has a creamy yellow body and deep black markings. Because geckos from Bandit parents can hatch without the band, look for the mask in the photo instead of trusting the name.
About the Bandit gene
The Bandit is a line-bred leopard gecko known for its mask, a broad dark band between the eyes and the nostrils. The band sits on a head with far fewer spots than a normal's, and heavy black markings on a creamy yellow body finish the look. Whatever the label says, judge the head first.
Appearance
The identifying mark is the nose band. The head pattern behind it is cut down to a few bold markings, as Ron Tremper spent twelve years selecting for three or four. These body markings are a deep black on a cream to yellow ground and stay that way into adulthood to give strong contrast. Tremper albino Bandits are produced too, and Bandits come in striped and jungle patterns.
Some geckos have a more complete mask than others, and not every hatchling from Bandit parents gets one. Because those without the band still belong to the line and are sold as Bold Bandits, look for the band itself in the photograph instead of trusting the label.
Genetics
The Bandit is a polygenic line with no single gene behind it, which means there is no super form and no het. Breeders use two names for it, Bandit and Pos Bandit. Selection is what keeps the look, as breeders pair the best examples together and back to their parents. It is one of the bold lines, listed among the bold stripe lines with Firebold and Halloween Mask. The Rainbow Bandit is a named line built on Rainbow Stripe stock. Tremper built the Bandit from a random mutation for black pigment, first produced in 1995, and the Cinnamon albino first appeared in his Bandit line.