Non-Agouti Colors
American Blue
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Also known as Blue or Slate Blue-g.
Non-agouti with the dilute gene (aadd). The dilute gene gives many different shades of blue, from very pale with a white undercoat to a deep slate (British blue). The different shades are due to modifiers, not other major genes
Hawthorn- Various soft, warm shades of pale blue, often with a pale or white undercoat, usually with black eyes but dark ruby is not uncommon.
RSA"Color: To be between a deep steel blue and a pale blue. Lighter shades have a pale silver base fur and underbelly. Darker shades to have a belly color matching the top, color may be lighter at the skin. Foot color to match the top. Faults: patchiness or rusting. Eye Color: Darker shades: Black / Lighter shades: Dark Ruby or Black."
AFRMA"Color is a slate blue, as dark as possible showing no brown patches or silvering. Eye color is dark ruby or black."
Non-agouti with the dilute gene (aadd). The dilute gene gives many different shades of blue, from very pale with a white undercoat to a deep slate (British blue). The different shades are due to modifiers, not other major genes
Hawthorn- Various soft, warm shades of pale blue, often with a pale or white undercoat, usually with black eyes but dark ruby is not uncommon.
RSA"Color: To be between a deep steel blue and a pale blue. Lighter shades have a pale silver base fur and underbelly. Darker shades to have a belly color matching the top, color may be lighter at the skin. Foot color to match the top. Faults: patchiness or rusting. Eye Color: Darker shades: Black / Lighter shades: Dark Ruby or Black."
AFRMA"Color is a slate blue, as dark as possible showing no brown patches or silvering. Eye color is dark ruby or black."
Beige
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Non-agouti with the red eye dilute gene (aarr). This gives a darker, greyer colour. Show quality buffs usually have either chocolate or mink added to lighten the body colour without lightening the eyes (aabbrr or aammrr). Adding the mock/American mink gene tends to lighten the eyes too much for buff.
RSA"Color: A warm tan. Eye Color: Dark Ruby."
AFRMA"Color is a warm grayish-tan, not too dark. Eye color is dark ruby."
NFRS"To be an even, warm magnolia with no sign of dullness or greyness. belly colour to match top. Eyes to be dark ruby."
RSA"Color: A warm tan. Eye Color: Dark Ruby."
AFRMA"Color is a warm grayish-tan, not too dark. Eye color is dark ruby."
NFRS"To be an even, warm magnolia with no sign of dullness or greyness. belly colour to match top. Eyes to be dark ruby."
Black
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Non-agouti (aa). Black rats carrying other colours (such as red eye dilute, blue, mink, etc) can often be slightly off coloured. Rusting is also a problem that may be linked to carrying recessives, although it is also linked to diet.
RSA"Color: To be a deep solid black, devoid of browning or rusting. Base fur is to be black to the skin, foot and belly color to match the top. Faults: patchiness or rusting. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"Color is a good solid black throughout, showing no rustiness or white hairs. Eye color is black."
NFRS"To be a deep solid black, devoid of dinginess and white hairs or patches. Base fur to be black. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black."
RSA"Color: To be a deep solid black, devoid of browning or rusting. Base fur is to be black to the skin, foot and belly color to match the top. Faults: patchiness or rusting. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"Color is a good solid black throughout, showing no rustiness or white hairs. Eye color is black."
NFRS"To be a deep solid black, devoid of dinginess and white hairs or patches. Base fur to be black. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black."
British Blue
Non-agouti with the dilute gene (aadd). The dilute gene gives many different shades of blue, from very pale with a white undercoat, to a deep slate. The different shades are due to modifiers, not other major genes. The terms American blue and English blue are often used to distingush between the lighter and darker shades, with slate blue being a term commonly used to remove confusion between blue and Russian blue.
NFRS"To be a deep steel blue without any brown coloration. Colour to be even with the belly colour matching the top. The colour of the fur when parted to be blue grey down to the skin."
NFRS"To be a deep steel blue without any brown coloration. Colour to be even with the belly colour matching the top. The colour of the fur when parted to be blue grey down to the skin."
Champagne
Non-agouti with two copies of the pink eye gene (aapp). This colour can vary from a rich, warm colour to a very pale off-white, to the point where it can be difficult to distinguish any markings. The favoured shade seems to be half way between these extremes. The eyes are only a slight shade darker than albino pink.
RSA"Color: To be a very light beige color with no sign of grayness, belly color to match top. Eye Color: Pink."
AFRMA"To be an evenly warm beige, with no suggestion of dullness or grayness. Eyes red."
NFRS"To be an evenly warm beige, with no suggestion of dullness or greyness. Eyes Red."
RSA"Color: To be a very light beige color with no sign of grayness, belly color to match top. Eye Color: Pink."
AFRMA"To be an evenly warm beige, with no suggestion of dullness or grayness. Eyes red."
NFRS"To be an evenly warm beige, with no suggestion of dullness or greyness. Eyes Red."
Chocolate
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True chocolates are non-agouti with the brown gene (aabb). It is also possible for a genetically black rat to look chocolate, if it carries recessives - for example, some aaB-MmRr (black carrying mink and red eye dilute) rats can be an even warm brown, depending on modifiers.
RSA"Color: To be a deep, rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of any dinginess. Foot color to match top. Fault: patchiness. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"A deep rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of dinginess and white hairs or patches. The feet to match top color. Eyes black."
NFRS"To be a deep, rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of any dinginess and white hairs or patches. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black."
RSA"Color: To be a deep, rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of any dinginess. Foot color to match top. Fault: patchiness. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"A deep rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of dinginess and white hairs or patches. The feet to match top color. Eyes black."
NFRS"To be a deep, rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of any dinginess and white hairs or patches. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black."
Classic Lilac
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English lilac is a non-agouti rat with two copies of the chocolate gene, two copies of the blue gene, and one copy of the red eye dilute gene (aaddbbRr). Some also are (or carry) English mink on top of this. American lilac is a modified version of the American/mock mink gene (either aamomo with modifiers or a separate allelel of the American mink gene).
NFRS"A pinky dove grey throughout, from tips of fur to skin, bluish tinge a fault. Foot and belly colour to match top. Ears and tail to be covered with grey hairs. Eyes very dark ruby or black."
NFRS"A pinky dove grey throughout, from tips of fur to skin, bluish tinge a fault. Foot and belly colour to match top. Ears and tail to be covered with grey hairs. Eyes very dark ruby or black."
Coffee
Non-agouti with two copies of the chocolate gene, and two copies of the English mink gene (aabbmm), though heavily reliant on modifiers to produce the right shade - otherwise it is just a slightly off-mink .
Hawthorn- To be a rich creamy caramel, as even as possible, devoid of dinginess and white hairs of patches. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black.
Hawthorn- To be a rich creamy caramel, as even as possible, devoid of dinginess and white hairs of patches. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black.
Cocoa
AFRMA"Color is a light chocolate, similar to Swiss Miss powdered cocoa. Eyes dark ruby or black."
RatsPacNW"A soft warm cocoa color, black to dark ruby eyes (aa bb Rr)."
RatsPacNW"A soft warm cocoa color, black to dark ruby eyes (aa bb Rr)."
Dove
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Also known as Russian Dove,Russian Lilac and sometimes Lavender
Non-agouti with two copies of the Russian blue gene, and two copies of either the English mink gene, the American/"mock" mink gene, or the chocolate gene (aabbrbrb, aammrbrb, aamomorbrb where mo is the american mink gene)
RSA"Color: To be a warm pink gray. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Color to be even throughout. Not to be confused with platinum or lilac. Belly color to match top, undercolor pale gray to the skin. Eye Color: Dark Ruby or Black."
AFRMA"Color to be a warm dove with ticking throughout similar to Russian blue. Not to be confused with platinum or lilac. Eye color is black."
NFRS"To be a warm pinky grey. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Colour to be level throughout. Not to be confused with platinum or lilac. Belly colour to match top, undercolour pale grey to the skin. Eyes Black."
Non-agouti with two copies of the Russian blue gene, and two copies of either the English mink gene, the American/"mock" mink gene, or the chocolate gene (aabbrbrb, aammrbrb, aamomorbrb where mo is the american mink gene)
RSA"Color: To be a warm pink gray. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Color to be even throughout. Not to be confused with platinum or lilac. Belly color to match top, undercolor pale gray to the skin. Eye Color: Dark Ruby or Black."
AFRMA"Color to be a warm dove with ticking throughout similar to Russian blue. Not to be confused with platinum or lilac. Eye color is black."
NFRS"To be a warm pinky grey. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Colour to be level throughout. Not to be confused with platinum or lilac. Belly colour to match top, undercolour pale grey to the skin. Eyes Black."
Havana
Non-agouti with two copies of the English mink gene and one copy of the red eye dilute gene (aammRr). This colour is heavily dependant on modifiers. Quite a few havanas shown are actually mock/American mink (aammR-), as rats with this gene often have ruby eyes.
To be a warm rich brown. Eye colour mid ruby, to harmonise with coat colour.
To be a warm rich brown. Eye colour mid ruby, to harmonise with coat colour.
Lavender
Blue-Mink
Non-agouti with two copies of the English mink gene and two copies of the blue gene (aaddmm). This has to be English mink, as blue combined with mock/American mink would give platinum or quicksilver.
Similar to lilac, but with a distinct blue tinge instead of pink.
Non-agouti with two copies of the English mink gene and two copies of the blue gene (aaddmm). This has to be English mink, as blue combined with mock/American mink would give platinum or quicksilver.
Similar to lilac, but with a distinct blue tinge instead of pink.
Lilac
Pic Provided By Ratz Realm
English lilac is a non-agouti rat with two copies of the chocolate gene, two copies of the blue gene, and one copy of the red eye dilute gene (aaddbbRr). Some also are (or carry) English mink on top of this. American lilac is a modified version of the American/mock mink gene (either aamomo with modifiers or a separate allele of the American mink gene). A pinky dove grey throughout, from tips of fur to skin, bluish tinge a fault. Foot and belly colour to match top. Ears and tail to be covered in grey hairs. Eyes very dark ruby or black. The blue-chocolate version of this colour is recognised in UK rat clubs. The American mink based version is not recognised in the UK. The opposite is true in most American clubs.
RSA"Color: Medium to pale gray brown with pink tones. Foot and belly color to match top. Fault: bluish tinge, color too dark. Eye Color: Dark Ruby or Black."
AFRMA"Color is a medium dove gray, evenly mixed with brown, not too dark. Eye color is ruby or black."
RSA"Color: Medium to pale gray brown with pink tones. Foot and belly color to match top. Fault: bluish tinge, color too dark. Eye Color: Dark Ruby or Black."
AFRMA"Color is a medium dove gray, evenly mixed with brown, not too dark. Eye color is ruby or black."
Mink
Non-agouti with two copies of the mink gene (aamm). There is another gene that produces a similar colour, which is more common in the US and UK dumbo lines, commonly called American/mock mink. The UK standard is written for the English mink gene.
RSA"Color: To be an even mid-gray brown, devoid of dinginess or rusting, having a distinct bluish sheen. Belly color and foot color to match the top. Faults: uneven or light color. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"To be an even mid gray-brown devoid of dinginess, silvering or patches, and having a distinct bluish sheen. Foot color to match top color. Eyes black."
NFRS"To be an even mid-grey brown, devoid of dinginess, silvering or patches and having a distinct bluish sheen. Coat colour to match top. Eyes black."
RSA"Color: To be an even mid-gray brown, devoid of dinginess or rusting, having a distinct bluish sheen. Belly color and foot color to match the top. Faults: uneven or light color. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"To be an even mid gray-brown devoid of dinginess, silvering or patches, and having a distinct bluish sheen. Foot color to match top color. Eyes black."
NFRS"To be an even mid-grey brown, devoid of dinginess, silvering or patches and having a distinct bluish sheen. Coat colour to match top. Eyes black."
Mocha
Also Known An Havana
American mink carrying red eye dilute (beige) or American mink and beige (aa mm rr)
Standardized with RatPacNW as "havana"
RatsPacNW"(Havana) Mink diluted with a ruby eye gene. A lighter warm brown color, ruby eyes."
American mink carrying red eye dilute (beige) or American mink and beige (aa mm rr)
Standardized with RatPacNW as "havana"
RatsPacNW"(Havana) Mink diluted with a ruby eye gene. A lighter warm brown color, ruby eyes."
Pearl
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Non-agouti with two copies of the English mink gene and one copy of the pearl gene (aammPepe). A very similar colour is produced with the American mink gene (aamomoPepe)
RSA"Color: To be palest silver to cream undercolor. Each hair to be delicately tipped with gray evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur to be creamy silver. Foot color to match top. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"To be palest silver, shading to creamish undercolor. Each hair to be delicately tipped with gray evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur pale silver gray. Foot color to match top. Eyes black."
NFRS"To be palest silver, shading to creamish undercolour. Each hair to be delicately tipped with grey evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur to be creamy silver. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black."
RSA"Color: To be palest silver to cream undercolor. Each hair to be delicately tipped with gray evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur to be creamy silver. Foot color to match top. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"To be palest silver, shading to creamish undercolor. Each hair to be delicately tipped with gray evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur pale silver gray. Foot color to match top. Eyes black."
NFRS"To be palest silver, shading to creamish undercolour. Each hair to be delicately tipped with grey evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur to be creamy silver. Foot colour to match top. Eyes black."
Pearl Merle
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Non-agouti with two copies of the mink gene and one copy of the pearl gene (aammPepe), plus merling modifiers. Merling is caused by incomplete expression of the pearl gene, the tendancy towards this seems to be controlled by a set of dominant modifiers with variable expression. Merles are most commonly based in American/mock mink and pearl, and dilutes of these colours.
Hawthorn- Merle rats may be shown in pearl and cinnamon pearl .The unique feature is ap attern of dark splash spots distributed evenly throughout the entire lighter background colour so as to resemble a merle dog. The markings should be numerous and distinct. Eye colour black.
Hawthorn- Merle rats may be shown in pearl and cinnamon pearl .The unique feature is ap attern of dark splash spots distributed evenly throughout the entire lighter background colour so as to resemble a merle dog. The markings should be numerous and distinct. Eye colour black.
Platinum
Non-agouti with two copies of the blue gene, and two copies of the mock/American mink gene (aaddmomo where mo is American mink), plus either there is a modifier to lighten the eyes and colour further (the platinum modifier) or it must be based on a pale shade of blue.
RSA"Color: To be an even and bright shade of pale gray with a distinct ice-blue hue, with no suggestion of creamy, brownish or strong blue tones. Belly color to match top. Eye Color: Red to Ruby."
RatsPacNW"A blue beige color created from blue and ruby eyes OR blue and mink. Eye color ruby and sometimes black."
AFRMA"Color to be a light gray with no blue cast similar to platinum paint. Eye color is dark ruby."
NFRS"To be an even and bright shade of pale grey with a distinct ice-blue hue, with no suggestion of creamy, brownish or strong blue tones. Belly colour to match top. Feet pale grey. Eye colour red to ruby."
Mink Based: A light blue color, typically with dark red eyes. May have a yellow/gold cast to it.
RSA"Color: To be an even and bright shade of pale gray with a distinct ice-blue hue, with no suggestion of creamy, brownish or strong blue tones. Belly color to match top. Eye Color: Red to Ruby."
RatsPacNW"A blue beige color created from blue and ruby eyes OR blue and mink. Eye color ruby and sometimes black."
AFRMA"Color to be a light gray with no blue cast similar to platinum paint. Eye color is dark ruby."
NFRS"To be an even and bright shade of pale grey with a distinct ice-blue hue, with no suggestion of creamy, brownish or strong blue tones. Belly colour to match top. Feet pale grey. Eye colour red to ruby."
Mink Based: A light blue color, typically with dark red eyes. May have a yellow/gold cast to it.
Platinum Pearl
A Platinum Pearl rat looks very much like a colder, greyer version of Pearl with red eyes rather than black. It is a pale color with a creamy undercoat, a cold bluish cast, and grey tipping on each individual hair.
"To be an even blue cream undercoat with each hair tipped with blue gray evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur to be a pale blue cream and foot color to match top. Eye color ruby."
"To be an even blue cream undercoat with each hair tipped with blue gray evenly over the whole animal. Belly fur to be a pale blue cream and foot color to match top. Eye color ruby."
Powder Blue
RRR Evolet
Non-agouti with the blue gene (aadd). The dilute gene gives many different shades of blue, from very pale with a white undercoat (sky/powder) to a deep slate (British, slate). The different shades are normally due to modifiers, not different genes, and it is not uncommon for the palest shades to have ruby eyes.
NFRS"To be a pale dove blue colour, with pale silver base fur. Pale silver underbelly. Should be distinctively different to that of the slate colour of the blue rat. Colour to be as even as possible, devoid of dinginess, white hairs or patches. Foot colour to match top. Eyes Black or Ruby."
NFRS"To be a pale dove blue colour, with pale silver base fur. Pale silver underbelly. Should be distinctively different to that of the slate colour of the blue rat. Colour to be as even as possible, devoid of dinginess, white hairs or patches. Foot colour to match top. Eyes Black or Ruby."
Russian Beige
Also Known as Blue-Beige
AFRMA"Color is a grayish-tan, not too dark, with a blue cast running throughout, not to be confused with beige. Eye color is dark ruby."
RatsPacNW"A Russian blue beige, beige/tan with a blue-gray tint, black eyes."
AFRMA"Color is a grayish-tan, not too dark, with a blue cast running throughout, not to be confused with beige. Eye color is dark ruby."
RatsPacNW"A Russian blue beige, beige/tan with a blue-gray tint, black eyes."
Russian Blue
Pic Provided By Camarattery
Non-agouti with two copies of the Russian blue gene (arbrb).
RSA"Color: Similar to Russian Blue in cats. A deep medium gray-blue with a metallic sheen. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) and/or darker guard hairs throughout, are usual for this variety and are not a fault. Color to be even, belly color to match top. Under color dark blue down to the skin. Faults: Brownish coloration or color too light. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"Color to be similar to the blue mice or blue cats, a very dark slate blue color with dark ticking throughout. Eyes black."
NFRS"Colour to be similar to blue cats and dogs. A soft medium grey-blue with a metallic sheen. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Colour to be even, belly colour to match top. Undercolour dark blue down to the skin. Eyes black."
RSA"Color: Similar to Russian Blue in cats. A deep medium gray-blue with a metallic sheen. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) and/or darker guard hairs throughout, are usual for this variety and are not a fault. Color to be even, belly color to match top. Under color dark blue down to the skin. Faults: Brownish coloration or color too light. Eye Color: Black."
AFRMA"Color to be similar to the blue mice or blue cats, a very dark slate blue color with dark ticking throughout. Eyes black."
NFRS"Colour to be similar to blue cats and dogs. A soft medium grey-blue with a metallic sheen. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Colour to be even, belly colour to match top. Undercolour dark blue down to the skin. Eyes black."
Russian Silver
RRR Geordie
Non-agouti with two copies of the Russian blue gene and two copies of the blue gene (aaddrbrb). Some pale blues (aaddRb--) can be mistaken for this colour but true Russian silvers are easy to identify due to the heathering effect from the Russian gene.
RSA-provisional "Color: To be a pale blue-gray. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Color to be level throughout. Belly color to match top. Undercolor to be as pale as possible. Brown, yellow or pinky tinges to be faulted. Eye Color: Black."
NFRS"To be a pale blue-grey. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Colour to be level throughout. Belly colour to match top. Undercolour to be as pale as possible. Brown, yellow or pinky tinges to be faulted. Eyes Black."
RSA-provisional "Color: To be a pale blue-gray. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Color to be level throughout. Belly color to match top. Undercolor to be as pale as possible. Brown, yellow or pinky tinges to be faulted. Eye Color: Black."
NFRS"To be a pale blue-grey. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Colour to be level throughout. Belly colour to match top. Undercolour to be as pale as possible. Brown, yellow or pinky tinges to be faulted. Eyes Black."
Silver
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Non-agouti with two copies of both the pink eye dilute gene and the blue gene (aaddpp). With darker shades of blue this is not particularly distinguishable from champagne (aaD-pp) hence the colour being mainly bred in the US where very pale blue is common
To be an even off white colour with an ice blue hue. Colour to reach down to the skin. Belly and foot colour to match top. Eyes to be pink.
To be an even off white colour with an ice blue hue. Colour to reach down to the skin. Belly and foot colour to match top. Eyes to be pink.