silver grayThe true Silver Gray (containing two Silver Gray genes) has a silver gray coat with a mid-gray undercolor, ivory face, gray cheekflashes, black eyes and dark gray ears. A Silver Gray containing only one Silver Gray gene, known as Heterozygous Silver Gray, is light gray with a mid gray undercolor, ivory belly, black cheekflashes, black eyes and gray ears and is similar to the Light Gray in appearance.
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cinnamon |
Genetic Code: pp
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The Cinnamon mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1958 in the USA. The coat of the Cinnamon hamster is ginger over the back and sides and can range from pale ginger to a deep bright ginger. The roots of the hairs are blueish-gray and these darker roots are often easily visible on the top of the head. The fur on the belly is ivory in color but slightly blue-grey at the roots and the ginger coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a gingerish-brown "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. Young Cinnamon hamsters have bright red eyes but as the hamster matures the color becomes richer and the eyes become darker in color.
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dark gray |
Genetic Code: dgdg
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Kinked Tail: dg(k)dg(k)
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The Dark Gray mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1964 in the USA. The coat of the Dark Gray Syrian Hamster is mid-grey over the back and sides and can range a little in color with some being paler than others. The roots of the hairs are dark gray and these dark roots are often easily visible on the top of the head. The fur on the belly is ivory in color but slightly gray at the roots and the grey coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a black "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are black and the ears are dark gray.
Some Dark Gray hamsters have a tendency to develop a brown tinge as they age. They also have a tendency for spinal deformities which often show in the form of a curved tail. Any Dark Gray hamster showing such a problem should not be bred from as it will be inherited. |
golden |
Genetic Code: ++
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Golden is the original agouti colour of the Syrian Hamster and the Syrian Hamster is sometimes referred to as the 'Golden Hamster' from its original wild golden coloring.
The coat of the Golden Syrian Hamster is brown over the back and sides and can range from golden-brown to a rich mahogany brown. The roots of the hairs are dark grey and these dark roots are often easily visible on the top of the head which may look like it has a darker patch. The fur on the belly is ivory in color but slightly grey at the roots and the brown coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a black "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are black and the ears are dark grey. |
light gray |
Genetic Code: Lglg
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Lethal Gray: LgLg
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The Light Gray mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1965 but it is unclear in which country it first emerged. The coat of the Light Gray hamster is light gray over the back and sides. The roots of the hairs are dark gray and these dark roots are often easily visible on the top of the head. The fur on the belly is creamy-ivory in color but slightly gray at the roots and the light gray coloring of the back extends to a brownish-gray line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a dark brownish-gray "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the creamy-ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are black and the ears are dark gray. The muzzle shows a distinct cream tint and the crescents are also cream which distinguishes it from the Dark Gray and Silver Gray.
Some Light Gray hamsters develop a brown tinge as they mature, and some may even a very brownish-gray at a young age - this is particularly so of Light Grays that have been breed from Dark Goldens. |
rust |
Genetic Code: bb
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The Rust mutation of the Syrian Hamster, previously known as Guinea Gold, occurred in 1961 but it is not known in which country it first occurred. The coat of the Rust hamster is brownish-ginger over the back and sides. The roots of the hairs are grey and these darker roots are often easily visible on the top of the head. The fur on the belly is ivory in color but slightly grey at the roots and the brownish-ginger coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a brown "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are a very dark brown but look black and the ears are dark grey. Young Rust hamsters may be pale but as they mature the color becomes richer.
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silver gray |
Genetic Code: SgSg (Homozygous); Sgsg (Heterozygous)
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The Silver Gray mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1985-86 but it is unclear in which country it first appeared. The coat is pale silver-gray in color over the back and sides with slightly darker ticking. The roots of the hairs are gray and these darker roots are often easily visible on the top of the head. The fur on the belly is pale ivory, almost white, in color but slightly gray at the roots and the gray coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a black "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears with the ivory belly color extending upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are black and the ears are dark gray.
The Silver Gray hamster can exist in two forms: with one or two silver grey genes. The former (heterozygous) can look very similar to the Light Gray but is distinguished by the lack of cream on the muzzle and in the crescents. The latter (homozygous) is considered the "true" Silver Gray and is the one preferred for the show bench displaying a pale silver gray coloring. |
yellow |
Genetic Code: Toto/ToY (Male); ToTo (Female)
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The Yellow mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1962 but it is unclear in which country it first emerged. The coat is yellow over the back and sides and can range from pale cream to a deep bright orange-yellow. The color is usually paler at the roots. The tips of the hair are black although pale Yellows may lack the black tips and look almost cream in color. The fur on the belly is ivory in color and the yellow coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a indistinct black "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are black and the ears are dark grey. Young Yellow hamsters are often pale cream in color but as the hamster matures the color becomes richer and the dark tips become more evident.
Some Yellow hamsters can be so pale that they resemble a cream and never develop the yellower coloring or the black ticking. |
beige |
Genetic Code: bbdgdg
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Beige is very rare color, formed by combining the Rust gene, (b), and the Dark Gray gene, (dg). Both of the constituent colours are themselves relatively rare, hence the scarcity of Beige animals.
As with all colours derived from Dark Gray, Beige animals are often smaller and less robust than others in the same litter. There is also the risk of producing animals with "kinked" tails, (please refer to the information on Dark Grays). For this reason it is unwise to breed closely related Beige animals to each other. Since this colour is very rare, the chances of finding an unrelated Beige mate are slim. |
black eyed blonde |
Genetic Code: bbLglg
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black eyed honey |
Genetic Code: bbTo(Male); bbToTo(Female)
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blonde |
Genetic Code: Lglgpp
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The Blonde occurred some time after 1965. The coat of the Blonde is creamy-blonde over the back and sides and can range in shade from pale creamy blonde to a mid dull blonde. The roots of the hairs are light grey and these darker roots are often easily visible on the top of the head. The fur on the belly is ivory in color but slightly pale grey at the roots and the blonde coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a light grey "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. Young Blondes may be pale but as they mature the color becomes richer and and orange tint appears on the muzzle. The clear red eyes become darker with age.
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honey |
Genetic Code: ppTo (Male); ppToTo (Female)
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The Honey first appeared some time after 1962 when both the Cinnamon and Yellow genes existed.
The coat is warm orange-yellow over the back and sides and can range from an orangey-cream to deep yellowish-orange. The roots of the hairs are cream and the fur on the belly is ivory in color and the coloring on the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a slightly darker "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are red and the ears are pale. Young Honeys may be pale and the eyes bright red but as they mature the color becomes richer and the eyes very dark red. |
light gray pearl |
Genetic Code: LglgTo (male); LglgToTo (Female)
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The Light Gray Pearl is the combined color of Light Gray and Yellow. The name "Light Gray Pearl" is not a standardized color name. It seems to make sense since the combined color of Dark Gray and Yellow is Smoke Pearl. I use the term "Light Gray Pearl" as a means to identify the color until a standardized color name is defined. Both the Light Gray and the Yellow genes are dominant. The Light Gray gene is lethal. The Yellow gene is sex linked. The color actually looks like a washed out yellow or cream. There is some ticking on the back and at the cheekflashes.
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lilac |
Genetic Code: dgdgpp
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The Lilac first appeared some time after 1964 and the coat is lilac-gray over the back and sides and can range from pale lilac-gray to mid-lilac gray. The roots of the hairs are gray and these darker roots may be easily visible on the top of the head. The belly is ivory in color and the lilac-gray coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a gray-brown "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ear and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are red and the ears flesh colored. Young Lilacs may be pale lilac-gray in color with bright red eyes but the color and eyes darken with age. Many Lilacs become slightly brown in color as they become older.
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silver gray pearl |
Genetic Code: SgsgTo (Male); SgsgToTo (Female)
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The Silver Gray Pearl is produced by the combination of Silver Gray and Yellow. The Silver Gray Pearl has a very light gray coat ticked through with black tips, cream undercolor, ivory belly, black cheekflashes, black eyes and gray ears.
The Silver Gray pearl is more commonly known as the Silver Pearl. |
smoke pearl |
Genetic Code: dgdgTo (Male); dgdgToTo (Female)
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The Smoke Pearl appeared some time after 1964. The coat is pale gray over the back and sides and the color extends down to the roots. The tips of the hairs are black although pale Smoke Pearls may only have a small amount of black tips. The fur on the belly is ivory in color and the gray coloring of the back extends in a line across the chest. Along the side of each cheek there is a indistinct black "cheekflash" which extends from under the chin up towards the ears and the ivory belly color extends upwards below the cheekflash. The eyes are black and the ears are dark gray. Young Smoke Pearls are often pale gray in color but as the hamster matures the dark tips become more evident.
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lilac pearl |
Genetic Code: dgdgppTo (Male); dgdgppToTo (Female)
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The Lilac Pearl is produced by the combination of Dark Gray, Cinnamon and Yellow. The Lilac Pearl has a pale lilac-gray coat ticked through with black tips, cream undercolor, ivory belly, brown cheekflashes, red eyes and flesh ears.
Lilac Pearl is the only Agouti mutation that contains 3 or more genes to make it. It was found 1988. It's never been popular and due to both Lilacs and Smoke Pearls being rare themselves, this color is also rarely seen. |