it is a blue or violet?

[msladypoet]

Hello everyone - I am confused and need some input - is a "slate" lovebird a double dark blue or double dark violet? I'm thinking it's a double dark blue but want to make sure.
thanks :)
Michele

[linda040899]

Hi Michele,
Dark Blue = Double dark factor Blue = Mauve (Slate). By nature of the mutation, you visually have a Dark Blue Peachie. The double dark factor can mask violet and I, personally, have found it impossible to tell if the violet gene is present in dark blue. I've had a few surprises when I found out when I thought one of my pair was just Dark Blue and I've had visual babies show up in the clutch when the lovebird was bred.

[personatus]

2 darkfactors has many names, it's crazy.

USA (ALBS) nomenclature = dark blue
International name = DD blue
Other names = mauve and slate.

Slate should NEVER be used though. Slate is a long established mutation in budgies that works nothing like the dark factor found in Agapornis. The biggest difference is that slate is a sex-linked recessive mutation ... and dark factor is incomplete dominant.

[linda040899]

2 darkfactors has many names, it's crazy.

I have to agree with this! I don't know which is a more daunting task; understanding how the genetics actually work or keeping up with the nomenclature associated with the mutations! :omg:

[personatus]

Yeah indeed it's mad ... then some people make up new names for combined mutations, or when they discover a new mutation they use a name thats already taken for another mutation ... It gets so confusing it's unbelievable.