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.

Marked Mice

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

Color

Clubs

Standard

Banded

AFRMA

Banded mice may be shown in any recognized color. The distinctive feature is the white band around the body to occupy ¼ length of body positioned at the third quarter of body length from head excluding tail. Sharpness of demarcation prime importance. Feet white.

RMFE

These mice are solid coloured everywhere excepting for a band of white around the waist, as if they are wearing a belt. The band should be positioned at the 3rd quarter of the body length from the head, excluding the tail. The band should be no more than 1/4th the length of the body. Markings shall be clean and even. All feet shall be white.

LSCMRC

Eye as in other standardized colours. A mouse of any recognized standard colour, with a white zone encircling the body and to occupy one quarter of the length of the body positioned at the third quarter of the body length from the head, excluding the tail; sharpness of demarcation to be of prime importance. Feet white.

FSPM

Eyes as with the standardized color. A mouse of any recognized standard colour, with a white zone encircling the body and 1/4 of the length of the body, positioned at the third quarter of the body length from the head, excluding the tail. Sharpness of demarcation to be of prime importance. Feet white

Broken Marked

AFRMA

Broken Marked mice may be shown in any recognized color. They have as many colored spots or patches as possible on a white background, even in size, sharply defined, and distributed irregularly over the body. A spot of some size is preferred on the head.

RMFE

These mice have several coloured spots distributed irregularly over a white body. A coloured spot on the head is desirable. Spots shall be well defined and their placement, though irregular, shall be pleasing to the eye.

LSCMRC

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. A Broken marked should be as far removed from the Even or Dutch marked mouse as possible; that is to say it should not have either Dutch cheeks, saddle or any markings which may be considered evenly placed. The spots or patches should be well distributed all over the body and head, the more uniform in size, the better, also the greater in number and they should be free from brindling. There must be a spot or patch on one side of the nose. A Broken marked mouse without a nose spot must be disqualified. The nose spot defined as a spot on one side only of the nose, including the whisker bed.

FSPM

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. A broken marked should be as far removed from the Even or Dutch marked mouse as possible; that is to say, it should not have either Dutch cheeks, saddle or any other markings, which may be considered evenly, placed. The spots or patches should be well distributed all over the body and head, the more uniform in size, the better, also the greater in number and they should be free from brindling. There must be a nose spot or patch on one side of the nose. A broken marked mouse without a nose spot must be disqualified. The nose spot defined as a spot on one side of the nose, including the whisker bed.

Broken Merle

AFRMA

Broken colored Merles are a white mouse with roan and solid patches added to give areas of pure roan, dark patches, and white patches. The different patched areas to show balance between the three different “colors.” Eye color to match base color.

Capped

FSPM

The colour not to extend past the ears and to follow the line of the lower jaw bone, it should not extend under the chin. There should be a white line or an open star in the face and the rest of the body white. Colour as in any standardized variety. Eyes as in the standardized variety.

Dutch

AFRMA

Dutch marked mice may be shown in any recognized color, and will have markings like those of a Dutch rabbit. The forward half of the body will be white, with the exception of the cheek patches. These are located on either side of the head, and are to include the ears, upper jowls, and the area immediately forward of the eyes. The cheek markings should be well rounded and balanced, and clear of the whiskers. A wedge shaped blaze of white should run from muzzle to neck, running between colored ears. The saddle on the rear half of the body should be of solid color, and the dividing line between color and white should be as straight and clean-cut as possible, above and under as well. The color should extend well into the tail, and the remaining area should be flesh-colored. The white stops on the hind feet should be uniform in length, and their dividing line should be about halfway between the toes and the hocks. The white portion of the Dutch should be a clean, pure white, and all markings should be clear and sharp. Dutch mice are normally cobby and smaller in body type.

RMFE

In these mice, the face or cheek markings should be evenly balanced, a patch covering each side of the face, extending below the eye but not including the whiskers, and not joining between the ears at the narrowest part of the blaze. The cheek markings should not run underneath the jaw. Ears should also be coloured. The saddle (rump colouring) should come up from the tail to the middle of the body and be clean cut, top and underneath. Tail pigmented from base to midlength and white from midpoint to tip. All feet white. Back legs coloured

LSCMRC

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. In Dutch marked the face or cheek markings should be evenly balanced, a patch covering each side of the face, extending below the eye but not including the whiskers, and not joining between the ears at the narrowest part of the blaze. The cheek markings should not run underneath the jaw. The saddle should come well up from the tail to the middle of the body and be clean cut, top and under. Tail stop to be approximately halfway along the tail. The stops on the hind feet should come halfway between the tips of the toes and the hock. Colour of markings should be carried out in the ears. The coloured markings may be any standard colour.

FSPM

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. In Dutch Marked the face or cheek markings should be evenly balanced, a patch covering each side of the face, extending below the eye but not including the whiskers, and not joining between the ears at the narrowest part of the blaze. The cheek markings should not run underneath the jaw. The saddle should come well up from the tail to the middle of the body and be clean cut, top and under. Tail stop to be approximately halfway along the tail. The stops on the hind feet should come halfway between the tips of the toes and the hock. Colour of markings should be carried out in the ears. The coloured markings may be any standard colour

Even Marked

AFRMA

Even marked mice may be shown in any recognized color. They should be of any uniform pattern other than Dutch markings, and should have as many clear-cut and balanced spots or patches as possible.

FSPM

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. A mouse shall be considered even marked that is of any standard colour and equally balanced in markings and free from runs. The more spots or patches the better, combined with pleasing effect.

LSCMRC

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. A mouse shall be considered even marked that is of any standard colour and equally balance in markings and free from runs. The more spots or patches, the better, combined with pleasing effect.

Merle

AFRMA

Merle mice may be shown in any recognized color or marking. The unique feature is a pattern of dark solid-colored patches which should be well defined and distributed evenly throughout the entire lighter roan background color so as to create a marbled effect and resemble a merle dog. Eye color to match base color.

RMFE*

This mouse appears to be a roan but with distinct patches of solid (nonroaned) colour. Solid and roan areas to be evenly balanced in distribution. Solid patches to be any recognized colour. Roaned area to be any recognized colour following roan standard description. Eyes to match standard for solid patched areas.

Roan

AFRMA

Roan mice may be shown in any recognized color. The hair is a mixing of white and any other color evenly distributed similar to Roan horses, but not to be confused with Silvered animals. Eye color to match base color.

RMFE

These mice maybe show in any recognized standard colour and will appear that colour with white hairs mingled throughout (excessive in comparison to silvered, with which it shall not be confusable with). Eye colour to match standard colour.

Rumpwhite

RMFE

This mouse is entirely coloured excepting for the lower 1/3rd of the body which is white- this includes the rear, back legs and feet and the tail. The line of demarcation should be straight all around the mouse and no colour shall appear inside the white rump area. The upper 2.3rds of the mouse shall be fully coloured without any white markings at all.

LSCMRC

Any standard colour but having a white rump. The line of demarcation should be straight and encircle the body so that the lower third of the mouse, including the hind feet and tail is completely white. The remaining colour must be without any white markings at all and should conform with the standard laid down for that variety. Rump White Tan to be shown in Rump white class

FSPM

Rumpwhite is any standard colour having a white rump. The line of demarcation should be straight and encircle the body so that the lower third of the mouse, including the hind feet and tail is completely white. The remaining colour must be without any white markings at all and should conform to the standard laid down for that variety

Splashed

AFRMA

There are 2 recognized patterns, namely Classic and light. The most common color (Classic) to be a light gray background with black splashes throughout the coat. Other recognized color combinations accepted. Minimal white spotting allowed. Color pattern not to be confused with Variegated, Roan, or Merle. Eye color to be ruby or black (ruby preferred); Odd-eye accepted.

Spotted Tans

AFRMA

Spotted tans may be shown in any recognized color, and may include Banded, Even Marked, Broken Marked, Dutch, Variegated, and Broken Merle. Where the spotting pattern runs into the stomach, the color should be a rich golden-red tan. Color patches should be clear-cut, showing no brindling or intermingling or white hairs. Preferable, several colored spots should be low on the body, to show as much contrast as possible with the top color and the tanning.

Tricolor

LSCMRC

A Tricolour mouse is to have three contrasting patches of colour on the back and sides. Patches of colour on the undersides and belly of the mouse to be adjudged an added attraction. Brindling of the patches to be adjudged a fault

FSPM

A Tricolor mouse is to have three contrasting patches of colour on the back and sides. Patches of colour on the undersides and belly to be adjudged an added attraction. Brindling of patches to be adjudged a fault

Variegated

AFRMA

Variegated mice may be shown in any recognized color, splashed on a white background, and free from any solid, clear-cut markings. The splashes should be small and numerous, ragged in outline but approximately equal in size, and well distributed over the entire body.

RMFE

A Variegated mouse appears white with splashes of colour over the entire body (including the underside). Splashes are generally small and numerous though actual size and number can vary- most importantly they are of approximately the same size and evenly distributed

LSCMRC

Eye colour to be as in standardized variety. A Variegated mouse shall be of any standard colour, evenly splashed over and under body, and must be free from any spots or solid patches such as those found in Evens and Brokens

FSPM

A Variegated mouse shall be of any standard colour, evenly splashed over and under body and must be free from any spots or solid patches as those found in Evens and Brokens. Eye colour to be as in standardized variety

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.