Finally a Blue Dumbo

[Ginevive]

I use what I think is a blue rex male for all of my breedings. However, I am a little confused; can someone post pics of a blue rat and a gray one, to help me differentiate? Thanks!

[Kara]

CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!!!!!

I had some blue rex dumbos born recently...will have to take some pics. Blue dumbos RULE!!!

[rabernet]

Sooooooooooo cute, if only I could find a dumbo around here

You can! Or two het dumbos!

[lord jackel]

I had some blue rex dumbos born recently...will have to take some pics.

That is my next goal...I picked up a nice Rex male a few weeks ago so once this little girl grows up I am hopeful I will be seeing a Blue Cruly Q real soon.

[littleindiangirl]

I use what I think is a blue rex male for all of my breedings. However, I am a little confused; can someone post pics of a blue rat and a gray one, to help me differentiate? Thanks!

If I'm not mistaken, Sean's are of the American/British Blue variety, with the locus of gg. His also looks to be a pretty powder blue. But that could change.

The American Blue line is "said" (on a couple different Rat club's) to not be as inbred and sickly as the British Blues. Of course, we could have problems in our lines that the British Blues don't have either. I think with some dedicated out breeding, you could get some healthy American/British Blues.

Mine are the Russian blue with a locus of dd.
As a pup

Now


Her pictures make her look like a dark grey, when in true light, she is a silvery steel grey, with a lighter belly.

[SatanicIntention]

Wow, she's small.. And she's an American Blue, definitely not a powder blue(I've had one). My powder blue passed away last year at 8 months old from congestive heart failure. My other American Blue hooded dwarf also has awful arthritis(she's a whole 60 grams).

Her cagemate isn't mink(she'd be a dark chocolate color). She's a seal-point siamese.

Gin, there aren't any gray rats, only different types of blue and their dilutes. You can have red-eye dilute or pink-eye dilute and that is what determines the color of the rat.

I believe it's the American blues that are neurotic, sickly, poor temperment, etc, not the British blues. English rats(any type) are most likely to be healthy, robust and friendly because they aren't as inbred and kept in such poor conditions.

I hope that little one thrives for you.. Why did you want to make one so bad, to the extent of possibly killing her mother(and the other pairs you tried)? They are rarely good breeders, and if her mother had problems, it's very likely she will too. She may end up just being a pet, and likely an expensive pet too. They are very prone to respiratory and heart problems. Russian blues are much healthier, have very good temperments, and don't usually have breeding/birthing problems.

I hope that momma rat gets better.. You can get some Nutrical at Petsmart which will give her needed calories to get better. I wouldn't advise breeding her again since it took so much out of her this time.

[littleindiangirl]

I finally found the site I thought was best for comparison shots of different shades of blue
Ratz.co, I don't know why I always forget where it is, but this lady has some really nice color rats going on.

[dr del]

Hi,

Wow, I really want one of the ones on the right in this picture - what are those called and where do you get them.


dr del

[lord jackel]

Her cagemate isn't mink(she'd be a dark chocolate color). She's a seal-point siamese.

Thanks...I wasn't sure when I asked the question but her coat is starting to change and the seal-point is much more defined so I am very happy.

I hope that little one thrives for you.. Why did you want to make one so bad, to the extent of possibly killing her mother(and the other pairs you tried)? They are rarely good breeders, and if her mother had problems, it's very likely she will too. She may end up just being a pet, and likely an expensive pet too. They are very prone to respiratory and heart problems.

I hope that momma rat gets better.. You can get some Nutrical at Petsmart which will give her needed calories to get better. I wouldn't advise breeding her again since it took so much out of her this time.

Thanks for the concern but as a rat breeder the goal is to improve the health and line genetics of these little guys. You are correct the American Blues have a very poor genetic background (the original blue came from a pet store in California and was over imbred...leading to what we have today). My goal (and others) has been to outbreed the blues to much healthier stock and try and re-establish a healthy line. So while the goal was a Blue Dumbo it was really just the end result of multiple outbreedings to different strong genetic lines to get to her. Personally I am very happy - I started out with genetically weak (and in most cases sterile) line but through patience got a breedable Het Dumbo blue female who again was outbred with completely separate male. I only used dark self animals to keep the genetic issues to a minimum. This didn't happen overnight it has taken over 2 years of careful breeding and record keeping (I can account for 22 generations throughout the project). With each generation I have gotten rid of some genetic issue so I "think" when done not only will I have bred out most of the genetic issues with this line of American Blues but also have some really cute little guys to show.

As for the Mom she is much better now and has regained her weight. I think her issue was more the fact she had a litter of 22 and got a cold vs. just being a blue and having a genetic issue. She has always been healthy up to a couple weeks after giving birth.

[sweety314]

Our dumbo was a surprise, and Peekaboo was a blue. I've got two of her sons, one is a hooded, the other is a self, but Peek's daughters are all ending up with mammary tumors, so I'm probably going to have to feed them all off and starting over with some other line of females from some other source.

Reaaaaaaaally cute little girl, there LJ! Good luck with her!!