The ebony chinchilla is one of the most popular mutations. Ranging from a light grey to a solid black, they are truly a stunning mutation. The ebony is an accumulated gene, with each generation showing more and more black. Thought to originally be hetero and homo, it is now being looked at from a different perspective. The ebony chinchilla should have an even coloured coat all the way around, including the belly. Strong veiling and a blue hue are essential. Many ebonies are plagued by the 'dreaded red tint'. It is best to attend a show and look at ebonies under the lights. At home it can be difficult to discern an ebonies true colour, especially for a novice. Ebonies are also notorious for being slow growing. While many chinchillas mature at 8-14 months, an ebony can take 2 full years to reach their potential.