Picture Examples
Example of Charcoal Pup.
Top pup is charcoal, bottom is a Black Shadow. The color is so slight that might go un-noticed to the untrained eye, Belly color is Silver! |
Example of Charcoal Pups.
The two on the right are charcoals, the one of the left is a Black Shadow. Very visible difference right at 2 weeks of age. |
More Charcoal compared to Black examples
"Mock" Agouti/ Developing Tort. Rats develop ticking in their fur as they age, they are born genetically black , but due to the Sand Genome they start to get ticking in their fur, The ticking can be drastic, or slight. The Rat on the Right is a Charcoal Shadow Developing Tort and the Left is a Black Shadow Developing Tort. Belly's remain silver through all stages of their life.
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Midnight Blue Compared To Black - Midnight Blue rats have a silver belly like agouti rats, they are genetically NOT compatible with RB rats. They may appear the same in color with the Midnight being slightly darker, but when paired to RB you will get all black babies. Midnight Blue is Recessive to Russian Blue.
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I have used the same rusting female in all these pics for comparison
Rusting Vs Torting - How to tell the difference!
The key difference between Rusting and Torting is genetics. If you don't know the genetics of your rat then the time line of color will help you here, but first off let me explain that the Tort Effect ( aka "Mock" agouti) starts right around 5-6 weeks of age, and develops over the life of the rat. the effect can be slight when it starts or it can go dramatic, but the effect slowly develops over time, Where in Rusting it starts right around 4-5 months on average in Females and in males 5-6 months of age. And is Dramatic, Not only does Rusting hit like lightning, but it will make your nicely Black rat, look like crap! Here are the key ways to determine if your rat is Truly a tort ( genetically ) or just a rusting mess ( age! )
(FYI, you can breed Rusting out of your lines, You can not how ever slow down torting! )
(FYI, you can breed Rusting out of your lines, You can not how ever slow down torting! )
- Rusting - Causes the fur to become slightly rougher to the touch, almost dry compared to the rest of the animals fur. It feels like the keratin in the fur has been stripped away, the coloring of the fur is RED - Hince why its called rusting. It develops around the flank of the animal, and extends up the back normally first seen right around the tail base! When the fur is ruffled it will stay ruffled as its life less. Skin under the fur looks dry, and sometimes yellow tinted. The feel at least for me is like having extremely dry hands then trying to pick up Newspaper ( yuck gross! )
- Torting - Fur stays soft and shiny, starts anywhere on the body, can occur on the head first, or on the sides. there is no distinct place where it starts, normally starts in a swirl, and extends from there, may also come in like a comet tail. The fur is ticked and yellow. Fur when ruffled falls back into place quickly, the skin clean and bright. Noticable difference is that the Torting still has luster as the keratin is still intact. Torting can be extreme over time changing the overall appearance of the rat, or can be slight and just be a few flecks of color.
Rusting Buck Compared to Tort Female and Torting Buck 6-7 weeks of age.
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Rusting Female compared to Torting Female 1 month younger.
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Picture taken: August 30,2018