Wild Type
The first thing to talk about is the most basic colour of Syrian hamster, Golden! Golden, or Wild Type, is the colour that Syrian hamsters would be in the wild. Any other colour is due to a mutation of the wild type colour. Golden can also be referred to as agouti. Agouti markings on a hamster include darker cheek flashes, dark spot on the head, and a lighter chin/underbelly colour.
Golden is on the A locus. It is dominant and its genotype is AA or Aa.
The first thing to talk about is the most basic colour of Syrian hamster, Golden! Golden, or Wild Type, is the colour that Syrian hamsters would be in the wild. Any other colour is due to a mutation of the wild type colour. Golden can also be referred to as agouti. Agouti markings on a hamster include darker cheek flashes, dark spot on the head, and a lighter chin/underbelly colour.
Golden is on the A locus. It is dominant and its genotype is AA or Aa.
Black
Black is the recessive version of the A locus and, therefore, its genotype is aa. Black is a mutation of golden that turns all of the hamsters pigment to black pigment, except the paws and sometimes random chest/chin white markings. Black is what is known as a self colour, meaning it has no agouti markings. The entire hamster is one shade with no agouti markings.
Black is the recessive version of the A locus and, therefore, its genotype is aa. Black is a mutation of golden that turns all of the hamsters pigment to black pigment, except the paws and sometimes random chest/chin white markings. Black is what is known as a self colour, meaning it has no agouti markings. The entire hamster is one shade with no agouti markings.
Rust
Rust is a mutation of golden that causes the black pigment of a golden hamster to turn brown. Rust is recessive and is located on the B locus, making it bb.
Rust hamsters will have agouti markings because it is a direct mutation of golden and not of black. Rust hamsters will also have brown ears instead of grey ears.
Rust is a mutation of golden that causes the black pigment of a golden hamster to turn brown. Rust is recessive and is located on the B locus, making it bb.
Rust hamsters will have agouti markings because it is a direct mutation of golden and not of black. Rust hamsters will also have brown ears instead of grey ears.
Dark Eared White
Dark Eared White (or DEW) is a mutation located on the C locus. DEW is a recessive mutation of C and shows up with cc. However, the C locus is slightly different than other loci. When in recessive form (c), the C locus also has further allelic mutations on the locus itself. This is shown by superscripts. DEW when both recessive alleles have homozygous d allelic mutations. This is represented as c^dc^d. Though this is a recessive mutation itself, it is dominant over all other colours including both golden and black mutations, so a hamster with the genotype c^dc^d will always be DEW phenotypically. The only time a hamster with c^dc^d will be visually different is when they also have the cinnamon (pp) mutation, in which case they are flesh eared white.
DEW produces an all white hamster with red eyes. Pups will start out with pink ears but will eventually gain grey pigment on the ears as they age.
Dark Eared White (or DEW) is a mutation located on the C locus. DEW is a recessive mutation of C and shows up with cc. However, the C locus is slightly different than other loci. When in recessive form (c), the C locus also has further allelic mutations on the locus itself. This is shown by superscripts. DEW when both recessive alleles have homozygous d allelic mutations. This is represented as c^dc^d. Though this is a recessive mutation itself, it is dominant over all other colours including both golden and black mutations, so a hamster with the genotype c^dc^d will always be DEW phenotypically. The only time a hamster with c^dc^d will be visually different is when they also have the cinnamon (pp) mutation, in which case they are flesh eared white.
DEW produces an all white hamster with red eyes. Pups will start out with pink ears but will eventually gain grey pigment on the ears as they age.
Black Eyed Cream
Black Eyed Cream (or BEC) is the recessive gene found on the E locus and is represented as ee in the genotype. Cream masks other colours, so it will be impossible to tell what other genes a BEC hamster may have. This is why knowing genetics is so important when breeding, as anyone who knows their genes will know what colours the cream is masking.
BEC is a self colour and hamsters will be fully cream with black eyes and grey ears.
Black Eyed Cream (or BEC) is the recessive gene found on the E locus and is represented as ee in the genotype. Cream masks other colours, so it will be impossible to tell what other genes a BEC hamster may have. This is why knowing genetics is so important when breeding, as anyone who knows their genes will know what colours the cream is masking.
BEC is a self colour and hamsters will be fully cream with black eyes and grey ears.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a mutation of golden that turns all black pigment to red pigment. Because it is a mutation of golden, cinnamon hamsters will have agouti markings. Cinnamon is recessive and is located on the P locus (pp). Cinnamon hamsters will have pink ears and red eyes.
Cinnamon is a mutation of golden that turns all black pigment to red pigment. Because it is a mutation of golden, cinnamon hamsters will have agouti markings. Cinnamon is recessive and is located on the P locus (pp). Cinnamon hamsters will have pink ears and red eyes.
Dark Grey
Dark Grey is a mutation of golden that removes any red pigment, leaving only black pigment. This creates a grey hamster with agouti markings. Dark Grey is located on the Dg locus and is recessive (dgdg).
Dark Grey is a mutation of golden that removes any red pigment, leaving only black pigment. This creates a grey hamster with agouti markings. Dark Grey is located on the Dg locus and is recessive (dgdg).
Silver Grey
Silver Grey is a mutation of golden and is a semidominant gene. It is either heterozygous silver grey (Sgsg) or homozygous silver grey (SgSg). Het-Sg hamsters will have slightly diluted black pigment and completely diluted red pigment, while homozygous Sg hamsters will have diluted black pigment and no red pigment. This gives Het-Sg hamsters a warmer look, as they will often have very light brown/red/orange colours.
Silver Grey is a mutation of golden and is a semidominant gene. It is either heterozygous silver grey (Sgsg) or homozygous silver grey (SgSg). Het-Sg hamsters will have slightly diluted black pigment and completely diluted red pigment, while homozygous Sg hamsters will have diluted black pigment and no red pigment. This gives Het-Sg hamsters a warmer look, as they will often have very light brown/red/orange colours.
Yellow
Yellow is a mutation of golden that gives hamsters a yellow colour with agouti markings. Yellow is a sex-linked gene on the To locus. To alleles are linked to X chromosomes. A male hamster (having XY chromosomes), will only be able to ever have one To allele, making a yellow male hamster. A female hamster (having XX chromosomes) will be able to have one OR two x chromosomes. Having two To alleles (ToTo) produces a yellow female, but having only one To allele (Toto) produces a tortoiseshell hamster. Tortoiseshell will be further explained on the coat patterns page.
Yellow is a mutation of golden that gives hamsters a yellow colour with agouti markings. Yellow is a sex-linked gene on the To locus. To alleles are linked to X chromosomes. A male hamster (having XY chromosomes), will only be able to ever have one To allele, making a yellow male hamster. A female hamster (having XX chromosomes) will be able to have one OR two x chromosomes. Having two To alleles (ToTo) produces a yellow female, but having only one To allele (Toto) produces a tortoiseshell hamster. Tortoiseshell will be further explained on the coat patterns page.