Chinchilla Color

[whitechin95]

I was just wondering if a white chinchilla, called the white mosaic, could spot later in life if it doesnt have spots currently. I am getting a white mosaic which has grey ears and a grey tail, but no other grey marks on her body. She has a very small grey tipping on the fur all over her body and its slightly darker on her face. If you dont think she will develop spots, do you think her veiling will darken? If so, how much? Her mom is a Standard and her dad is a White Mosaic.

 

[tunes]

They don't usually get spots if they don't have them to begin with. Usually it goes the other way. They will start out solid or heavily marked and fade to white.

 

[starleomach]

Yup, they usually end up lighter than they started like Peggy said

 

[Solarsis]

Our white mosaic was very light in colour as well and we've noticed light markings appearing and disappearing from her fur since she was little. They aren't super dark, but just enough to be noticeable. I doubt that spotting would get really dark but you may see slight variations as years go by.

 

[ABBY W.]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this. I believe spotting and tipping are two different genes, like brown eyes or blue, so if your chinchilla has spots then they will not have tipping, and vice versa.

 

[Spoof]

Here's an example of both spotting and tipping.

You've already had mine and the breeder's opinion on what color she will turn, but if you're really that concerned I'd recommend buying an adult instead. After about 16 months they're set in their color.

 

[whitechin95]

Thanks Spoof but I already got her and she is BEAUTIFUL! In fact thank you all. So you guys think she will lighten? Thats great news! I like the whiter the better, but after picking her up... I dont care what color she turns! She doesnt seem to be touching her food though... Any suggestions? Its the food the breeder gave me. She has drank water... or its leaking... (I dont think it is). And I cant tell if shes been eating hay... Im kinda worried...?

 

[arf2184]

Don't worry. You may not see her eat or drink for a while. She probably is though. As long as she's pooping, she's good.

As for whites changing colors, just wait and see. That's part of the fun with whites. Typically whites tend to get lighter in color. I've had a few whites whose spots got darker and tips got lighter.

Here's some pics of one of my favorite color changing chins, Randall. He's gone on to his new home, but it was great fun watching him change while he was here. He started out with very little white on him, then lightened up to mostly white, then started getting some darker tipping again.

As a kit (he's the one on top):

3 months old...lightened up:

10 months old...even lighter:

One year old...getting darker again:

 

[arf2184]

And just for fun, here's Einstein:

Adult:

 

[harlowquin]

I love those color change photos!!! I also have a mosaic and can't wait to see what my little girl ends up looking like.

 

[whitechin95]

I found out she does have a solid white belly... Does that mean anything?

 

[arf2184]

That just means she's not an ebony (or in the case of whites, not likely an ebony), but if her parents were a standard and a mosaic, her being an ebony wasn't a possibility anyway.

 

[lilchinchilla]

Usually they lighten up, but I did have one that I sold as a baby who was all white but for some tan tips on his head (tan/white). By age 8 months, he developed a dark spot of tan on his right leg, and by the time he was 3 years old...well when I visited the breeder's place, I did not recognize him. He was tan all over. His picture from when he was 8 months old is on my site, and the breeder has a more updated pic of him on her site. You'd never know he was the same chinchilla at all.

Not one hint of white on his body. The only chin I have ever seen do that in all thirteen years I've had of raising chinchillas. All others usually faded to more white over time. He is the only oddity I have seen.