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.

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.

Color

Clubs

Standard

Tan

AFRMA

Tan mice may have the top color in any recognized color, with a rich golden-red tan contrasting belly. There is a clear and distinct line between the top and bottom color, running in a straight line along sides, chest, and jaws.

RMFE

The tan mouse shall appear as any recognized standard non-ticked colour and judging of that colour (including eye colour) will follow its standard. The belly however is a rich golden tan colour, with a clear line of demarcation between top colour and tan, running in a straight line along the flanks, chest and jaws. Colour of feet should be inside tan and remainder of foot same as top colour. Overly tan feet to be considered a greater fault than feet all same colour as top. Tuffs of tan behind the ears an added beauty.

LSCMRC

Tans are recognized in any standard colour and the top colour shall be as laid down for these varieties. The Tan belly shall be a rich golden hue, as rich as possible and there should be a clear line of demarcation between top colour and tan, running in a straight line along the flanks, chest and jaws. There should be no brindling or guard hairs. Eye colour shall be as in the non tan varieties. Colour of feet should be inside tan and remainder of foot same as top colour. Wholly tan feet considered a greater fault than feet all same colour as top.

FSPM

Tans are recognized in any standard colour and the colour shall be as laid down for these varieties, The Tan belly shall be a rich golden orange hue, as rich as possible and there should be a clear line of demarcation between top colour and tan running in a straight line along flanks, chest and jaws. There should be no brindling or guard hairs. Eye colour shall be as in the non-tan varieties. Colour of feet should be inside tan, the remainder of foot the same as top colour. Wholly tan feet considered a greater fault than feet all same colour as top

Fox

AFRMA

Fox mice may have the top color in any recognized color, with a near white contrasting belly. There is a clear and distinct line between the top and bottom color, running in a straight line along sides, chest, and jaws.

RMFE

The fox mouse shall appear as any recognized standard colour and judging of that colour (including eye colour) will follow its standard. The belly however is chalk white, with a clear line of demarcation between top colour and white, running in a straight line along the flanks, chest and jaws. Colour of feet should be inside white and remainder of foot same as top colour. Overly white feet to be considered a greater fault than feet all same colour as top. Tuffs of silver behind the ears an added beauty.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. A Silver Fox shall be recognized in black, blue, chocolate and lilac top colour. Feet sides and rump only to be ticked evenly with white hairs. Belly white.

FSPM

A Silver Fox shall be recognized in any standardized self or silver ticked top colour and the colour shall be as laid down for these varieties. Feet, sides and rump only to be ticked with white hairs. Belly white. Eyes as in the non foxed variety.