Blues
When I first began showing blues a fellow fancier described them to me as the variety which is ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’. In other words, it is rare that blues will ever take the top honours (over a black especially), even though they can do reasonably well. The same fancier did however tell me to persevere, as they are a neglected variety and one which needs to be kept alive. There are not currently very many exhibitors of blues in the UK, which is a shame. As I have already mentioned, it could be that because their cousins, blacks, are likely to win over a blue that people choose to keep those instead. Indeed there always do seem to be many aficionados of blacks about!
As for the blue itself, it seems to have all the problems of a black but worse, with perhaps a few new ones thrown in. I am not by any means implying that it is easy to breed blacks, just that when breeding blues you have a lot to go up against. For example, blacks will get knocked for tan vents, and so will blues. Blacks will get knocked for white toenails, so will blues. Blacks will get knocked for a white hair, so will blues. However, blues will get heathering if not well selected – blacks do not. Blacks do not develop the silvery, wispy coat that blues can do through lack of selection, or sometimes just a bad litter. It is also easier to spot a rusty, browny or silvery tinge to a blue’s coat than it is on a black. Blues have a problem with pigment clumping and therefore a level colour to the coat that blacks do not.
The best answer to all these problems is selection. Always breed from
mice with:
· Coloured toenails
· Even, solid colour (no pigment clumping)
· Clear blue colour (no tinges of other colours)
· Absence of heathering (permitted in rats but
a fault in mice)
· As little tan on the vent as possible
If you choose to outcross your blues with a black to improve feet colour/depth of colour then find out the background of the blacks before you do so. Blacks that carry chocolate will give your blues a nasty tinge and ruin the lovely clear blue colour. Similarly, silver carrying blacks may add a light shade to the blue. Try to use blacks that carry blue or if that is not possible, those that have only produced blacks for many generations, with no visible hint of another colour present.
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