Black Eyed Whites
Although black eyed whites are shown in the self classes, they are in fact genetically a marked mouse. They can be created by selecting and breeding lightly marked variegateds, brokens/evens or bandeds.
Coming from marked mice, the BEW suffers from lack of size and type. The accepted outcross is a lightly marked variegated, broken/even or banded, depending on which was used to create the BEW. A large proportion of marked mice turn up in BEW litters and so only a small number of mice are usually left from which the fancier can select.
Problems
Health
BEW mice bred from dominant genes seem to have more health problems (in my experience) at birth and are a lot less likely to survive than 'broken' BEWs (a recessive gene). For this reason I would recommend that those wishing to create BEWs use a recessive gene.
Size & Type
BEW mice suffer from poor size and type because they are techncially marked mice. Rigid selection must be practised in order to breed reasonable stock. Previously outcrossed brokens can be used in an attempt to increase size and type, but as lightly marked specimens are needed this can be very difficult. The more lightly marked the broken the more inbred it usually is (i.e. light broken to light broken for generations) and as such it may have lost type.
Thin Belly Fur
As with other light coloured selfs, whites may suffer from thin belly fur. The pink skin shows through the light fur fairly easily, so only thickly furred mice should be used for breeding if possible. Bucks usually have better furred bellies than does.
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