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.

Color

Clubs

Standard

Agouti

AFRMA

Color is to be a rich golden brown with dark slate at the base of the hair. There will be black ticking throughout the coat that should extend over the entire body, including the underparts and feet, and be as even as possible. Eye color is black.

RMFE

to have an overall rich, golden-brown colour with black ticking. Medium and shorter hairs to have yellow banding. Hair base to be dark grey. Foot colour to match top colour. Belly is silver grey. The demarcation between side and belly color is even, as in other agouti-based colors. Eyes are black.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. The Agouti shall be a rich brown or golden hue with even dark or black ticking all through. The belly shall be a golden brown, ticked as on top and the feet shall match the body in colour and ticking.

FSPM

Eyes black. The Agouti shall be a rich brown or golden hue with even dark or black ticking all through. The belly shall be a golden brown, ticked as on top and the feet shall match the body in colour and ticking

Argente

AFRMA

Color is resemble the fawn, but not quite so bright in coloring. The undercolor is to be a strong lilac. Eye color is pink.

RMFE

(correctly pronounced "arzhonti”; also known as “English gold”): A delicate and evenly blendly combination of pale gold and silver. Undercoat is medium blue. Belly as similar to the top colour as possible, though it may be slightly lighter. Foot Colour to match Top Colour. There is an even line of demarcation between the top color and the belly color. Eyes: pink

LSCMRC

Eye Pink. An Argente mouse shall be of a delicately blended shade of light fawn and silver, as the self silver, level throughout and the two colours so evenly intermingled as to give the appearance of shot silk. The undercolour to be blue, as dark as possible in shade. The belly to be a golden fawn and as similar to the top as possible. Feet to match top.

FSPM

Eyes pink. An Argente mouse shall be of a delicately blended shade of light fawn and silver, as the self silver, level throughout and the two colors so evenly intermingled as to give the appearance of shot silk. The undercolour to be blue, as dark as possible in shade. The belly to be a golden fawn and as similar to the top as possible. Feet to match top.

Argente Cream

RMFE

A delicate and evenly blended combination of cream and silver. Undercoat is very pale blue. Belly white. Foot Colour to match Top Colour. There is an even line of demarcation between the top color and the belly color. Eyes: pink.

LSCMRC

Eye Pink. An Argente Creme mouse shall be a delicate blend of deep cream and silver. The undercolour to be an extremely pale blue. Feet the same colour as body. Belly White

FSPM

Eyes pink. An Argente Creme mouse shall be a delicate blend of deep cream and silver. The undercolour to be an extremely pale blue. Feet the same colour as body. Belly white."

Blue Agouti

FSPM**

Blue Agouti is like the normal Agouti except the golden brown pigment is diluted into yellowish tinge and black pigment into blue. Undercolour deep slate. Belly and feet to match top. Eyes Black

Chinchilla

AFRMA

Color is to resemble that of the Chinchilla rabbit, with a pearl-gray background, evenly tipped with black, and a slate blue base to the hairs. The belly and the inside of the legs is to be white, the outside of the legs to match the top color. Eye color is black.

RMFE

The mouse shall be as near as possible to the colour of a Chinchilla with slate-blue hairbases and intermediate shade of pearl grey. Hairs to be evenly tipped with black. Colour of feet on inside white, with remainder of foot the same colour as body. Belly white and its demarcation from top colour even and well defined.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. The mouse shall be as near as possible to the colour of a Chinchilla with slate-blue undercolour and intermediate shade of pearl grey. Hairs to be evenly tipped with black. Colour of feet on inside white, with remainder of foot the same colour as body - as in the standard for Tans. Belly white.

FSPM

Eyes black. The mouse shall be as near as possible to the colour of a chinchilla with slate-blue undercolour and intermediate shade of pearl-grey. Hairs to be evenly tipped with black. Colour of feet on inside white, with remainder of foot the same colour as body - as in the standard for Tans. Belly white. Eyes black.

Cinnamon

AFRMA

Color is similar to the agouti except with a golden tan background and the base of the hair is medium slate with chocolate ticking distributed evenly throughout the coat. Eye color is deep ruby or black.

RMFE

to have an overall rich, golden-tan colour with chocolate ticking. Hair base to be medium grey. Foot colour to match top colour. Belly is silver grey. The demarcation between side and belly color is even, as in other agouti-based colors. Eyes are black.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. The Cinnamon shall be a rich golden tan, lustrous in colour and level throughout top and under, with rich brown ticking clearly defined. No black ticking.

FSPM

The Cinnamon shall be a rich golden tan, lustrous in colour and level throughout top and under, with rich brown ticking clearly defined. No black ticking. Eyes black

Lilac Agouti

FSPM**

Eye black. Lilac Agouti to be rich cream coloured with even lilac ticking all through. The belly shall be cream coloured, ticked as on top. Feet to match top in both colour and ticking

Pearl

RMFE

A mouse of the palest silver, shading to a whitish undercolour. Each hair shall be delicately tipped with grey or black and carried out top and belly. Eyes black

LSCMRC

Eye Black. A pearl mouse shall be of the palest silver, shading to a whitish undercolour. Each hair shall be delicately tipped with grey or black and carried out top and belly.

FSPM

Eyes black. A Pearl mouse shall be of the palest silver, shading to a whitish undercolour. Each hair shall be delicately tipped with grey or black and carried out top and belly

Silver Agouti

LSCMRC

Eye Black. This variety is like the normal Agouti except the golden brown pigment of the latter is replaced by silvery grey. Colour to be bright silvery grey evenly ticked with black. Undercolour deep slate. Belly to be silvery grey, as close as possible to the top. Feet to match top.

FSPM

This variety is like the normal Agouti except the golden brown pigment of the latter is replaced by silvery grey. Colour to be bright silvery grey evenly ticked with black. Undercolour deep slate. Belly to be silvery grey as close as possible to the top. Feet to match top. Eyes black."

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.