Davidson Chinchillas - Specialising in Charcoal Chinchillas

Pure recessive charcoal - darker colouring

In chinchillas the charcoal gene is truly recessive (like the violet or sapphire) and is only apparent in its homozygous state (i.e. two charcoal genes are present):

Examples:

Standard (carrying charcoal) X Standard (carrying charcoal) = 50% Charcoal 25% Standard 25% Standard Carrying Charcoal

Charcoal X Heterozygous Beige (carrying Charcoal) = 25% Charcoal - 25% Standard (carrying Charcoal) - 25% Heterozygous Beige (carrying Charcoal) - 25% Pastel.

Charcoal  X Black Velvet (carrying Charcoal)  = 25% Charcoal - 25% Standard (carrying Charcoal) - 25% Black Velvet (carrying Charcoal) - 25% Charblack

Charcoal  X Brown Velvet (carrying Charcoal)  = 12.5% Charcoal - 12.5% Standard (carrying Charcoal) - 21.5% Black Velvet (carrying Charcoal) - 12.5% Charblack - 12.5% Beige Carrying Charcoal - 12.5% Brown Velvet (carrying Charcoal) - 12.5% Pastel  - 12.5% Charbrown

Charcoal carriers (i.e. one charcoal gene) will appear exactly the same as a pure standard - there should be no discolouration of the belly fur at all. Discolouration of the belly fur in a charcoal carrier is likely to be attributable to lack of clarity or a mix of ebony in the chin's background. Standards carying charcoal who do not have clear bellies should not be used in a pure recessive charcoal breeding programme - the potential of mixing ebony and charcoal genes is too great and should be avoided at all costs.

Gracie, as a youngster - a standard carrying charcoal with a clear, crisp white belly. She went on to win several novice and champion show awards.

Examples:

Charcoal X Standard = 100% Standard Carrying Charcoal

Charcoal X Heterozygous Beige = 50% Standard Carrying Charcoal 50% Heterozygous Beige Carrying Charcoal

Charcoal X Black Velvet = 50% Black Velvet Carrying Charcoal 50% Standard Carrying Charcoal

Charcoal X Brown Velvet = 25% Hetero. Beige Carrying Charcoal 25% Brown Velvet carrying Charcoal 25% Standard Carrying Charcoal 25% Black Velvet carrying Charcoal

The charcoal mutation chinchilla can vary from a charcoal, chocolate to almost black in appearance with a greyish or grey to brown belly.