AFRMA Fancy Mice

AFRMA Fancy Mice - AOC

The following are the mouse AOC colors as recognized by the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association. (Any Other Color; are genetically Agouti-based colors, Pearl, Silvered; see Fancy Mouse Genes and Fancy Mouse Genes: Agouti-based Colors for genetics.)

AOC have no white and have more than one color on the hairs.

For complete details of these Standards including points, faults, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.

Note: The pictures on this page are not meant to be true representatives of the animal’s color. Because of differences in monitors (CRT/LCD) and how the monitor is adjusted, the colors may be different. Seeing in person is always best.

Agouti Argente Blue Agouti Chinchilla Cinnamon Pearl Silver Black Silver Blue Silver Chocolate Silver Grey

AGOUTI - 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. Agouti mouse owned by Paul Threapleton/Sue Foulds, England. Photo ©2004 Craig Robbins.
ARGENTE - Color is resemble the fawn, but not quite so bright in coloring. The undercolor is to be a strong lilac. Eye color is pink. Argente kitten mouse owned by Paul Threapleton/Sue Foulds, England. Photo ©2004 Craig Robbins.
BLUE AGOUTI - Color is dark slate at the base of the hair with a gray-brown band on top. Coat is evenly ticked with dark blue guard hairs extending over the entire body, including the underparts and the feet, and be as even as possible. Eye color is black. (Carol Lawton/Blue Shuze Rodentry) [Standardized June 30, 2012] Blue Agouti Standard mouse owned and bred by Carol Lawton. Photo ©2011 Karen Robbins.
CHINCHILLA - 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. AFRMA article: Chinchilla Mice	Chinchilla mouse owned by Jeannot T. Maha’a, bred by Linda von Hanneken. Photo ©2018 Jeannot T. Maha’a. Chinchilla mouse owned by Kelli Boka, bred by Brian Cookson, England. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins.
CINNAMON - 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. Cinnamon mouse owned by Kelli Boka, bred by David Safe, England. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins.
PEARL - A Pearl mouse shall be of the palest silver, shading to a whitish undercolor. Each hair shall be delicately tipped with grey or black and carried out top and belly. Eyes black. (English, N.M.C.) (accepted February 10, 2007) Pearl mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2007 Karen Robbins. AFRMA pages: Pearl Mice (PDF) Pearl Mice - various ages and colors - photos KK Pearl Mice - photos Research article: “Characterization of mouse Pmel 17 gene and silver locus.” Kwon BS. Pigment Cell Res. 1994 Dec;7(6):394–7.
SILVER BLACK - The ground color should be as black as possible. Undercolor to be a rich blue-black. Silvering should be even throughout, carried well onto the feet. Eyes black. (English, N.M.C.) (accepted July 26, 1987; split Silver Black and Silver Grey October 21, 1990) Silver Black mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2005 Craig Robbins. AFRMA pages: Silver Black and Silver Grey KK Silvered Mice Research article: “Characterization of mouse Pmel 17 gene and silver locus.” Kwon BS. Pigment Cell Res. 1994 Dec;7(6):394–7.
SILVER BLUE - The ground color to be a medium slate blue, undercolor blue. The silvering should be even throughout, carried well onto the feet. Eyes black. (Karen Robbins/Karen’s Kritters) [Standardized February 10, 2007] Silver Blue mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2005 Craig Robbins. Research article: “Characterization of mouse Pmel 17 gene and silver locus.” Kwon BS. Pigment Cell Res. 1994 Dec;7(6):394–7.
SILVER CHOCOLATE - The ground color and undercolor to be chocolate as in the Self Chocolate. The silvering should be even throughout, carried well onto the feet. Eyes black. (Karen Robbins/Karen’s Kritters) [Standardized June 9, 2007] Silver Chocolate mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2006 Craig Robbins. For more photos, see the AFRMA Facebook page: KK Silvered Mice Research article: “Characterization of mouse Pmel 17 gene and silver locus.” Kwon BS. Pigment Cell Res. 1994 Dec;7(6):394–7.
SILVER GREY - The ground color to be recognized in 2 shades of grey, namely medium and light. Undercolor to be a light grey in the Medium shade and a off-white in the Light shade. Silvering to be even throughout, carried well onto the feet. Eyes black. (accepted July 26, 1987; split Silver Black and Silver Grey October 21, 1990) Silver Grey mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2007 Karen Robbins. AFRMA article: Silver Black and Silver Grey Research article: “Characterization of mouse Pmel 17 gene and silver locus.” Kwon BS. Pigment Cell Res. 1994 Dec;7(6):394–7.

For complete details of the Standards including points, faults, eliminations, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.

Purchase the AFRMA Official Color Standards Mouse book.

Updated August 21, 2022