Chinchillas.com Newsletter Volume 2, Number 1

Volume 2, Number 1
January 1, 2003

Auction Update

Dynamic Bidding

People often ask what "TOV" means. Technically, it is an abbreviation for "Touch of Velvet," referring to the influence the black velvet gene has on hybrids. However, if you ask a mutation breeder who has been breeding chinchillas for 30 years, he or she will likely associate that term with what is now called a TOV beige, or brown velvet. In the past when mutation hybrids were relatively few and new, the only mutations being Gunning Black (or black velvet), Wilson White, and Tower Beige, the only recognized black velvet hybrid in existence was TOV beige. TOV whites were just recognized as white variants, and were shown as mosaics. So, for short, the black velvet/beige hybrids were just called TOV’s, instead of TOV beiges, referring to a beige with a "touch of velvet." Now there are so many black velvet hybrids, it is more appropriate to say TOV Violet, TOV Beige, TOV Sapphire, TOV ebony, TOV white, etc…

Dwarf animals of any species are typically sterile. There are some fertile dwarfs that appear from time to time, however. One of the most prominent lines of fertile dwarfs being bred today originated at Pete and Sue Kiseskey’s ranch, PSK Chinchilla, of Southern California. In about 1989, a true dwarf standard male was littered by a normal violet female at PSK, and that dwarf later proved to be both fertile and to have a true recessive homozygous gene set for dwarfism. He had a large head, very large eyes, short legs, an extremely small round body, and a tail of only about 2 inches in length. He was also long lived and healthy. He was originally sold by Sue Kiseskey at the age of about 6 or 7 to Gaby Scheidig of Southern California for a very modest price. Under her ownership, he produced a single pre-term kit, possibly mummified, out of a miniature non-dwarf standard female. But, he proved himself to be fertile. Not being interested in becoming a chinchilla breeder herself, Gaby finally resold the dwarf to a mutation breeder in Encinitas, California who had expressed a continued interest in having him. It was there that he successfully produced viable offspring, although being a true recessive gene, the first generation was all of normal size. When inbred the second generation, and when line-bred in subsequent generations, dwarfs reappeared. Many of those dwarfs and carriers have gone on to other breeders, and have also proven to be fertile. It is my understanding, however, that dwarf females of this line have littering problems, so only dwarf males or dwarf carrier males should be used on dwarf carrier females to safely produce dwarfs.

Some people new to chinchillas often mistake homozygous beiges or white variants for albinos. There are no true albino chinchillas being bred today. In about 1960, a true albino chinchilla did appear, but it was completely blind, and no breeders continued the line.

Chinchillas.com Newsletter

Auction Update

Dynamic Bidding

The Origin of the Term "TOV"

Origin of the Prominent Fertile Dwarfs

Albino Chinchillas