Blue colored hamster?

[Vectis Hamstery]

Nine?! Months?! Wow! I can totally understand why - is the papova virus much more common in Europe?

It's more that it's not been found in the UK for some years. Having heard first hand tales from someone who lost large numbers of Syrians to papova when it was around here, I wouldn't want it brought back and can appreciate the fear of it.

[manxlisa]

IMG_4610.jpg

My Boo was blue. Sadly passed away a month ago

[Hekomi]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

It's more that it's not been found in the UK for some years. Having heard first hand tales from someone who lost large numbers of Syrians to papova when it was around here, I wouldn't want it brought back and can appreciate the fear of it.

Ahhh, understandable. I would be the exact same, I've read some articles on it... scary stuff.

[Sam Zika]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

As it's not a recognised mutation yet the offspring can't be exhibited or sold at NHC-affiliated club shows so it's a real commitment to starting breeding them.

Isn't there a "non-standard" class for things like this?

Also, the NHC doesn't allow the sale of non-standard hamsters at their events? That seems odd. Since Blue is new and looks cool, I'd expect breeders would be clamoring to get them. How are new hamster mutations supposed to propagate through the fancy?

[jemmalg]

There's a difference between non-standard and not-recognised.

Non-standard will include for example, umbrous golden, because it's not a standardised colour with an expected appearance and a written standard, but it is made of a combination of recognised genes. So when it's judged, it is judged without any colour marks.

Genes that have not been recognised, like the blue, are those which we don't have enough information on yet, and no-one has put forward for standardisation. It has to be tested for how it breeds, dom/recessive and whether it's true breeding etc, and I think there's something about three generations needing to be bred and proved healthy. I think it's a health issue mainly, we need to be sure that the gene itself is viable and causes no issues before we start promoting it!

Obviously breeders can still exchange hamsters outside of shows if more than one were to attempt breeding it.

[Sam Zika]

I looked at the NHC handbook and it says

12. "NON-STANDARD" - shall be open to all colours and varieties for which no standard exists. Entries to this class may not be entered in any other class.

Why would that preclude Dilute or Blue?

[souffle]

Yes it would. Non standard colours have to be recognised as natural mutations or combinations of recognised mutations and announced in the journal as such by the National Hamster council standards committee. This is in the UK of course.
The most recent pattern to be recognised but not yet standardised is the Recessive dappled. It is however so very similar to a banded dominant spot that is can in fact be judged under the same standard.
Mutations such as Husky in robos are also recognised but not standardised yet and these will appear in non standard classes.

[Vectis Hamstery]

Sam Zika, the handbook also states:

It is the responsibility of each exhibitor to ensure that all their exhibits, to the best of their knowledge;
(a) show only the natural colour for the species or mutation(s) listed in Appendix C.
(b) do not have any other species of hamster in their background
(c) have no hamsters in their ancestry that do not meet criteria (a) and (b)
(d) are a minimum of 8 weeks for Syrian, Chinese and Roborovski, and 6 weeks for Winter White and Campbell.

and

Vendors may only offer for sale, hamsters that, to the best of their knowledge,
(a) show only the natural colour for the species or mutation(s) listed in Appendix C.
(b) do not have any other species of hamster in their background.
(c) have no hamsters in their ancestry that do not meet criteria (a) and (b)

This is what prevents the blue hamsters being shown/sold at NHC-affiliated club shows as the dilute mutation is currently not in the list of recognised mutations.

[Sam Zika]

I guess that makes sense. Thanks for explaining.

To become recognized, does a new mutation have to be thoroughly researched and "proven" by an NHC member, or could it be by someone outside the NHC, like Europe and the US where some breeders have already been working with Dilute for several generations? Would it make a difference if an outside person's results were published in a journal?