black eyed whiteA Black Eyed White Hamster can be produced by a number of combinations. It is not a "true" white but a synthetic white. Silver Gray and Black Eyed Cream produces a "Black Eyed Ivory" which is so pale in color that it is white. Black Eyed Cream Roans, Black Eyed Cream Dominant Spots may also be so pale with little color and may look white.
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black |
Genetic Code: aa
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The Black mutation of the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1985-86 in France. It was later obtained by Hamster Fanciers in Scandinavia.
As with all show hamsters in Europe it was carefully bred in order to obtain good sized and docile offspring. Black Syrian Hamsters were later exported to other fanciers in the UK and Holland where they were again carefully bred by exhibitors for show qualities e.g. short wide head, good size, docility, etc. Later Black Syrian Hamsters were exported from Europe into the USA. The US breeders who obtained the Black Syrian Hamster, not familiar with the size and quality of Syrian Hamsters bred for showing in Europe, were amazed at its size and docility and some thought that because of this it was a different species but it is not. Confusion has further been added by some breeders misleadingly labeling the Black Syrian Hamster as "Black Bear" or "European Black Bear" thus giving the impression it is a species other than the Syrian Hamster. The name "European Black Bear" is particularly misleading as it has caused the Black Syrian to be confused with the European Hamster which is not kept in captivity as a pet. The Black Syrian Hamster is jet black to the roots in color on the back, sides and belly with a white stripe under the chin and white feet. The Black can vary in color slightly and so some are "blacker" than others. Often the Black may also have a white spot or patch on the chest or belly. The eyes are black and the ears are dark grey. Young Blacks are often dark but as the hamster matures the color may become slightly brown-black or blue-black. |
black eyed cream |
Genetic Code: ee
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The Black Eyed Cream mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1951 in the UK. The Black Eyed Cream is sandy cream to the roots in color on the back, sides and belly with a white stripe under the chin. The Black Eyed Cream can vary in color from a pale sandy cream to a rich orange-cream. Often the Black Eyed Cream may also have a white spot or patch on the chest or belly. The eyes are black and the ears are dark grey. Young Black Eyed Cream hamsters are often pale but as the hamster matures the color becomes richer.
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dark eared white |
Genetic Code: c(d)c(d)
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The Dark Eared White mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1952 in the USA. The Dark Eared White is pure white on the back, sides and belly and has bright red eyes but dark grey ears. Often youngsters have very pale ears but the ears become darker with age.
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umbrous |
Genetic Code: U_
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The Umbrous mutation in the Syrian Hamster occurred in 1975 but it is unclear in which country it occurred. The Umbrous does not exist as a color in its own right but combined with an existing color it produces a hamster of sooty appearance. For example Umbrous Golden, Umbrous Cinnamon, etc which appear to be dirty versions of the normal coloring. The belly is grayer than normal, the crescents are grayish ivory and the color over the back is darker and more sooty looking than normal.
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black eyed ivory |
Genetic Code: eeSgsg, eeLglg or eedgdg
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The Black Eyed Ivory first appeared sometime after 1965 and the coat is Ivory to the roots on the back, sides and belly. There are three types of Black Eyed Ivory - using Light Gray, Dark Gray or Silver Gray. The Light Gray Ivory is a creamy ivory in color, whilst the Dark Gray Ivory is pearl ivory, and the Silver Gray Ivory either ivory with a pinkish tint or white in color if the hamster has two Silver Gray genes (this latter is sometimes referred to as the Black Eyed White). The eyes are black and the ears are dark gray.
The Black Eyed Ivory has fallen out of popularity as of recent and is rarely seen in the pet trade although some are still found on the Show Bench occasionally. |
black eyed white |
Genetic Code: eeDsds or eeWhwh
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A Black Eyed White Hamster can be produced by a number of combinations. It is not a "true" white but a synthetic white. Silver Grey and Black Eyed Cream produces a "Black Eyed Ivory" which is so pale in color that it is white. Black Eyed Cream Roans, Black Eyed Cream Dominant Spots may also be so pale with little color and may look white.
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dove |
Genetic Code: aapp
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The Dove occurred in some time after 1986. The coat of the Dove is dove-brown to the roots over the back, sides and belly can range in shade. The Dove has a white chin stripe, white feet and may also have a patch of white on the belly and/or chest. The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. As the Dove matures the coat may lighten. They eyes also become darker red with maturity.
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chocolate (black) |
Genetic Code: aabb
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Chocolate is the color name reserved for a syrian hamster who is the combined color of Rust and Black. Genetically, it's aabb. They come in long haired, short haired, banded, dominant spot, tortoiseshell, satin and every other variation available in Syrian hamsters -- and they can be combined with any other color genes. The color is described as "dark chocolate brown" in both the BHA and the NHC standards.
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yellow black (melanistic yellow) |
Genetic Code: aaTo (male); aaToTo (female)
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The Yellow Black occurred in some time after 1986. The coat of the Yellow Black is yellow with heavy black tips over the back, sides. The Yellow Black has a white chin stripe, white paws and may also have a patch of white on the belly and/or chest. The eyes are black and the ears are dark gray.
The Yellow Black is sometimes referred to as "umbrous yellow" which is misleading as it is not a combination of Umbrous and Yellow which is a different color. |
flesh eared white |
Genetic Code: c(d)c(d)pp
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The Flesh Eared White was first created some time after 1958 after the occurrence of the Cinnamon mutation. The Flesh Eared White has the appearance of an Albino but is not genetically Albino as it is made up from a combination of the Dark Eared White and Cinnamon mutations. It is therefore sometimes referred to as a "synthetic Albino". The coat is pure white in color on the back, sides and belly and the eyes are bright red and the ears flesh colored.
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red eyed cream |
Genetic Code: eepp
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The Red Eyed Cream was created sometime after 1958 when both the Black Eyed Cream and Cinnamon mutations from which is created had occurred. The Red Eyed Cream is a soft pinkish-cream to the roots in color on the back, sides and belly with a white stripe under the chin. The Red Eyed Cream can vary in color from a pale ivory cream to a rich apricot-cream. Often the Red Eyed Cream may also have a white spot or patch on the chest or belly. The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. Young Red Eyed Creams are often pale and the eyes bright red but as the hamster matures the color becomes richer and the eyes become darker.
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sable |
Genetic Code: eeU_
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Sable is one of the most common mutations available. Walk into a pet store and there is a 95% chance there will be a Sable there. Sable was originally known as Black. At the time Sable was found in 1975 the Melanistic Black (aa) did not exist and well bred Sables are a deep-deep brown almost black.
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champagne |
Genetic Code: aabbpp
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chocolate (sable) |
Genetic Code: bbeeU_
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The Chocolate (Sable) occurred in some time after 1975. The coat of the Chocolate is milk chocolate brown over the back, sides and belly can range in shade from light to mid chocolate. The roots of the hairs are cream and there are cream rings around the eyes. The Chocolate has a white chin stripe and may also have a patch of white on the belly and/or chest. The eyes are black and the ears are dark grey. As the Chocolate matures the coat begins to lighten.
It has a mild chocolate color, lighter than Chocolate (Black) and brown ears. Chocolate (Sable) is standardized unlike the Chocolate (Black). Chocolate (Sable) has declined a lot due to it not being the "proper" Chocolate variation. Mentions of Chocolate (Sable) are now few and far between. |
mink |
Genetic Code: eeppU_
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The Mink occurred in some time after 1975. The coat of the Mink is dull mid-brown over the back, sides and belly can range in shade. The roots of the hairs are cream and there are cream rings around the eyes. The Mink has a white chin stripe and may also have a patch of white on the belly and/or chest.
The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. As the Mink matures the coat begins to lighten and become an orange-brown. The eyes also become darker red with maturity. |
red eyed ivory |
Genetic Code: dgdgeepp, eeLglgpp or eeppSgsg
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The Red Eyed Ivory first appeared sometime after 1965 and the coat is Ivory to the roots on the back, sides and belly. There are three types of Red Eyed Ivory - using Light Gray, Dark Gray or Silver Gray. The Light Gray Ivory is a pale creamy ivory in color, whilst the Dark Gray Ivory is pale pearl ivory, and the Silver Gray Ivory either ivory with a pinkish tint or white in color if the hamster has two Silver Gray genes (this latter has the appearance of an Albino). The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored.
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silver dove |
Genetic Code: aappSg_
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silver sable |
Genetic Code: eeSgSgU_
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blue mink |
Genetic Code: dgdgeeppU_
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The Blue Mink occurred in some time after 1975. The coat of the Blue Mink is brown with a purple tint over the back, sides and belly can range in shade. The roots of the hairs are cream and there are cream rings around the eyes. The Blue Mink has a white chin stripe and may also have a patch of white on the belly and/or chest. The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. As the Blue Mink matures the coat begins to lighten and may lose some of the purple tint. The eyes also become darker red with maturity.
The Blue Mink is produced by combining Dark Gray, Cinnamon, Black Eyed Cream and Umbrous and has a brown coat with a purple tone and a cream undercolor, red eyes and flesh colored ears. |
copper |
Genetic Code: bbeeppU_
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The Copper occurred in some time after 1975. The coat of the Copper is bright copper over the back, sides and belly can range in shade. The roots of the hairs are cream and there are cream rings around the eyes. The Copper has a white chin stripe and may also have a patch of white on the belly and/or chest. The eyes are red and the ears are flesh colored. As the Copper matures the eyes become darker red.
The Copper is very sought after, yet rare due to both the rarity of the Rust (bb) gene that's used and also the sheer number of mutations used to create it. |
silver chocolate (sable) |
Genetic Code: Sg_U_eebb
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