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Post by synu on May 23, 2011 20:31:19 GMT -5
He's cute Sherry! So is Odin, he's pretty old  |
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Post by Heather on May 23, 2011 20:31:48 GMT -5
Odin's eyesight, like most ferrets is poor but he seems more sensitive to bright sunlight than say my sables or poleys.
ciao
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Post by Heather on May 23, 2011 20:34:30 GMT -5
Got to love those late alters (Odin was almost 5 when he lost his manlybits)
ciao
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Post by Sherry on May 23, 2011 20:53:15 GMT -5
I think Vincent is more sensitive to bright light as well. The thing about an albino's eyes is that since there is no pigmentation, the lens is clear, and the pink colour is actually the blood moving behind the eye  Interesting article on the ferret eye: www.cypresskeep.com/Ferretfiles/Body-Eyes-FM.htmThere was another I was looking for, describing HOW the ferret sees, including a bit on the different vision of the albino, but can't find it now  |
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Post by Heather on May 23, 2011 21:58:44 GMT -5
Here's some information regarding albino ferrets by Bob Church. It doesn't address the eyesight part of the thread but it does explain some interesting concepts and beliefs. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the article that Sherry was talking about. www.modernferret.com/nyc/domestication.pdfciao |
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Post by Sherry on May 23, 2011 22:08:07 GMT -5
It was almost 3 years ago that I read it, so finding it now could be interesting ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2011 23:05:10 GMT -5
Yes albinos have differences in their eyes (not just color), and they are slightly more prone to vision issues. I have read that they do not see quite as well to begin with due to the differences in their eyes. My albino girl, Kachina, is over 6. As far as I an tell, she hears and sees as well as the others (as far as I can tell.) She's very healthy as well (other than the minor adrenal thing). She comes from a litter of albinos and champagnes. Her champagne brother (same litter) is also do well so far.
-jennifer
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 22:30:43 GMT -5
whare I live in Utah, albinos are not all that uncommon.
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Post by Sherry on May 24, 2011 23:28:05 GMT -5
I've not seen a single one in the pet stores here since we got Vincent. Plenty of DEW's, but no albinos. Mind you- I only frequent a couple.
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Post by Heather on May 24, 2011 23:31:18 GMT -5
I haven't see an albino in pet stores up here in years up here. Lots of almost DEWs (pale silvers). The colour of the season up here is the champagnes.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2011 0:54:57 GMT -5
If I'm understanding this correctly Heather, are the albinos, even if they come from the "fancy colors" mill stock, healthier than the others?
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Post by Heather on May 25, 2011 2:07:59 GMT -5
No. If you get 'binos from mill stock they've got fancy problems deeply imbedded in their genetic make-up. You will probably find any number of colours even in their littermates. Albino is a recessive gene, if both fancy parents carry it they could produce an albino kit(s) (I'm not guessing at the likelihood but from what I understand it is possible)along with other dilute colours within the same litter. What that means is that the genetics that went into both "fancy" parents go into that albino kit. I'm also guessing from the lack of 'binos on the market and how they're prized to produce champagnes (sandys) or pandas and other "fancy" colours that you will not find them being sold in pet store, at least not frequently.
I may be wrong in my assumptions (I don't have the years experience that others do in studying genetics with colours) but that is my understanding. So, even if you were to pick up an albino marshals ferret you would have the same genetic issues that you're going to find with all the other marshals ferrets.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2011 2:44:00 GMT -5
No. If you get 'binos from mill stock they've got fancy problems deeply imbedded in their genetic make-up. You will probably find any number of colours even in their littermates. Albino is a recessive gene, if both fancy parents carry it they could produce an albino kit(s) (I'm not guessing at the likelihood but from what I understand it is possible)along with other dilute colours within the same litter. What that means is that the genetics that went into both "fancy" parents go into that albino kit. I'm also guessing from the lack of 'binos on the market and how they're prized to produce champagnes (sandys) or pandas and other "fancy" colours that you will not find them being sold in pet store, at least not frequently. I may be wrong in my assumptions (I don't have the years experience that others do in studying genetics with colours) but that is my understanding. So, even if you were to pick up an albino marshals ferret you would have the same genetic issues that you're going to find with all the other marshals ferrets. ciao Ahhhhhhh okay, thank you for clearing that up for me.  Bummer though! I was hoping there was a loophole when adopting a rescue mill fuzz for better health. Ah, well. Then breeder 'binos are the way to go? *ponders* |
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Post by Sherry on May 25, 2011 9:17:57 GMT -5
Depends entirely on the breeder. If the breeder has bred for fancies for shows and the like, you are going to have similar, if not quite the same, problems.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2011 10:38:32 GMT -5
I think you guys need to move to the south west because we always see bino kits at the pet stores around here every week or every few weeks. Lucky me!  |
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