Understanding Mouse Colors requires first that you understand the different mouse standards that are out there. First of all, it is important to understand that the color of a mouse is partly dependant on the standards you are following. For example, if you have a light dove gray mouse with hair all the same color, and pink eyes, under some standards you have a lilac mouse, and in other standards you have a dove colored mouse. So it is important to know which standards you plan to follow before you determine the color of your mouse.

Below is a table of mouse colors. Included are example pictures, where ever possible. When the standard is different, the standard for each of four rat and mouse clubs will be included so that you might know which standard you should follow. This might not be clear at the moment, but hopefully when you look at the table below you will come to understand the standards.

The four standards considered for this document are from the Rat & Mouse Fanciers for Excellence, American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association, London and Southern Counties Mouse and Rat Club, and Finnish Show and Pet Mice. The standards listed below are direct quotes from their web pages. Undoubtedly, there are other standards that I have left out. This is just an overview. If you don’t intend to participate in one of the above mentioned groups, please find the standards for your club and follow those.

Keep in mind that this is simply a comparison page. The pictures below are representations of at least one standard. To learn everything about the standards of your club you should visit their web pages.

* Provisional Standards. ** Unstandardized.

Self

Self mice have the same coat color throughout, from the belly, to the feet, ears, and tail. Each strand of hair is one color from base to tip.

Color

Clubs

Standard

Beige

AFRMA

Color is a warm grayish-tan. Eye color is black.

RMFE

Colour is a warm greyish tan with black eyes. Belly and foot colour to match top.

FSPM*

The colour should be clear, warm gray shade of tan, not too dark. Eyed black

Black

AFRMA

Color is a deep lustrous black. Eye color is black.

RMFE

Deep black. Belly and foot colour to match top. Eyes black.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. The colour should be dense, lustrous black.

FSPM

The colour should be dense, lustrous black. Eyes black

Blue

AFRMA

Color is a medium slate blue. Eye color is black.

RMFE

A medium slate blue with black eyes. Belly and foot colour to match top

LSCMRC

Eye Black The colour should be a medium slate blue.

FSPM

The colour should be a medium slate blue. Eye black

Bone

FSPM

The colour should be a very pale cream, not to be confused with ivory, stone or very dilute champagne. Eye pink or black

Champagne

AFRMA

Color is a clean warm beige, enhanced by a pinkish cast running throughout the coat, like that of sparkling champagne. Eye color is pink.

RMFE

A pale beige colour with pink cast, neither too yellow nor too grey. Foot and belly colour to match top. Eyes pink.

LSCMRC

Eye Pink. The colour should be that of champagne silk with a pinkish tinge, free from mealiness and well carried out under.

FSPM

The colour should be that of champagne silk with a pinkish tinge, free from mealiness and well carried out under. Eye pink.

Chocolate

AFRMA

Color is a rich, deep chocolate brown, showing no tint of redness. Eye color is deep ruby or black.

RMFE

A rich, deep chocolate (plain chocolate, not milk chocolate). Foot colour to match top. Eyes black.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. The colour should be that of plain (not milk) chocolate and should be rich, deep and full of life.

FSPM

The colour should be that of plain (not milk) chocolate and should be rich, deep and full of life. Eye black.

Coffee

AFRMA

Coffee is a very pale brown, similar to coffee with cream. Eye color is black.

RMFE

A pale brown, similar to cofee with creame. Belly and foot colour to match top.

FSPM**

The colour is very light brown with a slight grey shade, like coffee with cream. Eyes black. Not to be confused with Beige.

Cream

AFRMA

Color is a pale yellow, similar to that of rich dairy cream or vanilla ice cream. Eye color is black.

RMFE

Eyes Pink or Black. The colour should be a very pale cream, similar to vanilla ice cream and not to be confused with ivory, stone or very dilute champagne. Belly and foot colour to match top.

LSCMRC

Eye Pink or Black. The colour should be a very pale cream, not to be confused with ivory, stone or very dilute champagne

FSPM**

The colour should be rich cream, like pastel yellow, without grayness or sootiness. Eyes black or pink

Dove

AFRMA

Color is a perfect blend of blue and chocolate, not too dark. Eye color is black.

RMFE

Eyes Pink. a soft dove-grey. Belly and foot colour to match top

LSCMRC

Eye Pink. The colour should be a soft dove grey

FSPM

The colour should be a soft dove grey. Eye pink

Fawn

AFRMA

Color is a medium orange, midway between gold and orange. Eye color may be pink or black.

LSCMRC

Eye Pink. The colour can be described as the deepest tan as on a Black/Tan

FSPM

The colour can be described as the deepest tan as on a Black/Tan. Eye pink

Gold

AFRMA

Color is a light yellowish-orange, similar to that of gold metal. Eye color may be pink or black.

RMFE

Eyes Pink or black. A bright, slightly orange tinted yellow, like that of gold metal. Belly and foot colour to match top

Ivory

AFRMA

Color is white with a pale yellow hue. Eyes black.

Lilac

AFRMA

Color is a medium dove gray, like that of the Lilac rabbit. Eye color is pink.

RMFE

Eyes black. a soft lilac grey with pink cast. Belly and foot colour to match top.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. An even pinky shade of lilac

FSPM

Eye black. An even pinky shade of lilac.

Orange

AFRMA

Color is a vivid bright orange, as rich as possible. Eye color may be pink, ruby, or black.

Red

AFRMA

Color to be a burnt orange red, the deeper the better, clear and without sootiness. Eyes black.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. The colour should be rich, deep and sparkling with no sootiness

FSPM

The colour should be rich, deep and sparkling with no sootiness. Eye black

Silver

AFRMA

Color is a very light gray, similar to a new coin, showing no hint of lilac. Eye color is pink.

RMFE

Also Known as: ice, dove.: To be an even pale grey with blue hue, often described as being like that of a new silver coin. No hint of lilac or warm cast. Belly and foot colour to match top. Eye colour: pink.

LSCMRC

Eye Pink or Black. This is a delicate shade, as near as possible to an old silver coin . It should be sufficiently solid to leave no doubt of it being a self

FSPM

This is a delicate shade, as near as possible to an old silver coin. It should be sufficiently solid to leave no doubt of it being a Self. Eye pink

Black Eyed White

AFRMA

Color is a clear sparkling white, showing no yellow cast to the hair. Jet black eyes

RMFE

A clean white; belly and foot also white. Eyes black.

LSCMRC

The white shall be pure in colour. Eye Black

FSPM

The white shall be pure in colour. Eye black

Pink Eyed White

AFRMA

Color is a clear sparkling white, showing no yellow cast to the hair. Pink eye of medium color (not ruby)

RMFE

aka: Albino: A clean and sparkling white. Belly and foot colour to be white. Eyes bright, light pink.

LSCMRC

The white shall be pure in colour. Eye pink.

FSPM

The white shall be pure in colour. Eye pink

Ruby Eyed White

FSPM*

The white shall be pure in colour. Eyes ruby, not to be confused with pink or black eyes

Marked Mice

Marked mice have white and at least one other color in their coat.

Shaded Mice

Shaded mice have gradual color gradations from one color to the next.

Ticked Mice

Ticked mice have bars of different colors on each hair strand.

Silvered Mice

Silvered mice have silver or white hairs mixed hairs of another color.

Tan & Fox Mice

Tan and fox mice have tan or white bellies, while their backs are the standard colors.