Re: Lightened black

[(Sarah) (Churchman)]

Hi!
I also have Black Gerbils which appear lighter than other Blacks.
I had an Agouti Female and a Black Male whose offspring were generally half
Agouti and half Black.The Blacks were always a really shiny Black.
Recently I have had Blacks born to different parents and when compared to
their litter mates look Black but next to the pups from the above pair look
more like a really dark grey and there is little shine to the fur.I was
wondering whether they could be Slate? I have had this colour from two sets
of parents:
1) Agouti Female (parents Black-glossy and Grey Agouti) x Burmese Male
(parents unknown)-the pups have been Grey Agouti,Agouti and the lighter Black
colour
2)Grey Agouti Female (parents Grey agouti x Ivory Cream) x Grey Agouti Male
(same parents as female-siblings)- the pups have been Grey Agouti,Ivory
Cream, a colour slightly darker than Ivory Cream (Argente?) and the lighter
Black colour.

I am sorry I  do not know the genotypes of these Gerbils as they are all Pet
shop bought or are bred from Pet shop parents by me but any opinions would be
appreciated.
Sarah
P.S My first ever Gerbils 10 years ago were a Dark Grey colour and actually
looked Grey rather than Black, at the time it was all the pet shops seemed to
have but after they did I never saw that colour again-Only Grey Agouti (too
pale)or Black.Does anyone know what colour these were?