Campbells eye colour questions

[Emma]

Some questions I have after spending a few days reading up on Campbells genetics from various sources -



Is the only red-eyed gene in Campbells the pp argente gene?



When combined with a gene that on it's own produces black eyes, is it dominant to produce red eyes? i.e. in beige, blue beige, dark beige and champagne hamsters?



I think this is the case but I'm not certain so wanted to check



Em x

[babyboos]

I hope this makes sense - Red-eyed Argente (pp), like every other colour in Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters, is recessive... Recessive means that the Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster needs two copies of this gene (one from each parent) to have the Red-eyed Argente coloration itself.



Breeding a Red-eyed Argente (pp) to a (black-eyed) Black (aa) for instance will produce all (black-eyed) Normal babies (unless the Black carries Red-eyed Argente of course in which case you would get Normals and Red-eyed Argentes just to confuse everyone - which is why it is important to know the genetic background of all hamsters used for breeding purposes). It can sometimes be quite difficult to find a Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster which does not carry Red-eyed Argente!



When the Red-eyed Argente gene is being carried by a Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster its eyes do not necessarily show as red UNLESS the other genes present are combining with this gene to produce one of the combination colours such as those you mentioned, Beige, Blue Beige, Blue Fawn, Champagne, Dark Beige, Dove, and Red-Eyed Lilac.



The Red-eyed Argente (pp) gene is present in the majority of combination colours in this subspecies of Russian Dwarf Hamster, especially in the UK where Black-eyed Argente (bb) is still quite uncommon. Another important combination colour gene is Opal (dd). New colours and combinations of these, are currently being developed, especially in the US. Linda Price is one of the key breeders in this research if you want to get into this particular area in more detail.



The Red-eyed Argente can also become a Ruby-eyed Mottled Argente if combined with the lethal Ruby-eyed Mottled (mi) gene pattern. If combined with the non-lethal Mottled (mo) gene it will become a Red-eyed Mottled Argente. All patterns are dominant in Campbells' Russian Dwarf Hamsters so they cannot be carried, and only one parent need display these patterns to produce some offspring looking the same.

[Emma]

Yup that all makes sense.



So, in all the the various 2/3/4 gene colours, if pp is present (rather than carried Pp) the eyes are red, no matter what else is there? Actually that makes a lot of sense doesn't it, as red is the mutation and black is wild colour - so the p mutation is affecting eyes (causing red eyes) whilst the other mutations just don't affect eyes.



I forgot about the ruby-eyed mottled - isn't that only in the US though? From what I've read Mi is the ruby-eyed gene, with the anopthalmic white problems, and that's in the US, and Mo is a different mottled gene, that doesn't affect the eyes at all, and that's in the UK?



Linda Price's site gives a good rundown of all the different mutations, with piccies but I always manage to find more questions when I read about these things.

[babyboos]

We have both here, whereas in the US they have the Ruby-eyed Mottled predominantly. It is easy to check - just shine a torch into your mottled hamster's eyes and if you see a demonic red glow then they are ruby-eyed Sometimes it is even possible to see with the naked eye if the light is right in the room. A good rule of thumb is never to breed two mottled hamsters together just to be on the safe side if you are at all unsure, here or in the US.