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[Debbie.nl.ca]

I had a call a while back from a Lady who said she was told she had an albino chinchilla.
I believe it to be a pink white, but haven't seen it yet.
I was looking for information and the chinster gave me this reply, and link.
I think it's very helpful and thought it would be a good idea to post it here.
I have not as of yet found a picture of a true albino, so if you find one please share.

Hi Debbie:

While there are true albino Chins, they are so exceedingly rare that most of us
will never encounter one. [Unfortunately, many misinterpret Pink Whites as
albinos when they are, of course, merely a Tower Beige - Wilson White
dihybrid.] A number of years ago, I put together a primer on albinism at
<http://ChinMania.tripod.com/albinism.html>. Enjoy.

Albino chinchillas

[Jenova]

As far as I know albinos are just a mutation that pop up every now and then in every species. It is simply the term given to an animal (including humans) that are born with absolutely no colour pigment in their body resulting in white skin/fur and pink eyes. They don't last very long in the wild because they have absolutely no camouflage. I can see why it would be hard to tell them apart from a Pink White due to the pink eyes and white fur. Out of curiosity do you know of any other discerning features of either?

[Abby W.]

I would imagine the best way to tell an abino apart from a pink white would be to look at the ears.  An albino's body lacks all pigment, so the ears and nose would be white, where a pink white has pink ears and a pink nose.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I would imagine the best way to tell an albino apart from a pink white would be to look at the ears.  An albino's body lacks all pigment, so the ears and nose would be white, where a pink white has pink ears and a pink nose.

Thanks Abby, that's what I was wondering, wouldn't the ears be white,and the skin?
Cool, well I have never seen one yet.

[Jenova]

I found this:

Albino Chinchillas
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.

From here: http://www.chinchillas.com/newsletter/volume2number1.htm

[Abby W.]

I believe that albinism is usually caused by the inheritance of recessive genes on both sides.  But it can also be caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation, so in theory it is possible to find an albino chinchilla which was born to non-carrying parents.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Cool Jenova thanks.
And yes Abby, sometimes S**T just happens.
Very interesting!