Pastel Line Question

[ThyTempest]

After looking at more pastel pics, especially the ones in the hunters guide, I had a couple of questions about a few of the lines of Pastels, and how they tend to look as they get older.

Before I looked into it more, I was nearly certain that I wanted a lemon pastel for the very bright color and their tendency to not brown out, or so I have heard. I still think lemon pastel is my best bet, but I wanted to ask some questions first.

First, in the hunters guide, I saw a Matrix Blonde line of pastels. I have not heard anything about this line until I read the guide more closely, and was wondering if anyone has one. If so, how does the color compare to a lemon pastel, especially as they supposedly lighten as they age. I wasnt sure if lighten means fading, or if it means brightening or becoming more vibrant.

Also, mostly with the Graziani line, but with any pastel I supppose, is what color the pastel actually becomes if it does brown out. I know the term is brown out, but most of the pics of "browned out" pastels seem to rival the orange sort of color that can be found in black pastels. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Also, to any lemon pastel owners. Has your lemon changed color as it ages, and if so, how, and in your opinion, for the better or worse.

Thanks
Austin

[Spaniard]

I think I have a pretty good example of what a lemon pastel should look like. He was extremely bright and contrasting when he was younger, definitely had some wow factor in there. As he got older, he's currently 2yrs old, he definitely started to brown a bit along his back. Although its more a tan than a brown. I've given you a few pictures to show some progression of the browning.

Baby Lustro




Young Lustro w/ Normal



Older- "Browning" is more of a tanning in my case. You can see it in his back, there is sorta a line where you can see the tan and then where the brighter yellow begins.

[Argentra]

Wow... Lustro is a beauty! Strangely enough...my pastel kinda looks like that. I only have an estimate on how old he is, but supposedly he's 10 months old now and only has a slight golden color at the tops of his markings. Not sure if he's still young and just hasn't reached the 'age of brown' yet or not... but he's still holding that color so far. It would be awesome if it turned out I got a LEMON pastel for free as a rescue...

I'll post some progression pictures of him in a bit. Gotta go out for rack completion supplies.

[Tosha_Mc]

Judge each pastel based on it's own merits not the "line" -- there are very exceptional examples from all lines and there are ugly browned out examples of all lines.

[m00kfu]

It's been said before, and I'm sure I won't be the last to say it -- but in my opinion the line doesn't mean much unless you're buying it directly from the originator. Only the originator is really selectively breeding same line for the same traits continuously. Once that pastel goes to another breeder, they may or may not be as selective about the other balls that it is bred with.

[starmom]

Judge each pastel based on it's own merits not the "line" -- there are very exceptional examples from all lines and there are ugly browned out examples of all lines.

Usually true, but I have never seen an ugly lemon produced by NERD

[astaley]

My adult lemons look the same way, with the line of tan on their back. Kind of silly, but I think about it like the rind of a lemon (actual fruit)... Lemon rinds get a tanish color with age also

Adam

[Jenn]

I took one look at an adult nerd bumble bee and made my mind up on the spot. It is still, to date, the single most beautiful animal I have EVER seen.

[Bruce Whitehead]

This guy is a graziani line descendent, selectively bred for flames and blushing... as you can see he retained the bright yellow, and he has the dorsal tipping in black but no browning out.



I produced two of his babes and they both have the tipping, but have high blushing and flames as well as the high yellow color.

Bruce

[Inferno]

This guy is a graziani line descendent, selectively bred for flames and blushing... as you can see he retained the bright yellow, and he has the dorsal tipping in black but no browning out.



I produced two of his babes and they both have the tipping, but have high blushing and flames as well as the high yellow color.

Bruce

now that is a prime example of selective breeding at its best.....