Coco's thread :) - Page 3

amie · 12-17-2012, 06:16 AM

Glad Coco is enjoying her flying saucer.

Don't worry about her still being scared of you. It's normal for her to feel unsure having just left her family. Give her a few days and then start getting her out (use a jar or other container for her to climb in to if you feel that would help) and handling her sitting her on a cushion in your lap may be useful. WWs are not usually that skittish that they will jump but as a precaution be low to the floor.

I was wondering about the pedigree too. It is normal to be given a pedigree sheet from the breeder. Did you get one?

Marbled is a newish pattern in pure WWs. It is usual to say ‘marbled normal’ or ‘marbled sapphire’ to define a hamster’s colouration. Marbled is also known as ‘merle.’ As the name says it gives a marbled effect creating a patterned WW.

Good luck with taming your adorable Coco. I am sure, given time, she’ll be the tamest hamster imaginable. Most WWs are easy to tame and do not mind being handled. Best wishes.

jesselle · 12-17-2012, 06:25 AM

hi amie - i'm glad she's enjoying it too

think it's a novelty right now as it's a new toy to her.

yeah, i'm not worried, whilst i've not had a baby hamster since childhood, i'm used to taking it slowly with the 4 rescues i've had. will definitely try the jar method just to get her out, i can't wait to see her properly!

pedigree - i've emailed tuftyfluff, in the excitement of it all i didn't ask nor did she give a certificate. i got an NHC rehoming thing which i signed and some info leaflets. while i don't feel any worry about her pedigree, i would definitely like a certificate as i am interested in her history!

mum and marbled daughter looked sapphire - not sure if i'm right here but since there was a sapphire sister, coco - a pearl (not sure if normal or sapphire) and the marbled sapphire, wouldn't mum have to be marbled sapphire and dad a sapphire pearl? i might be way off as i'm not sure how the marbled gene works...

evel_lin · 12-17-2012, 06:29 AM

She is stunning! You're not helping my wanting for a WW lol. Maybe in the New Year...

jesselle · 12-17-2012, 09:57 AM

yay, i got my certificate

i was RIGHT in my workings, coco's father is a sapphire pearl, as is she.

i did get one thing wrong though, it was coco's marbled sapphire mother who was from tristar.

lovely whatever colour and pattern they are!

**Silver** · 12-17-2012, 10:15 AM

Brilliant!

Silver xxx

Kissa · 12-17-2012, 03:19 PM

She is very pretty

also interesting, new genes cropping up in WWs!

**Silver** · 12-18-2012, 01:45 AM

The Marbled or mearl has been around for many years you just don't see this pattern in pet shops thankfully so unless you look for Pure NHC Dwarfs you would not know about it.

It was first found in a NHC breeders WW's who then started to breed this pattern.

Silver xxx

jesselle · 12-18-2012, 02:50 AM

i'm now wondering how the two pattern genes interact? since i always thought pearl was dominant, what is the marbled gene? coco's parents were marbled and pearl, and the litter produced sapphires, marbled and pearls...

coco related stuff:

i handled coco yesterday on the advice of sue, the breeder. since coco is already used to handling it seems important to keep it up and to try and bond with her. however, it went spectacularly badly. she fell a few times, the highest being 1 foot onto carpet after launching herself off of my bed. i was totally freaked out and pretty upset

what made it worse was that we had family staying the night so i couldn't pay as much attention to her as i'd have liked.

once she'd calmed down though, she was great. she sat a few times in my hands, just sitting, then did the hand to hand walk. i can see that she 'knows' what handling means.

she also appears ok, she was out all night and popped up this morning when i got up

i will try and get some pics soon, i may try bath handling later as she is so speedy, it'll help to have her in a safe enclosure.

**Silver** · 12-18-2012, 03:08 AM

Genetics:

I have no idea but Sue or other breeders will.

CoCo:

It's surprising how quick they are when young. Don't worry they are tough little ones. The bath sounds like a good idea, what ever makes you feel comfortable handling her.

Silver xxx

amie · 12-18-2012, 06:10 AM

You only need one parent to be marbled to get a marbled WW pup as it is a dominant gene. That's the same for pearls, only one parent needs to be pearl in order to get pearl babies.

Sapphire, however, is a recessive gene and both parents need to carry the sapphire gene in order to get any sapphire babies in the litter.

The marbled gene is also known as merle. I don’t know the origins of the merle name as it’s French for Blackbird! If anyone knows the origins of the name merle do let me know.

Good luck, jesselle, with taming Coco. She will soon settle, I am sure.