Black Scales and Pieds

Hello,

I purchased my first piebald last year and he is doing great. When I picked him up from the breeder he had a single black scale in the white area. A couple sheds later and he now has at least three peppered through the white area. I think it gives him a unique look and I don't mind at all. I am just curious if this typically happens in piebalds. If so, is it genetics or just a random occurrence? Are "high white" animals more prone to it? The father had an interesting X in the middle of the white area.

Here is dad (breeders photo)
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...pscec6a686.jpg

My little guy
Baby Pic (breeder photo)
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps3efcc6c6.jpg

During his first week with me
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps2e985560.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps521bd028.jpg

Pictures from today
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps7420008d.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps24f4ca52.jpg

Thanks for looking :D

Here is a little girl I hatched out last year. She has a black spot:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC01348.jpg

Here is another of my females with a black scale:
http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC00652.jpg

And if you look closely, you will notice a black scale on my male that is breeding:

http://i428.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC00869.jpg


So, yes it is fairly frequent on pieds. I think it gives them character!

I didn't realize they could "develop" over time - I'll have to keep an eye out for that on my little guy! I picked him up right as he was going through his second-ever shed (about 8 weeks old, IIRC), so it might be some time?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rossi46

I didn't realize they could "develop" over time - I'll have to keep an eye out for that on my little guy! I picked him up right as he was going through his second-ever shed (about 8 weeks old, IIRC), so it might be some time?

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Yup, that is the main question I am getting at. How common is it for them to develop the black scales over time? And at what age does it seem to slow or stop? This little guy had one and at least another couple seemed to come out of nowhere over the past few months!

Thanks