Blue Fur Color

[Emi W.]

Do the coats of blue bunnies (specifically Netherland dwarf) change as they grow older? Do they lighten or darken?

Also, what is the difference between a blue otter and a blue silver martin color?

Thanks!

EW.

[Azerane]

Hi there

Coat colours can change, especially with younger rabbits going through moults, fur tends to get darker, but can change to a lighter colour too. Some rabbits change with every moult, some only in the first year or two.

The easiest way to tell, blue otters will have a patch of tan on the back of the neck, just behind the ears, and sometimes hints of tan on the belly or paws. Blue silver martens have a silver patch behind the ears and no tan patches anywhere 

ETA: Also there is a colour called smoke pearl marten which is similar to blue silver marten. Smoke pearl tends to produce lighter/smokier body colour but I honestly struggle to differentiate between the two. Smoke pearls are paler which makes the dark points stand out more. Blue silver marten still have dark points but there’s not as much colour difference.

[LBJ10]

Oh boy, that’s a complicated question. As with any young rabbit, their coloring can change as they age. I think it’s more common for the coloring to darken or for markings to become more pronounced. I don’t think it really matters what color they are. It just depends on how their baby coat appears when they are young. The change is seen when they start getting their adult coat in. Hopefully that helps.

As for blue otter vs. blue silver marten, both have the “tan” gene. This is a pattern gene, not a color gene. The difference is the “extension” gene. Blue otters have normal banding of color on the hair. Blue silver martens do not. On the surface, blue otters will have a more brown-ish appearance to their bellies. Blue silver martens tend to have more white-ish bellies. The pattern is the same though (lighter on belly, nostrils, nap of neck, around eyes) because both colorings have the tan pattern gene.

Now there are other colorings that fall under the marten category, but I didn’t include them here because you specified blue otter and blue marten. I was trying to not complicate things.

[Azerane]

Thanks for that extra info LBJ10

I found some pics all of Nethies for comparison:

Blue Otter (note the tan) http://www.unionrabbitstud.co.uk/uploads/1/0/7/3/10734935/2464093_orig.jpg
Blue silver marten (no tan, crisp whites. This bunny has dirty feet): http://chandinirabbitry.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/6/5/11651664/733619.jpg
Smoke pearl marten (smokey): http://www.unionrabbitstud.co.uk/uploads/1/0/7/3/10734935/4348689.jpg?539

[LBJ10]

Oh wait, I think I have that confused. I think it’s the C gene that turns the tan to silver/white… hang on.

[LBJ10]

OK, did some searching. Apparently there is some disagreement regarding what causes the tan coloring to become white coloring. Some say it is the color saturation gene (C). Others say it’s the extension gene (E).

And I know that is probably more information than Emi wanted. LOL

[Azerane]

Can never be too thorough

[LBJ10]

I know Azerane! And color genetics are SO complicated. Plus there seems to be a fair bit of disagreement. I suppose that’s to be expected considering how complicated it is.

I guess the take away message here is that both colorings have the tan pattern gene and both have the dilute gene (turns black to blue). Outward appearance is that otters have tan colored markings and martens have silver/white colored markings.

[Author]

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