German Blue
Overall impression: Shall be a deep and even slate
blue colour without tinges, white hairs or spots.
Colour to be carried down the skin. Belly colour not
to be lighter than top colour.
Feet: Blue.
Eye colour: Black.
Other name/s: Graphite (SRS).
Genetics: (aadd). I call
this gene d since it is scientifically described
(Genetics of the Norway rat) and German Blue acts just like the
d gene does in other animals.
Known since: Known since: 1929, re-introduced 1995 in
Sweden, through imports from Germany. Not in standards in the
NFRS, not in standards in the US (RMCA, AFRMA).
German Blue is the only colour that is so far free of the low grade silvering, that is a big problem in all our rat colours here in Sweden.
We already had German Blue (aadd) since 1995 but then in 1998 the similar colour Russian Blue was imported.
NOTE: German Blue and "Russian Blue" was
complementation testmated in July 1999.
Since they produced a whole litter of blacks
this proves that these genes are
situated on different loci.
When I saw my first Russian Blue I though it
was a badly colour bred German Blue, and therefore I
was pretty convinced the test mating between
Russian Blue and German Blue would produce
blue babies... But that was not the case!
Compare Russian Blue to German Blue:
Eva's Rat Colours Page - 3 different blue colours - how do you know the difference?
All photos by Eva Johansson.
Last update: 13th of February 2006.