Unveiling ChoCho: A Deep Dive into the Newest Crested Gecko Morph

The world of crested geckos is constantly evolving, with breeders continually pushing the boundaries of coloration and pattern. Among these exciting developments, a new morph has emerged from Korea that is generating significant buzz: ChoCho crested geckos.

This revolutionary recessive mutation, pioneered by acclaimed Korean breeder Sunju, is setting new standards for unique aesthetics and genetic complexity. Let's delve into what makes the ChoCho morph so special and its potential impact on the crested gecko community/hobby.

What is the ChoCho Morph?

The ChoCho (CC) morph introduces a distinctive reddish tint or overlay across the gecko's body. What sets it apart even further is its tendency to reduce or "eat away" at the white or orange pattern markings commonly seen in other morphs. This effect is somewhat akin to how sables or cappuccinos influence pattern reduction, but with a unique reddish outcome.

As hatchlings, Cho geckos often display intense reddish hues, which then undergo a fascinating color transformation as they mature. This journey can lead them through various shades of reds, oranges, pinks, and even browns, resulting in an exceptionally unique and captivating appearance that is often even more striking in person than in photographs.

visual Lilly White Chocho Crested Gecko (right)high white chocho crested gecko

chocho and LW CC Crested Geckos

Below is an interview with the founder of the chocho gene, Sunju Kim.  Sunju explores the discovery and development of the ChoCho gene in Crested gecko, including its accidental origin, genetic inheritance, and the challenges of breeding this unique recessive morph. enjoy.

Sunju interview about chocho gene

 1. Q)Walk us through the moment you first saw the ChoCho hatchling — what made you immediately realize this was something new? A) From the first moment I saw him, I knew he was a new morph. He was ridiculously red. Born to non-red parents. Was different from Phantom. 

2. Q)What were the parents of the first ChoCho? Were they anything visually special, or completely unremarkable? A) CC's parents were high quality TRIs. It is impossible to distinguish by appearance.

3. Q)How long had you been breeding crested geckos before this happened, and how large was your colony at the time? A) I had more than 300 adults and breeding them even before I made CCs. The lilly I bought from you is still breeding.

4. Q)You mentioned that none of the geckos in the previous generations you tracked had red but was there something you saw that made you think there could be a new gene at play? A) CC is actually a morph that was created by accident. I didn't breeding to make CC. They were born to Tri parents with black bases. Also very red from the first day of birth. Definitely different from normal red bases. I was lucky. As soon as I saw them, I was sure they were the new morphs and proved them for four years.

5. Q)How many pairings did you use to confirm ChoCho is recessive, and how long did that process take? A) It started out as a pair. But the parents of CCs were geckos I had before. I was lucky that the parents who made CCs before making CCs did breeding with other Geckos and I had a few 50het CCs. I proved CCs without selling a single one for 4 years to prove this.

6. Q)You mentioned before that a ChoCho offspring from Lilly White 50% het CC paired with a CC confirmed the recessive inheritance. Aside from working with Lilly White, what other morphs did you originally breed chocho to? A)I've been breading their parents into different pairs even before I made CCs. So I had 50% het CCs and luckily crossed them to get Visual CCs and Lilly CCs. I was sure again then.

7. Q)You found that F2 visual ChoCho × F2 visual ChoCho pairings resulted in a very high rate of embryo deaths — 10 out of 14 eggs according to the article from IBExotics. How did you feel when you discovered that, and did it change your approach to the project? How much do you outcross in today’s chocho projects you have?A) CC is a febrile morph. Another febrile morph is AX. Early AX had many problems. There were many disabled individuals due to inbreeding. Most eggs made from inbreeding died during development. And there were also too many males who couldn't cross. You probably know. All of these problems are inbreeding. I know the problems of inbreeding so well. So I only did inbreeding once to verify CC in the early days, and I have done and still do the blood-sharing process for more than 5 years. Exactly 4 eggs were obtained from inbreeding. Three hatched properly. One of the three became male and two became female. The male died suddenly and one of the females became impossible to cross. CC should never be inbred either.

8. Q)What outcrossing strategies do you recommend for breeders working with ChoCho to avoid these issues? A) First of all, it is very important to meet a good breeder. It is recommended to purchase socially recognized breeder entities. It is also important to get an accurate grasp of their ancestors. It is recommended to breed with more than a cousin's lineage.

9. Q)At this point, are you now breeding visual ChoChos together or do you still have better luck from visual x het? A) I make Visual with Visual CC x het and het x het. But I don't do Visual CC x Visual CC.

10. Q)What combos are you most excited to see ChoCho expressed in? Lilly White, axanthic, sable, cappuccino or something else entirely? Do you have any pictures of ChoCho morph combos you want to share? A) CC goes well with all morphs. In addition, CCs irregularly express flame-shaped spots and purple light appears.

Chocho crested gecko babieschocho crested gecko (high white)chocho crested gecko (high white)chocho crested gecko (tricolor)Frappuccino chocho crested geckoCreamsicle chocho crested geckoRed Lilly white chocho crested geckoFrappuccino chocho crested geckoPurple coloration on a LW CC crested geckoCappuccino chocho crested gecko

11. Q)How do you feel about the gene spreading internationally? Are you in contact with breeders outside Korea working with ChoCho? A) I hope many people try to breed CC. In particular, CC's childhood is very mysterious.

12. Q)You named it “ChoCho” what’s the meaning or story behind that name? A) The reason I made my name CC is an expression of respect and love for my wife. She is someone who has always trusted me and stood by me since I was poorest. I wanted to express that gratitude to her. ChoCho is her nickname.

13. Q)How has the crested gecko breeding community in Korea responded to ChoCho? A)  It's an explosive reaction. It is one of the most popular morphs in Korea right now.

14. Q)What advice would you give to a breeder who is interested in breeding ChoCho? A)CCs are still of high importance for inbreeding. Never buy CCs that are inbreeding.

15. Q)What’s the next thing in your collection that you think could be a breakthrough? Any new morphs in the works?  A) I have all the morphs except albino. Pied and marbling, I'm planning to combine them with CC. Also I'm planning to develop the spot and purple of CC that are being made irregularly. I am also interested in albino made in the United States. However, albino also seems to need a lot of time to be free from inbreeding. 

Special thank you to Mr. Sunju for being available to chat with us regarding this beautiful new crested gecko gene and for providing photographs depicting how this gene expresses itself.

Investment and Value

Currently, ChoCho crested geckos command premium prices, reflecting their rarity and the complexity of their recessive genetics. While prices will naturally adjust as more breeders work with the morph, its recessive nature is expected to help it retain significant value over time, unlike some more easily mass-produced traits.

For those passionate about cutting-edge crested gecko genetics, getting involved with the Chocho project early offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of this exciting new morph. It's an intriguing journey of discovery, color, and genetic innovation.

Stay tuned as we continue to explore and document the fascinating development of the chocho crested gecko and its impact on the hobby!

-Tiki