What is the difference between a Isabel and Florida Fancy Zebras?
From: Roy Beckham Although the American and European (and Aussie) Isabels are phenotypically similar, they are different genetically. The European Isabels when crossed with a Gray bird results in a Gray bird that is split for Isabel. A true recessive mutation. When the American Isabel (called Florida Fancy) is crossed with a Gray, the result is a bird often referred to as a Silver Isabel (Jeff has suggested the name Fancy Pastel to avoid confusion with the Euro Isabels). This is called a co-dominant gene. unlike a dominant gene like Fawn Cheek, it is unable to assert itself against the normal color in heterozygous form. A FC in heterozygous form is a FC. The Florida Fancy in heterozygous form is unable to change the color of the bird to white. The result is a bird “half way” there. Since the FF (and Isabel) gene reduces the eumelanin to produce the white color, a heterozygous FF effects the eumelanin, but not to the degree that a homozygous FF does. The strong influence of this gene, y
