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Ruby Eyed Cream (eeruru)

This colour is uncommon, since it arises by the interaction of the Black Eyed Cream gene, (e), with the Ruby Eyed Fawn gene, (ru). Both are recessive, and must be inherited from both parents, and since Ruby Eyed Fawn is extremely rare, so are opportunities to inherit the gene. Ruby Eyed Cream is the palest of the three Creams, not being as rich and dark as either of the others, but is a very pleasant pastel shade of Cream. The eyes are technically darker than in a red eyed Cream but it can be very difficult, (particularly in youngsters), to distinguish the two. This is further complicated by the tendency of Ruby Eyed males to either be sterile, or to become so early in life, (three months or less). It is therefore necessary to use Ruby Eyed females to breed from, mating them, if possible to "carrier" males, (i.e., a male whose mother was Ruby Eyed). Due to the scarcity of the Ruby Eyed gene, this is rarely feasible, and the difficulty of distinguishing Ruby Eyed youngsters from Red Eyed ones complicates the issue yet further. When Ruby Eyed Cream females occur, (and are known to be Ruby rather than Red eyed), it is probably best to mate them to a Black Eyed Cream male, of the purest stock available. A Black Eyed Cream son can then be mated back to his mother to produce more Ruby Eyed pups.

NHC Standard