Although I have only a few colors I am focusing on, I have had many other colors pop up in my breedings. This page is just a reference so people can see what each variety looks like. This is not an extensive list of all colors in existance - only the colors I have owned or bred! My descriptions may not match other websites exactly, but there can be a large difference in shades of certain colors, and on this page I am going by what I've experienced in my lines!
This page is a work in progress; over time other varieties will be added. Below each color name will be a description of the standard for rats of the color from one of several different rat clubs.
Rat Colors
Information
Agouti-Based Color
Non-Agouti Based Color
Agouti is the "wild-type" color. Black is recessive to agouti, and these two colors are the "base" of all other rat colors. Every rat is either agouti or black, plus additional modifiers.
Agouti Dumbo The color to be a rich chestnut with dark slate at the base of the hair. Coat is evenly ticked with black guard hairs. Belly color will be silver gray. Eye color is black.
Black Irish Dumbo Color is a good solid black throughout, showing no rustiness or white hairs. Eye color is black.
Russian blue on either an agouti or black rat.
Russian Blue Agouti Dumbo Rex Color is dark steel blue at the base of the hair with a fawn band on top. Coat is evenly ticked with dark blue guard hairs. Belly color will be silvery blue. Eye color is black.
Russian Blue Berkshire Dumbo Color to be similar to the blue mice or blue cats, a very dark slate blue color with dark ticking throughout. Eyes black.
Chocolate is a very uncommon color in the US. Chocolate is thought to be its own gene, although some think it may be a very dark shade of mink, but this has not been proven.
No photo available of Chocolate Agouti
Chocolate Self Dumbo A deep rich chocolate, as even as possible, devoid of dinginess and white hairs or patches. The feet to match top color. Eyes black.
Fawn and beige are red-eye dilutes (RED). This gene lightens the color of the eyes to ruby, and also affects the coat color.
Fawn Color is a rich, golden orange, as deep as possible. Belly color will be of a slightly lighter shade. Eye color is dark ruby.
Beige Berkshire Color is a warm grayish-tan, not too dark. Eye color is dark ruby.
These two colors are a combination of the russian blue and red-eye dilute (RED) genes.
Russian Fawn Top colour a pleasing warm shade of orange-cream evenly ticked with silver to silver-blue guard hairs. Undercolour must exhibit a distinctive blue cast close to the skin. Belly and throat to be cream. Feet to match top colour as close as possible, but a lighter shade acceptable. Eyes may be any shade of red to dark ruby but pink eyes undesirable. Slight heathering not to be faulted.
Russian Beige Self 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.
Silver fawn and champagne are Pink-Eye Dilutes (PED). This gene lightens the color of the eyes to pink, and also affects the coat color. They are similar in color to fawn and beige but are lighter.
Silver Fawn Dumbo To be rich orange fawn, evenly ticked with silver guard hairs. Belly fur to be white. The definition between top color and white belly to be sharp and clear cut, devoid of brindling. Eyes pink or red.
Champagne Dumbo To be an evenly warm beige, with no suggestion of dullness or grayness. Eyes red or pink.
American blue is also known as just "blue." It is a lighter shade than russian blue, and is caused by a separate gene.
American Blue Agouti Dalmatian Dumbo Color to be medium slate at the base of the hair with a yellow-tan band on top. Coat is evenly ticked with blue guard hairs. Belly color will be silver blue. Eye color is black.
American Blue Dumbo Color is a slate blue, as dark as possible showing no brown patches or silvering. Eye color is dark ruby or black.
There are two genes that cause mink; UK mink and US or "Mock" mink. UK mink is generally a darker, almost purple color. US mink is more of a brown color, although both colors can have a wide range of shades.
Cinnamon Harley Dumbo Color is similar to agouti, except the color is a warm russet brown, with medium slate at the base of the hair. Coat is evenly ticked with chocolate. Belly color to be as agouti, but of a lighter shade. Eye color is ruby or black.
Mink Berkshire Dumbo 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.
Russian cinnamon and dove are an uncommon variety. They are rats affected by both the mink and russian blue genes.
Russian Cinnamon Dumbo Rex Color to consist of a mixture of light gold, cream and brown hairs giving an over
golden and sparkling appearance on a pale silver-blue base. Undercoat to be pa
down to the skin. Belly and foot should be a lighter, gray version of top color.
Russian Dove Harley Dumbo 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.
These rats are affected by both the American and Russian Blue genes. It's an uncommon color but is very attractive.
Russian Silver Agouti A blend of light blue grey ticking over a warm creamy fawn ground. Undercolour light silver grey down to the skin. Belly colour pale silver. Pinky tinge to be a fault. Eyes black.
Russian Silver Rex 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.
Burmese-Based Colors
Genetics
Agouti-Based Color
Non-Agouti Based Color
Wheaten Burmese Dwarf To be a mid sand colour, points to be distinctly darker than body colour. Base coat to be light brown. Belly colour to be pale silvery grey. Eyes black.
Burmese To be an even, rich mid-brown, devoid of dinginess, silvering, or patches, with darker points of the same shade. There is to be a strong contrast between the points and body colour. Eyes black.
No photo available of Wheaten Sable Burmese
Sable Burmese To be a warm dark otter brown with subtle darker points on the feet, tail, face, and ears. Devoid of dinginess, silvering, or patches. Contrast between points and body colour not to be overstated. Any suggestion of black in the points to be penalised. Eyes black.
Blue Wheaten Burmese
Blue Burmese
No Photo Available Russian Blue Wheaten Burmese To be a mid sand color with blue ticking, points to be distinctly darker than body color. Base coat to be light blue-grey. Belly color to be pale silvery blue-grey. Eyes black.
Russian Blue Burmese Dumbo To be warm, mid grey, devoid of dinginess, silvering, or patches, with distinctly darker points of the same shade. Faint light speckling or a subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault. Eyes black or very dark ruby.
Siamese, Himilayan, and Albino
Genetics
Black-Eyed
Red-Eyed
A siamese is an albino rat with two copies of the himilayan gene. Siamese start out a darker beige with heavier shading, and get their points in at about 6 weeks of age.
Seal-Point Siamese Body color to be medium beige gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at base of tail. Tail color to extend down the length of the tail. Belly to be light beige. Points to be rich dark sepia and to shade evenly into the body color. Eyes black.
Seal-Point Siamese Dumbo Body color to be medium beige gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at base of tail. Tail color to extend down the length of the tail. Belly to be light beige. Points to be rich dark sepia and to shade evenly into the body color. Eyes red or light ruby.
RB Point Siamese start out as a silvery gray color with darker gray shading. They develop their russian blue points at about 6 weeks of age.
Russian Blue Point Siamese Body color to be ivory with a deep gray cast (the darker the better) gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail. The points (nose, ears, feet, tail, and tail-root) to be a dark gray-blue. They should not have a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a toning or merging with the remainder of the coat. There should be no white hairs, blotches, streaks, or mealiness of the color. Eyes black.
No Photo Available Russian Blue Point Siamese Body color to be ivory with a deep gray cast (the darker the better) gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail. The points (nose, ears, feet, tail, and tail-root) to be a dark gray-blue. They should not have a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a toning or merging with the remainder of the coat. There should be no white hairs, blotches, streaks, or mealiness of the color. Eyes red or ruby
Himilayan rats are albino with one copy of the himilayan gene. They are born pure white, indestinguishable from albino. At about 8 weeks of age they develop their points.
Himilayan Body color to be white, free from stains and even throughout. The points to be a rich dark sepia (as dark as possible). Eyes black.
Himilayan Dumbo Body color to be white, free from stains and even throughout. The points to be a rich dark sepia (as dark as possible). Eyes red.
Russian Blue Point Himilayan Dumbo Points to be a distinct smoky blue-gray shade. Light
heathering is normal for this Russian Blue-based colorpoint variety. Contrast between the shaded points and the white color of the body to be very
distinct.
Russian Blue Point Himilayan Dumbo Points to be a distinct smoky blue-gray shade. Light
heathering is normal for this Russian Blue-based colorpoint variety. Contrast between the shaded points and the white color of the body to be very
distinct.
These rats are albino, lacking pigment in their hair.
Ivory Dumbo Body colour to be very pale creamy white all over with no odd coloured hairs or patches. Ears and tail to be pink. Eyes Black.
Pink-Eyed White/Albino To be as white as possible, devoid of creamy tinge or staining. Eyes pink.
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