Help with gerbil color

[marisa]

Sorry, this isn't actually a question about feeding them off, but one of my gerbils developed some weirdness about 4 months ago. For the first 8 months I have had her, she was normal grey (what they call lilac/dove in gerbil circles! )

But then she developed a light grey eye mask, and random, totally irregular (no pattern to them) darker grey patches on her body. Can anyone tell me why? Or point me to a forum that could?

Here are some pics:
Here she is on the right before her fur changed at all really:
<img src="http://members.rogers.com/xaerion/Borris.jpg">

Here she is today: (sorry bad pics but they show what has happened)

<img src="http://members.rogers.com/xaerion/gerbilcolor.jpg">
<img src="http://members.rogers.com/xaerion/gerbilcolor2.jpg">

Thanks, sorry for the lame question, but its really noticable and I don't understand why it all appeared out of nowhere.

Marisa

[vanderkm]

Is the coat the same texture where it is darker? There are a couple color phases that change with age - nutmeg and dark eyed honey get this type of color change, with darker hair growing in, but when they are much younger than 8 months. I would almost wonder about a hormonal imbalance - thyroid and pituitary problems can produce abnormal hair textue in hamsters, but I don't know of anything similar in gerbils. I have seen similar looking hair growth (short, dark stiff hairs) after excessive grooming in some mice. Sorry I don't have any good gerbil breeding sites available, but there are several breeding groups with lots of info on colors, etc. Just wouldn't mention if these are feeders - most of them are pet breeders and pretty sensitive,

mary v.

[marisa]

Yes the coat is the same texture/feel as the rest. Looks exactly the same type of fur like her other colors.

I would like to lean towards an internal issue as well! This is the gerbil that I have menioned before that has problems with her litters. THey *always* died at around weaning time. Maybe it all ties in, I don't know.

Marisa