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| Genetics Information on the Russian Campbells Dwarf Hamster |
| Patterns: There are only two patterns that exist among the Russian Campbells. These are the Mottled (Mo) and the Platinum (Si). There also exists a Ruby Eyed Mottled (Mi). This is the only type of mottled found within the US. Please Beware!! If two ruby eyed mottled are bred together, one fourth of the pups will recieve the amnopthlmic gene (doubly mottled) and will be born pure white, with no teeth, and no eyes. These babies cannot feed past the nursing age and will scarcely live more than a couple of weeks. The black ruby eyes are easy to spot, but the red eyed rubys are more of a challenge. You must shine a flashlight in their eyes and look for a reflective glow. I have heard them called "demon eyes" before. If you cannot tell whether you have a ruby eyed mottled or not, be safe and only breed mottled to non-mottled. You will still get a 50% mottled litter as the patterns are donimant. Also, with the platinums, if you cross two platinums, the true platinum that will result, is lethal. One fourth of the babies will be completely reabsorbed by the mother before birth. Please be careful and watch out for these two adorable, but very LETHAL genes! |
| Coat Types: There are three coat types besides the typical soft coat seen on most Campbells. The Satin (sa), which is sleek and slightly longer than normal with an almost "oily" appearance. The Wavy (wa) coat is sililar to that of the satin, but has ripples or waves. When young, the whiskers are curly ! The Rex type (rx) is curly coated with curly whiskers at all ages. |
| Deffinitions: Agouti (ag-oo-tee) the hairs are banded from tip to root, scalloped patterns are on the sides. Normals are agouti, banded on top, scalloped cream on the bottom. Self - one solid color on top and bottom. |
| Colors!! One Gene Colors There are five genes that code for all the colors among the Campbells. All colors are recessive mutations, so two must be present for the gene to be expressed. Albino: Lack of color- white with red eyes (cc) Argente: Varies in color from light yellow to dark orange- red eyed variety (pp) BEA: (Black Eyed Argente) Black eyed version of regular Argente (bb) Opal: A dark seal grey with creamy undercarriage, purplish tint- black eyes (dd) Black: Solid black, sometimes with white, they tend to silver* with age (aa) Two Gene Colors Blue: Self, steel grey, light or no dorsal stripe, black eyes (common grey cat) Black + Opal (aadd) Chocolate: Self, dark brown with black eyes Black + BEA (aabb) Dove: Self, Pigeon colored, red eyes, similar to chocolates Black + Argente (aapp) Blue Fawn: Agouti, Creamy underside, light blue hue on top- red eyes Argente + Opal (ppdd) Beige: Agouti, Creamy to Yellow, red eyes BEA + Argente (bbpp) Lilac Fawn: Agouti, light purple on top, cream undercarriage BEA + Opal (bbdd) Three Gene Colors Lilac: Self, Light lilac colored- black eyed variety Black+BEA+Opal (aabbdd) Dark Beige: Self, light caramel color, red eyes Black+BEA+Argente (aabbpp) Blue Beige: Agouti, cream colored with light hint of blue, red eyes BEA+Argente+Opal (bbppdd) RE Lilac: Self, red eyed version of Lilac. Black+Argente+Opal (aappdd) Four Gene Color There is only one four gene color Champagne: Self, Darker caramel color, red eyes, Black+BEA+Argente+Opal (aabbppdd) *Silvering- Black and other self colors containing the black gene all tend to silver, or turn grey with age. Some pups silver young, others dont silver unitl over a year old. Studies are underway to see if this gene is linked or the same gene! |
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