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Post by moghedien on Feb 20, 2005 0:28:51 GMT -8
I just wondered if anyone knows whether the dilute gene has made it to America yet, or if it's still only in Europe? Just curious - I haven't heard any American breeders mention having it, though it doesn't seem like it would be that difficult to transport a good breeding pair from Europe (okay, so expensive perhaps...).
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 21, 2005 8:40:02 GMT -8
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Post by callimico on Feb 21, 2005 16:29:10 GMT -8
I was also wondering about that. I'm going to England the summer after this one, but even if I could adopt a pair of dilute gerbils from a breeder in the UK, they would have to be quarantined for awhile before being brought back to the US right? It would be pretty cool if I could bring them with me though. A breeder told me she takes gerbils as carry-on when flying around continental US, so she can delvier them to people while on vacation. It's to bad, it would be great if someone could start a dd line in New England (or Canada )
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Post by moghedien on Feb 21, 2005 18:35:11 GMT -8
And I'd love to establish a dd line down south in the US.. it would be so rare that I imagine I'd have no difficulty rehoming the pups!!
Well... rehoming the ones I didn't keep. ;D
And Peter, thanks for the links! I find it interesting they've had difficulty breeding the dd gerbils - so far it seems as if every other mutation to date has had no ill effect on the gerbils (except for SpSp, which is someone different since it's prenatally fatal...).
I also ran across a link - wish I'd kept the URL - that said that there was one coat type mutation - the only one known in gerbils to date - that caused them to be born nearly hairless! (Rex type mutation.) The link said that the mutation most likely didn't survive, which is rather sad. Though I'm not sure how popular hairless gerbils would be. ;D ;D
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Post by callimico on Feb 21, 2005 19:00:46 GMT -8
I had no idea the blues had been so inbred. It's a pity, but I'm glad they're taking every percaution to fix the defect. Do you know if "a gangi", who wrote the reply to the link you posted, ever recieved any blues? What other dilute colors have UK breeders had? Besides agouti and black? It's a very interesting subject ;D Mogheiden- If you can find that article I'd love to read it! I didn't know there had ever been nearly hairless gerbils
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Post by moghedien on Feb 21, 2005 19:24:29 GMT -8
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 24, 2005 6:17:29 GMT -8
The hairless mutation is indeed lost! But may appear agian in the future!
About the blue mutation. When a new mutation occurs, only one or very few gerbils carry these mutations. In order to get more gerbils with this colour you'll need to inbreed a lot! And you all know that can cause problems. Especially in the beginning of such an breeding program. Eventually when crossed to unrelated gerbils, the effects will disappear again.
I think the dd gerbils are not very rare in the Netherlands, as I know several people who have these colours, some even several dd-colours. But I can be wrong.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 24, 2005 6:21:31 GMT -8
www.gerbils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gerbils/genetics.htmThis website (National Gerbil Society) shows the regional availability of gerbil colour mutations. And what mutation will appear in the future. We know that, because otehr small rodents have already these mutations, like mice, hamsters, rats, etc. So we can expect that gerbils will get them too. They mention also this: The only mutation of hair structure known in gerbils is Hairlessness, similar to an extreme form of Rex, that has appeared in a laboratory but may be extinct.
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Post by moghedien on Feb 24, 2005 18:47:59 GMT -8
If dd may not be rare in the Netherlands, then perhaps it would be possible to transport some to the United States!
I'm just wondering why no-one has so far if the public has them in other countries? I guess perhaps it would be very expensive!
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Feb 25, 2005 1:51:59 GMT -8
I don't think you can. Imports of many African animals to the US has been banned.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 28, 2005 6:30:33 GMT -8
Is it? ALso Asian animals, as Mongolian gerbils are Asian animals. And you can might consider contacting one of the Dutch breeders who have this colour. Karin van Veen for example: www.gerbil-info.com/. And you can of course always contact the right authorities for further information on possible import.
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Post by callimico on Feb 28, 2005 10:42:49 GMT -8
I found a breeder in Colorado whos been breeding since 1998, and is working towards Blues..
I really hope she's successful ;D
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Post by sandy on Feb 28, 2005 13:37:22 GMT -8
I see no reason why the mutation should not be "discovered" here eventually. All it takes is someone recognising it when it occurs. Who knows? There might be a blue lurking in a pet shop in someone's neighborhood, who but us gerbil nuts would know the difference? : ;D
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Post by moghedien on Feb 28, 2005 15:15:41 GMT -8
Well I'm sure it would be discovered here eventually, but who knows how long it would take! I think banning imports of these animals is really ridiculous, if the animal species already exists here in the US! These regulations can be so stupid!
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Mar 3, 2005 7:23:33 GMT -8
I see no reason why the mutation should not be "discovered" here eventually. All it takes is someone recognising it when it occurs. Who knows? There might be a blue lurking in a pet shop in someone's neighborhood, who but us gerbil nuts would know the difference? : ;D Is possible, the same thing happend with the DEHs. If I',m correct. In Europe they were called Algerian Fox and they didn't know that that colour already existed in the US as Dark Eyed Honey. However it can take very very long for mutations to appear sometimes. Nobody has ever seen for example the lost hairless mutation!
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