Black w/ white ticking?

[Rick Stidham]

I saw three male black gerbils in a pet shop today that were black with
a generous amount of white ticking all over their bodies.  Almost like a
nutmeg but with black where the brown would be, and white where the
black would be.  I wonder if they were just old and greying, or if it
was something else.  They were full-grown but I don't know how old they
were.  Has anyone ever seen this sort of coloration?  If it's not just
age-related I think I'll go back and buy them.

Rick