recessive mutations
Violets, Ultra violets and Violet wraps
Violet chinchillas have violet colored fur, white bellies, pale violet ears, and dark eyes. As with all recessives the best way to produce a violets is to use 2 carriers or a violet and violet carrier, then put the violet chinchillas born back to top quality standards to produce more carriers.
Ultra Violets are the result of the violet and velvet gene appearing in the same chinchilla. Ultra violets have a uniform veiling (velvet).
Violet wraps are where the violet and ebony genes appear in the same chinchilla. The presence of the ebony gene makes the violet colouring "wrap" around the belly of the chinchilla. Violet wraps are rarely seen on UK show tables.
The history behind the Violet mutation
The first violet chinchilla appeared in Rhodesia, South Africa in 1960, it had no black tipping to it's fur, which was a violet colour. At the time there was civil unrest in South Africa and the rancher wanted to leave the country but not leave his chinchillas behind. He approached Lloyd Sullivan of Sullivan Ranch of California and Mr Sullivan agreed to buy the herd from the rancher. When they finally arrived in the US Mr Sullivan breed and improved the chinchillas and the colour became known as the Sullivan Violet.
There are other strains of the violet mutation about today, these are known as Afro Violets, Dutch Violets. It is worth pointing out that each of these colours are mutations in their own right and are all recessive - this means that you need to breed carriers of the same strain in order to produce offspring of the relevant strain.
Sapphire, Royal Blue and Sapphire wraps
Sapphire chinchillas have pale blue fur which is light at birth and darkens to a beautiful shean as the chinchilla matures. They have white bellies, pale bluish ears, and dark eyes. As with all recessives the best way to produce a Sapphires is to use 2 carriers or a Sapphire and Sapphire carrier, then put the violet chinchillas born back to top quality standards to produce more carriers.
Royal Blues are the result of the sapphire and velvet gene appearing in the same chinchilla. Royal Blues have a uniform veiling (velvet).
Sapphire wraps are where the sapphire and ebony genes appear in the same chinchilla. The presence of the ebony gene makes the violet colouring "wrap" around the belly of the chinchilla. Sapphire wraps are rarely seen on UK show tables.
The history behind the Sapphire mutation
The first Sapphire appeared in 1963 on the Larsen Ranch, Indiana, USA. Further work with the colour discovered that it was a recessive mutation and that the gene had the effect of diluting the Standard gene.
Sapphires are very difficult to breed and are prone to illness and dental problems. They are generally not available in the pet market, however, should you wish to purchase a sapphire ensure that you visit a reputable breeder with sound knowledge of the lines they are breeding.
Brouke Charcoal/ Charcoal brown / recessive charcoal
The Fundamental of the charcoals found in the UK are dark brown to lighter grey wrapped colouring, grey ears, and dark eyes. As with all recessives the best way to produce a charcoals is to use 2 carriers or a Charcoal and Charcoal carrier, then put the Charcoal chinchillas born back to top quality standards to produce more carriers. Char Blacks are the result of the charcoal and velvet gene appearing in the same chinchilla. Char blacks have a uniform veiling (velvet).
Although in the US the terms Charcoal and ebony are used interchangeably in the UK they are recognised as two very different mutations that shouldn’t be confused as they are genetically two different mutations. In the UK every effort is being made to ensure that ebonies and charcoals are not cross breed to ensure that the charcoal lines remain pure recessive charcoal.
The History behind the Charcoal mutation
The first Broucke recessive charcoals was born at Betty and Vic Brourke’s (hence the name) ranch in California in 1957. There were 2 male kits produced out of two light standards, both breed by the Brouke’s. The kits were dark chocolate colour from nose to tail, working with chinchillas in the line it soon became apparent that the colouring was recessive. It is believed that the charcoals in the UK are from these original lines. There are a handful of UK breeders that are carefully working to improve the mutation. The mutation is still in its infancy in the UK and it is likely to be a long time before charcoals are available to the pet market.
I would like to thank Claire from Davidson Chinchillas for allowing me to use a picture of Calleigh, for further info on the charcoals please go to my links page and click on the link to Claire’s site.
Lowe recessive whites
Lowe recessive whites are born champagne colour which lightens to a golden glow and darkens as they get older. They have pink ears and their eyes can be anything from darkly ringed blue to a lighter pink colour. As with Violets and Sapphires the best way to produce a Lowe recessive whites is to use 2 carriers or a Lowe recessive whites and Lowe recessive whites carrier and then to put the white chins born back to top quality standards to produce more carriers.
The history behind Recessive Whites
The first Lowe recessive whites was born at Robert Lowe’s (hence the name) ranch in Enderby, BC Canada in 2002. She was produced out of two standards, one breed by Robert Lowe and
the other by Jack Humphreys (Blue vale chinchillas – Home of the majority of the infamous UK “Canadian lines”). Being a new mutation it is still being carefully developed by 4 breeders so mutations of this mutation have not yet been breed, although they are being breed with velvets.
I would like to thank Pam from Alderbrook Chinchillas for allowing me to use the picture of Midas and for information on the origins and breeding of this beautiful breed. It is still very much in its infancy so it is likely to be a long time before it reaches UK shores, I’m sure when they do eventually get here they will be very popular - I can only hope that they are taken on by responsible breeders that have the time and resources to breed them to develop the breed rather than to saturate the pet market.
