Splashed

Splashed were brought into the UK in 2010 by a group of exhibition breeders, including myself, who were interested in the gene for both breeding splashed and creating tricolours. The six bucks that I originally imported (split equally between three UK breeders) were all siamese based. Since I already bred creams (c^e/c), and wanted to ensure good size and type, these are what I used to propagate the splashed gene.
Over five years later, the resulting mice still vary greatly in darkness of colour and how heavy (or light) the splashes are. I usually cull mice that appear as though they may be c/c in the nest, but when I did grow on a doe I found that although she was c/c to the best of my knowledge, I could still see very faint splashes on her coat. Other splashed (that appear not to be pointed) of dark coat colours such as chocolate sometimes have ruby eyes. Despite speaking to other splashed breeders around the world, no satisfactory explanation has yet been found – only confirmation that this is not unique to my mice and happens in other non-pointed splashed populations.
The NMC awarded the splashed a provisional variety certificate in 2012. The provisional standard was then revised and extended in 2014. This means that splashed mice can be shown but don't yet have a full and permanent standard. The provisional standard states: "Eyes black or red. Splashed mice are to exhibit shades of any colour, splashed heavily and evenly over the top of the mouse, with as much as possible under."
Over five years later, the resulting mice still vary greatly in darkness of colour and how heavy (or light) the splashes are. I usually cull mice that appear as though they may be c/c in the nest, but when I did grow on a doe I found that although she was c/c to the best of my knowledge, I could still see very faint splashes on her coat. Other splashed (that appear not to be pointed) of dark coat colours such as chocolate sometimes have ruby eyes. Despite speaking to other splashed breeders around the world, no satisfactory explanation has yet been found – only confirmation that this is not unique to my mice and happens in other non-pointed splashed populations.
The NMC awarded the splashed a provisional variety certificate in 2012. The provisional standard was then revised and extended in 2014. This means that splashed mice can be shown but don't yet have a full and permanent standard. The provisional standard states: "Eyes black or red. Splashed mice are to exhibit shades of any colour, splashed heavily and evenly over the top of the mouse, with as much as possible under."