how does mouse color genetics work? (pics)

[daniel1983]

I was just wondering about mice color genetics....do any of you know of a good link?

Here is the litter that got me thinkin'....the dad only had a color patch near his eye....the mom was an albin 12 babies. Some colored, some not...

[TekWarren]

I don't even try to figure out rodent genetics. We've gotten so many different colors, patterns, combinations, you name it out even the plainest of colored parents. It is pretty cool though seeing some of the colors come out in the offspring that have carried over from higher up in the blood lines.

[Shelby]

Well, I have longhair (I think it's called satin, almost metallic looking) brown mice. The male is an albino. The babies are all a lighter brown.. some are longhair, some normal. One of the females has a white snip on her face, but none of the babies have it.

[TekWarren]

My mice have been all different colors, I can't remember any that haven't been solid. With my rats both parents are solid colors and many of the babies will be multi-colored like black/white or brown/white or solid black with white underside. I've yet to have any offspring that have any coloration resembling the male which solid silver. I have bred back one daughter though tha is solid black so we'll see what comes of her litter.

[Shelby]

I understand rat genetics a bit more..

I breed berkshire (colored top white belly) with hooded (colored head and stripe down back white on the rest) and get a mix of the two. I have a few self (completely solid) rats, so we'll see what we get there.

[daniel1983]

I cant wait to see these guys when they are bigger.....some of them have a nice silver tint to them now. One of them is kinda darker than the rest.....and there are a few white ones I guess I will just have to wait and see how they turn out

[dfisk5]

On the subject of rodent genetics, I was wondering about the Dumbo eared rats. Is that a recessive trait? I know they're only going to be breeders and feeders, but the Dumbos are cute. I wouldn't mind introducing some into my breeding colony. Anyone have any experience with them, litter size, etc.? Thanks.