Saffron or light saffron

[beachbumgerbils]

So I'm still trying to work out all of the genetics of the gerbils I rescued.  This female was pregnant and gave birth to a litter of 6.  There were 4 black pups, 1 solid silver pup, and 1 CP silver pup.  The father is completely unknown.  The known adult males that are possibilities are solid black, REW?, sapphire, or lilac.  But just to make it more exciting, the owner said that at least one male escaped.  So dad could have been anything.  There had to be some color point genes in there somewhere because there are a couple of sapphires in the bunch.  So my question for this thread, and I know it's super hard based on pictures...but is it possible that mom is a light saffron?  I've never had a red fox before.  She is solid, no white points, very even coloring.  The pictures aren't that great because I have pretty much left her alone to be a momma.





Momma gerbil is the one on the left






Momma gerbil is the one on the bottom

[betty]

If she has had a colourpoint pup then she HAS to be a 'light' saffron - there is no doubt - but in my mind (and I never really looked into it closely enough to be honest) I have always assumed the carrier of any colourpoint gene to be 'light'. I never saw anyone that I remember differentiating between the two genes available.

Perhaps that is a little investigative adventure to find out?


Also, I never really got in the habit of saying 'light' anything, I just show it in the written genotype. Sorry if it has had you thinking all this the whole time. Note to self taken.

[beachbumgerbils]

betty, I really appreciate your patience with me and sharing your knowledge! I have a basic understanding of genetics, but I'm still wrapping my head around the specifics of gerbils.

The 'light' term I definitely picked up from all the time I have been spending on the Gerbil Colour Calculator. I know it's a little outdated, but it's been a great starting point for me. I have to remember that they can carry genes that have a very small affect on their outward appearance!

[betty]

It isn't easy - and I spent a LOT of time on the gerbil gene calculators too getting to understand the ropes! You should have seen the notbooks full or charts and line diagrams!!!

And some genes have no effect whatsoever on their outward appearance at all! That is the fun sometimes of getting a new PEW - the only think you know is they are some kind of colourpoint and are also pp - nothing else can be seen! Mine was spotted!

I also got confused with the whole dilute thing at first - as many people call anything that isn't agouti a dilute gene (as in it dilutes the original agouti colour) They did NOT mean that it carries the now known 'dilute' gene - d.

All very confusing at first until you actually start working things out and reading the specifics because you can't figure out one of your pups!

And - from experience - no question is a silly question. Websites use different phrases all the time depending on a number of things including how old the article is (the g gene is defunct), what country they are from and whether they are show-focussed or not.

Ask away I say. Shooting Star patiently helped me out with all sort of nit-picky questions everytime I discovered a 'new' gene - so I am happy to pass all that info on to anyone who asks!

And it's fun!!!!

[beachbumgerbils]

Other than the Gerbil Color Calulator app, do you have any gene calculator recommendations? Most of the ones I have seen mentioned are now defunct.

Again, very much appreciated! I have hooked up with Shooting Star via e-mail and may eventually get some of her gerbils!

[betty]

I eventually used a simple spreadsheet I think from Moonstone gerbils - who was trialing a new one as the best older ones stopped working like you say.

Check their website to see if they ever got it finished, I'll see if I can find this simpler early version...


And I am sure Shooting Star will sort you out perfectly!