Varieties

Undstandardized

Multicolor (mc)

Spl/+ c-recessives (Splashed), or
Va (varitint waddler), or
A^y/a^t U/* s/s (Sable with recessive white spotting), or
p^un s/s (pink-eye unstable + recessive white spotting), or
c^m/c^m s/s or c^m/c^ch s/s (chinchilla mottled + recessive white spotting), or
p^m1/2/p s/s (pink-eye mottled + recessive white spotting)

"A multicolor mouse is to have spots of at least contrasting colours on the back and sides. The spots to be small, as numerous as possible, on a white background. Spots to be clear cut and devoid of brindling. Spots of colour on the undersides and belly to be adjudged an added attraction. Eyes any colour, including odd-eyed."

Breeding information below the pictures.

	Fz multicolor. pic: Liisa Leppänen. Not counting the sight mixing of colours at the nose this mouse is pretty well marked. The spots could always be more clear cut. (Click the pic for a larger image.)
	SHS multicolor. pic: Liisa Leppänen. A bit larger spots, colours mix together towards the rump. (Click the pic for a larger image.)
	SHS multicolor. pic: Liisa Leppänen. Spots are small but fewer in number. (Click the pic for a larger image.)
	Eevee's Dragsteri, SH multicolor pic: Elina Vornanen. Somewhat larger, but well defined spots. (Click the pic for a larger image.)
	Tricolor or Multicolor? pic: Liisa Leppänen. Left: Multicolors. Right: Tricolors. Some fit the stadards more, some less (as is always the case with mice. (Click the pic for a larger image.)
	Tricolor or  Multicolor? pic: Elina Vornanen. Top three mice are Multicolors, the lowest one a Tricolor. (Click the pic for a larger image.)

Quick Look

Multicolor is the "little sister" of tricolor. The basic genetics are the same, but the variety has been bred to have small spots of colour. That is, the main difference is what s/s modifiers one breeds toward. Compared to a tricolor, multicolor mice are clearly a white mouse with spots of two or more colours (see even and broken).

The standard calls for small spots and this compares mainly to the patches on a triclor, calling for spots more like those on a broken or an even (the pattern on a multicolor does not need to resemble neither of those varieties). If the judge is pondering between two equally good multicolors, they can favor the one with smaller spots. Note, however, that the standard says "spots", not anything smaller.

When it comes to "numerous", this doesn't call for a mouse filled with dots. Instead, a multicolor with more spots wins over one with fewer spots. A multicolor with a tad less spots may be awarded if it is otherwise fine example of the variety, espcially when it comes to spots being clear cut and/or having no brindling. The latter fault tends to be very common on both tricolors and multicolors.

For more information, do read up on the article discussing Tricolor.