PATCH GERBIL INFORMATION

Currently I am not breeding Dark Patch Pied.

Please note that my understanding of this mutation was gathered only by talking to people or reading what little I can find on the internet. I'm no expert on this mutation, rather just sharing what I've learned. 

HISTORY 

Patch gerbils showed up in the U.K. and United States prior to 2006. That's all I know. I cannot find anyone who has more information. In 2021, they are still considered uncommon because they are tricky to breed. 

To my knowledge, no gene causing the patch has been identified. You may see this abbreviation DPP used to identify patch gerbils. I don't think it's used any more but it stands for dark pied patch.

It is believed that the patch effect is not produced by a particular gene, rather, a modification in the coat color of any spot, pied, or mottled coat patterns.

What is known about producing a visual patch is it tends to run (produce) in families, it can skip generations, and it is still considered uncommon.

WHAT IS A PATCH COLORED GERBIL?

My understanding is a patch gerbils coat color includes two different shades of the base color including white. It will appear to be a tri-colored coat pattern. Especially if the patches are large and numerous, which is desirable. 

A patch coat pattern only shows up in spot variety coat patterns (which includes spot, pied, and mottled). Basically any gerbil that has white in its coat. Spot gerbils have two colors: a base coat color and white. The white in spot varieties often washes out (dilutes) the base color. So the base coat color will usually be lighter than the original color.

Summary

#1 color is white from the spot, pied, or mottled coat color pattern.

#2 color is usually a lighter color from the original base coat color. The color lightens due to the white spotting. So a black & white gerbil will often look faded black & white. 

#3 color, the patch color, is an area on the coat that has reverted to the original base color. So now we have a faded black & white gerbil with a dark patch of black.

BREEDING

In order to produce a patch gerbil, one parent must be a spotted color gerbil with a patch. However, it has been known that a gerbil not visually showing a patch has produced patch offspring. Usually this is an offspring produced from a patch gerbil. The patch on that offspring just might be so small you cannot see it or it just doest show (skipped a generation). 

Because of the issue with producing the spot lethal gene, I recommend you do not breed to another spot variety. It is known that SpSp offspring are reabsorbed in the womb and usually replaced by viable embryos. For this reason, chances of producing spot offspring is slim. And you need the offspring to be spot variety if you want the dark patch to appear. Also, the litters can be small which will decrease the odds of producing any spot variety.

There is no guarantee you will produce patch offspring even if you breed two patch gerbils together. Hence, the reason why this mutation is considered unstable.

MY BREEDING PROGRAM 

In 2021 I was surprised when one of my studs produced three patch offspring. Connor was purchased at a pet store so unfortunately I do not know his background. He is a proven sapphire patch pied; producing patch offspring. He is the father of the lilac patch pied pictured above. I always thought something was different about Connor but his patch went unnoticed until he produced offspring with patches. It is often difficult to identify a patch on light color coats like sapphire or dove.

Connor's two sons were sold before I even noticed or took good photos of their patch patterns. They both had patches. 

PATCH OFFSPRING 

Below are photos only of the patch offspring produced by each pair in my breeding program. The photos serve as reference for future enthusiasts and breeding programs. All photos are copyright. I will update as time permits.