One gerbil clan I have is Cara (pied agouti), older daughter Megan (agouti), and
from the next litter younger daughter Janie (agouti). As Janie started
approaching the size of Megan I became worried that I would not be able to tell
the difference, so I started looking for markings. Then one day just as you
mentioned it hit me that Megan is a completely different shade than Janie.
Janie is a duller brown and Megan is orange/gold. Where you can really tell it
on the line between the back color and the white belly -- Janie's is grey,
Megan's is gold. When I mentioned this to the GML, Julian (I think!) said it is
due to the gold tinted agouti carrying a ch gene (which Megan's father does).
Also, btw, he said these orangey ones are the more winning gerbils in the agouti
competition at gerbil shows.
Donna
PS -- I can also tell the difference by temperament. Megan is calm and
confident and Janie more cautious and skiddish (and fast!).
April Ann wrote:
> This my be just me noticing too much, but I have noticed that Kosmo's
> Spotted Agouti Coat is definitly redder than his sons' of the same general
> coloring. The kids all seem to have a grey cast to their coates and their
> mom is black, but that is all I know about their genetics. Both gerbils were
> rescuees from certain death (neglective owner and abandonment) so I know
> little about them other than they are very sweet :) any thoughts on the
> subject? -April Ann
