AFRMA Fancy Mice - Tan & Fox

Mouse Tan/Fox as recognized by the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association. See Fancy Mouse Genes for genetics.

Both have the top color in any recognized color, with a contrasting belly color: a rich golden-red tan in the TAN, a near white in the FOX.

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.

Tans Foxes

TANS - Tans may be shown in any recognized color. The top color should be equivalent to the corresponding recognized color, with the belly color being a rich golden-red tan. There should be a distinct and clear line between the top color and tan, running in a straight line along the sides, chest, and jaws, showing no brindling or intermingling of color. The feet should be tanned on the inside and of the top color on the outside. Tan hairs will be found behind the ears. Note: Tan mice can only be created in Black, Blue, Champagne, Chocolate, Dove, Lilac, Silver, Agouti, Argente, Blue Agouti, Cinnamon, Silver Black, Silver Blue, Silver Chocolate, Silver Grey, Pearl, Merle, Roan, and Splashed. They can also be made in the different fawn/orange colors but you would not be able to see the Tanning. Blue Tans will not have the rich dark orange but rather a buff color due to the dilution gene. Black Tan mouse owned by Gina Hendricks, bred by Alan Birch, England. Photo ©2004 Craig Robbins. Read the article Tans by Cait Walgate, Fancy Mice, England
Blue Tan mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2000 Craig Robbins. Note: Blue Tans will not have the rich dark orange but rather a “buff” color due to the dilution gene
English Champagne Tan mouse at the 5-1-04 L.S.C.M.R.C. show. Photo ©2004 Craig Robbins.
Chocolate Tan mouse owned by Kelli Boka, bred by David Safe, England. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins.
English Lilac Tan mouse at the 5-1-04 L.S.C.M.R.C. show. Photo ©2004 Craig Robbins.
Silver Gray Tan mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©1993 Craig Robbins.
Note: Merle Tan to be shown in Tan class rather than AOCP; June 7, 2008 Black Tan Merle mouse owned by Kelli Boka, bred by Jennifer Hipsley. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins.
FOXES - Foxes may be shown in any recognized color, and are similar to the Tans above. However, their belly color is to be as near white as possible, and a slight ticking of white hairs on the feet, sides and rump is desirable. Hair behind the ears is white. Note: Fox mice can only be created in Black, Blue, Chocolate, and Dove because the chinchilla gene will turn other colors into something else, i.e. Agouti Fox is actually a show Chinchilla. You can also make them in the different Siamese colors but cannot show them except in pet classes. Ivory, Beige, Coffee, and Reverse Siamese Foxes are actually Tans that the extreme dilution gene changes the belly color to white. Chocolate Fox mouse owned by Albert Collins, England. Photo ©2004 Craig Robbins. Read the article All About Silver Fox by Sarah Yeomans, Blackthorn Stud, England.
Black Fox mouse owned and bred by Linda von Hanneken. Photo ©2018 Karen Robbins.
Beige Fox mouse owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©2000 Craig Robbins. Note: The extreme dilute gene (Ivory, Beige, Coffee, Reverse Siamese) will dilute the Tan belly to Fox.
Coffee Fox Frizzie mouse owned and bred by Troya Duncanson. Photo ©1993 Craig Robbins.
Dark Beige Fox Satin mouse owned and bred by Nichole Royer. Photo ©1998 Larry Ferris. (Note: the color came out dark so the mouse may look like a Chocolate Fox.)
A young dark Beige/light Reverse Siamese Fox Standard mouse owned and bred by Nichole Royer. Reverse Siamese are to be shown only in AOCP class. Photo ©1998 Karen Robbins.

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 July 5, 2022