[Lizzle]

Is there a way of being able to tell the difference based on just looking at the mouse itself? Silly question, I know, but I am wondering because of two mice I want to breed to each other.

 

[ian]

What mice do you have? Some varieties are caused by lethal dominant genes, rumpwhite for example, soe others one work in an unusual way when homozygous like variegated and banded. If your mice are just normal brokens then they will be caused by recessive spotting. Post some pictures!

 

[Lizzle]

One of the mice is a chocolate Dutch-marked mousie, while the other is Mr. Jingles, as seen in this thread: http://www.fancymicebreeders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3938. As you can see, he kind of looks sashed or banded maybe, but he does have that white spot on his head (keep in mind he is chinchilla'd). Does my question make any sense now? :lol:

Mr. Jingle's babies were all so dilute that I honestly couldn't tell if they had white spots anywhere save for behind the ears and genital area (actually, there were a couple with white tipped tails, oddly enough).

The Dutch chocolate you can kind of see below in my signature. I should have rephrased my question, I think, since I really just want to know more about Dutch mice (I know I've read somewhere that it could be a completely different gene in and of itself rather than white markings over another color).

 

[ian]

Yeah dutch is a difficult one as I dont think its been completely proven. Maybe there are different types of dutch! I reckon you wouldnt have any problems crossing the two and would be interesting to see what happens, you may get some dutch-like markings as I've read about dutch crossed with selfs sometimes result in dutch-ish mice.

 

[Lizzle]

Hmm, maybe you're right about different kinds. My dutch mousie is from a petshop, but she is nearly a PERFECT dutch-marked mouse (the only flaw she has is a small brown blotch on her right shoulder).

 

[windyhill]

In the US, most dutch & hereford marked mice are nothing more then brokens with the right markings and when mated with selfs or brokens, you get more brokens, but none with the dutch/hereford markings, but who knows you could get lucky have have a true dutch