Cream
BIS cream
Creams are one of the most popular self varieties on the show bench. They have the potential to win BIS frequently and should be big and typy - a cream that fails in this respect will get nowhere. Many newcomers to mice are confused by the use of the word 'cream', when they find it difficult to tell the difference between an exhibition cream and a white animal. When the two are compared directly there should be a distinct difference, although it is subtle next to 'cream' in other small animals such as hamsters, which can be described as a rich deep apricot.
Creams have changed genetically since the beginning of the fancy in the UK, when they were believed to be chinchillated reds, thus suffering from obesity problems. The current creams are a product of extreme dilution (ce) and do not have the same weight and health problems; they are one of the largest and typiest varieties available.
According to Silvers, extreme dilution was first described in 1921 after a mouse appearing to be a "slightly stained or dirty black eyed white" was caught in a corn crib in Illinois, US. The mouse darkened with age to a brownish colour that was "a little lighter than an ordinary pink-eyed brown with a slight dull yellowish cast".
Creams have changed genetically since the beginning of the fancy in the UK, when they were believed to be chinchillated reds, thus suffering from obesity problems. The current creams are a product of extreme dilution (ce) and do not have the same weight and health problems; they are one of the largest and typiest varieties available.
According to Silvers, extreme dilution was first described in 1921 after a mouse appearing to be a "slightly stained or dirty black eyed white" was caught in a corn crib in Illinois, US. The mouse darkened with age to a brownish colour that was "a little lighter than an ordinary pink-eyed brown with a slight dull yellowish cast".
BOA in Show cream satin bred by Cait Walgate
Stones (ce/ce, not a standardised colour) are also produced when breeding creams, and does of this colour are occasionally retained to keep the creams from becoming too light. It is also often the case that PEWs are produced (some of which may genetically be PE cream). These are often shown as PEWs but can have a yellowy tinge, so caution must be exercised when choosing entries.
In general big pale selfs tend to suffer from thin belly fur and/or line under. The line can be described almost as a parting running up the middle of the belly, and is more common in does than bucks. Selection is the key to keep this from becoming prevalent in your mice; certainly do not use a buck with a poorly covered belly. The thicker the fur, the less likely you are to have this problem.
When pairing creams up or selecting a stud buck, type is very important. Look for animals with broad heads (but not short faces), large well placed ears and good thick tail roots. Large bold eyes are also a feature of a good cream. I usually allow two does to litter together and reduce their shared litters to six does. This produces well-fed chubby youngsters without putting too much strain on the breeding does. If I need to rear bucks, I will only rear three, or occasionally four, whether between two does or not.
In general big pale selfs tend to suffer from thin belly fur and/or line under. The line can be described almost as a parting running up the middle of the belly, and is more common in does than bucks. Selection is the key to keep this from becoming prevalent in your mice; certainly do not use a buck with a poorly covered belly. The thicker the fur, the less likely you are to have this problem.
When pairing creams up or selecting a stud buck, type is very important. Look for animals with broad heads (but not short faces), large well placed ears and good thick tail roots. Large bold eyes are also a feature of a good cream. I usually allow two does to litter together and reduce their shared litters to six does. This produces well-fed chubby youngsters without putting too much strain on the breeding does. If I need to rear bucks, I will only rear three, or occasionally four, whether between two does or not.