Himalayan
Himalayan
The Himalayan is a mouse with one copy of the Himalayan gene and one copy of albino (c^h/c). The body is white, with dark points similar to a Siamese. As with a Siamese, when black-based the points are diluted to a dark brown colour. This black-based version is the kind normally seen on the UK show bench, but blue based are also sometimes seen. The standard actually states "markings recognised in any standard colour" but paler and diluted colours make it difficult to get the strength of points that is desirable to fulfil the rest of the standard.
Due to their genetic make-up, Himalayans do not breed true. If you breed two Himalayans together, the litter will consist of 50% Himalayans, 25% Siamese and 25% PEW. When bred to a Siamese, half the offspring will be Himalayan and the other half Siamese. In order to get a full litter of Himalayans, you would have to breed a Siamese with a PEW (albino). On the plus side, Himalayans can be big typy mice and have a natural outcross in the PEW.
In the nest Himalayans are relatively pale, with their points developing around weaning age and afterwards. This makes it difficult to determine the best specimens of this variety as babies as at first they look similar to PEW. Those with the whitest body colour often also have paler points. It is likely that you will need to grow on larger numbers of young than normal in order to select the best for exhibition and breeding. As with Siamese, temperature has an effect on the development of points (the points are darker the colder it is).
Due to their genetic make-up, Himalayans do not breed true. If you breed two Himalayans together, the litter will consist of 50% Himalayans, 25% Siamese and 25% PEW. When bred to a Siamese, half the offspring will be Himalayan and the other half Siamese. In order to get a full litter of Himalayans, you would have to breed a Siamese with a PEW (albino). On the plus side, Himalayans can be big typy mice and have a natural outcross in the PEW.
In the nest Himalayans are relatively pale, with their points developing around weaning age and afterwards. This makes it difficult to determine the best specimens of this variety as babies as at first they look similar to PEW. Those with the whitest body colour often also have paler points. It is likely that you will need to grow on larger numbers of young than normal in order to select the best for exhibition and breeding. As with Siamese, temperature has an effect on the development of points (the points are darker the colder it is).