Color name
Description/notes
Example picture
Genetics
agouti
Wild type color. Brownish color overall. Base of fur is dark grey, mid band is tan, tipped in black.
Agouti marked
A*
argente
A golden mouse with red eyes. Base color to the top fur is a medium bluish-grey.
Longhair argente marked
A*pp
black
Black.
Black broken marked
aa
Black-eyed Siamese
A creamy colored mouse with chocolate points (nose, tail root, ears, tail, feet ... some may have a shaded rear as well). Black eyes.
Black-eyed Siamese
Believed to be c^hc^e
blue
A dark "steel" grey with a hint of blue.
Longhair blue
aadd
Brindle
A mottled, striped, or barred coat resembling the look of a tiger.
"Red" or "gold" brindle
A^vy
Burmese
Milk chocolate color with dark chocolate nose and tail root.
Burmese
aac^chc^h
champagne
A tannish colored mouse with red eyes.
Longhair champagne
aabbpp
Chinchilla
A dark grey ticked mouse with a white belly. Base of fur is dark grey, middle band is white, fur is tipped in black. Note that Chinchilla colors have the tan-bellied gene.
No picture
Aa^tc^chc^ch
chocolate
A milk to deep chocolate mouse.
Chocolate tan
aabb
cinnamon
A rich golden brown mouse. Base of fur is chocolate, middle band is tannish, fur is tipped in chocolate
Satin cinnamon
A*bb
dove
A light grey colored mouse with red eyes. Sometimes has a brownish tint.
Longhair dove tan
aapp
Himalayan, Seal point
A white or nearly white mouse with milk chocolate nose and tail root, and with darker ears and tail. Red eyes.
Satin himalayan
cc^h
lilac
A medium grey with black eyes.
Wavy coated rex lilac (a little too brown in picture)
aabbdd
Mock light silver agouti
(Name made up based on genetics). A grey ticked mouse. Fur base is light chocolate/lilac, middle band is silverish, tipped in light chocolate.
The color is caused by the interaction of the PEW gene (c) and either the chinchilla gene (c^ch) or the siamese gene (c^h). The latter have a slightly darker nose but similar color
This mouse is Aac^chc
A*c^chc or A*c^chc^h
PEW
White coat with pink eyes
PEW
cc
Red/Fawn
These are lumped together for simplicity, as fawn is a lighter shade of red. A reddish orange mouse all over ... can have red or black eyes. Show quality red mice are a deeper red color.
Longhair "red" mouse - typical pet fancy red/fawn mouse
A^y*
A^yA^y is lethal and are never born.
Red-eyed Siamese, Seal point
A creamy colored mouse with chocolate points (nose, tail root, ears, tail, feet ... some may have a shaded rear as well). Red eyes. (Note: I added red eyes in front because the black-eyed type is most likely caused by different genetics)
Red-eyed Siamese
c^chc^ch
Silver agouti
Like Chinchilla without the white belly
Note: picture shown is of a "chocolate" silver agouti ... her base is chocolate, middle band is silverish, tipped in chocolate.
This one is chocolate based, so is more "chocolate" hued. Her genetics are A*bbc^chc^ch
A*c^chc^ch
Fox and Tan
Fox (white bellied)
The true foxed mice are caused by the combination of a double dose of the chinchilla gene (c^ch) with the tan gene (a^t) and cause a white belly
Chocolate fox
a*a^tc^chc^ch
Tan (tan bellied)
The tan-bellied mice are caused by the tan gene (a^t) and cause a tan belly. This can be on most colors; however, any C locus recessives plus the tan gene will cause a white belly.
Dove tan
a*a^t
Types of markings
Banded
A usually dominant coat marking which causes a band of white across the middle of the body of the mouse (note that sometimes broken marked might cause a similar marking)
Satin black tan banded
W^sh* or btbt
Broken marked
A recessive coat marking which causes areas of white in the coat. The areas of white are clear-cut and the pattern can vary widely.
Brindle broken marked
ss
Head spotted
A recessive marking which causes anything from a few white hairs on the head to a full blaze on the head.
Chocolate brindle with head spot (and broken marked as well)
hs
Merle
(RMFE, not standardized)?
Like roan below but with patches of black as well. Likely related to variegated.
Young merle marked
?
Roan
(RMFE, not standardized)?
Evenly mingled white hairs in the color of the coat. Possibly related to variegated.
Black roan marked
?
Silvered
Not a marking, but more like a coat variation like fox or tan. Causes a "silvered" look to the coat, consisting of evenly mingled silver/white hairs, white/silver tipped hairs, and/or a lighter-based fur. The coat is only obvious after the first molt, distinguishing it from "roan" or variegated.
Longhair satin silvered black
sisi
Variegated
A dominant marking which causes "splashes" of color on a white background. Most often the color is "clumped" in the head and rump regions.
Chocolate satin variegated
W
WW is lethal
Types of coats
Longhair
There are two longhair genes, one of which I call "fuzzy." The "fuzzy" variety has extra long fine guard hairs but a shorter undercoat which can vary in length. They have curled whiskers. The other longhair type has a more even longhair coat. Can appear in any color or markings.
Longhair "fuzzy" agouti
(note: all my longhairs shown on this page are the "fuzzy" type)
gogo or lhrlhr
Satin
Causes an extra shiny, polished look to the coat. Can appear in any color or markings.
Satin argente
sasa
Rex
(Caracul - Ca; Astrex - Re; Frizzie - fzfz)
There are several rexing genes, and each cause a wavy to curly coat with curly whiskers. Most rexed mice are wavy coated when young but straighten out to a rough or fuller looking coat when adult. Can appear in any color or markings.
Young wavy-coated rex brindle marked
Usually Re* or Ca* but could be fzfz
Note: I believe I have never seen Frizzie, or fzfz, as they are said to be like "little lambs" in coat