Red Eye Albinos--Lutinos

[fischer]

Hi Frank and Everone,
Frank, were you keeping Teils when these colour variations first came out and, if so, can you remember if they were light sesitive? The reason I ask is some lutino Finches have appeared in recent years, Lutino Blue Faced Parrot Finches with red eyes, come to mind, and they were very light sensitive, so much so that they were nearly blind. I have an Albino bengalese mannikin with red eyes, bred here, that is nearly blind too. This trait seems to rectify itself as the mutation becomes established, I just wondered if this problem is unique to Finches
Cheers...Tony

[hillcresttiels]

Hi Tony the first Lutino appeared about 20 yrs ago and was said to be an inbred mutation. Lutinos are born with red eyes which is caused by a lack of pigmentation in the eye that allows the blood vessels to give the eye their red coloring. As most Lutinos mature they increase the level of pigment in the eyes causing them to naturally darken. If you were to shine a light in their eyes after dark, you would find the eyes are now a just a dark shade of red, but red none the less. Some Lutinos do keep their bright red eyes for life when the genes of both parents line up properly to give them this trait or when they are crossed with Pieds. It has been known that in early stages the Ino varieties did suffer with light sensitivity hence it was always approriate to have full cover spectrum roofing to aviaries,but in recent years i don't rememeber encountering any problems as the mutation being crossed to normal stronger varieties have restricted most of the bad traits.10Years ago it was a cardinal sin to breed Lutino to Lutino or Lutino to Cinammon boy have we come a long way from there.Regarding the Parrot finches and Bengalese Mannikin Albino,s I'm sure with responsible breeding programs that in the near future these bad traits will also be rectified.Tony also note that these birds can be given a diet that is high in Vitamin A to help improve their sight and the best source is any vegetable with yellow coloring such as corn,

cheers Frank

[eckie]

frank your very good at answering the gentic questions
when i need to know something i will ask you
good on ya

[fischer]

Thanks Frank, I had forgotten the Lutino to Lutino Taboo and that was exactly what these Finch breeders >:(were doing, probably money driven of course,(these mutations were selling for terrific prices) and as you say,totally irresponsible! My Albino Mannekin was a fluke of genetics, I breed straight lines in them,I always have about 10 pairs on hand and breeding in case I have to foster other finches under them, and he just cropped up. They are fed veges every day, including corn, so his vision might improve with age. Thanks for such a comprehensive answer, I'm learning something new on this Forum every day. Cheers...Tony