Dilute Zebras

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:02 am

I stumbled across a very light zebra male when I went to buy feed today, and just had to have him. He is a very light silver , with normal vibrant orange cheek patches. All of the black areas are diluted to a slate grey. I have found pictures online that look like him, including recessive silvers, and splits for florida fancy. Does anyone know what the distinguishing characteristics are between the two?Thanks in advance.

Well, while I am here asking about diluted animals... I have an 8 week old male that was produced by breeding a Black cheeked male to a CFW female. The juvenile is a very light silvery fawn color, with a white belly. His cheek patches are reduced to a light apricot color, and all of the black areas are very bold black. Any ideas what he might be, and how the pairing produced him?

Gunnar · Post by **Gunnar** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:23 pm

I'm not going to give advise on the dilute because I'm not all that familiar with the recessive silver.
The baby you have however sounds like a lightback male. Lightback is a sexlinked recessive gene. It is carried on the same part of the chromosome as the CFW. The black cheek male (father) you have is therefore split to lightback. In order for the gene to be expressed in male you need either two lightback factors or a lightback and a CFW gene. The later being the case with your male. This new baby can then produce CFW and lightback females. It will also be split for Blackcheeked and you can get quite a variety of offspring from it depending on what you pair it with. I'll try to attach a picture of a lightback male for you to compare it to. I don't know if it will work.

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Gunnar · Post by **Gunnar** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:52 pm

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:43 am

Thanks Gunnar, thats almost identical to the little one, but mine is still going through the molt. Looking at pictures, I would say his dad is a lightback black cheek himself. I will try to get pictures of the father, the baby, and the new guy all posted . I haven't been able to upload anything to pic hosts today for some reason. Thanks again.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:19 am

Daddy is in the middle in this pic.

This is the son.(He looks ragged because mommy and daddy have been running him all over. They have 3 new babies in the nest, and sonny just doesn't know when he has worn out his welcome. He was moved to a new cage tonight)

This is the guy I had to have at the pet shop.

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:20 pm

Oh your new guy is so handsome! I love it!

merryweather · Post by **merryweather** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:56 pm

Wow! Beautiful birds. I really see why you had to have your new addition to the family.

I never knew zebra finches came in so many colors. I am trying to learn about finch genetics. But all the mutations, recessive, dominant, split, sex-linked and so much more is a lot to keep track of.

Whew!

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:08 pm

OMG!! I LOVE YOU BLACK CHEEK!! I have a few black cheeks and think they are the best variety of finches. I am hoping to get the mix right to have one of these:

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:42 pm

Wow that guy is gorgeous Hilljack! If you get a bird like that you'd better post some pictures!!

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:58 pm

No doubt..If anyone finds one local to them I'll work out a deal somehow. Seriously!!

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:34 am

Hilljack, that is one good looking bird, congrats. Just a Q on the Black Cheeks, I heard that if the band across the chest is broken this is a genetic "defect" (if that is the right word"). So I would like to know 2 things. 1.) Is this a defect and if so why, will this mean that the bird is weaker? and 2.) How does this occur/how can it be prevented?

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:30 pm

williep - sorry but I don't have an answer for you. I haven't really thought about the band being broke. I would say it's just a pigment loss on a few feathers for some reason or another. I don't think it has anything to do with a bird being weaker. Health is what matters there, although I have read if you breed pure black cheeks the young are succeptable (sp) to weak bones and will not grow as large as they should.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:35 pm

Well, the one in the last pic(the "new guy" just hatched a chick and the mother is a black cheek. The baby has really light tinted eyes(through the skin anyway) and kinda peachy fuzz. Whatever it is , its split for BC at least!

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:22 pm

oh hes VERY cute, I like. I only have 3 zeebies now and all 3 are different. I LOVE them and there lil honk. but your guy very very handsome,

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:30 am

Wow....I love all these Zebra variations! I would like one of each! Mine are the plain ol' type. But I could get creative with my black sharpie pen and white out.