Roan is a color-pattern and not a color in and of itself. Roans are born solidly colored, and that color may vary to any recognized color, but as they age the color begins to fade, from the belly up. This begins as early as four weeks. The fading starts with an intermingling of white hairs, as if a very localized silvering, but the color itself will actually grow out of the hairs until the lower parts of the rat are entirely white. Adult roans may only exhibit a very silvered stripe down the spine; older roans may appear entirely white. The face is also a central location for roan fading, and is one of the first locations, along with the belly, to go completely white. The eye color will match whatever the base color is.

Not scientifically described or named. Seems to be a recessive gene.

RatsPacNW

No description listed.

URS

"To be of any recognized color variety. Distinct white hairs to be blended with the solid color to give an intensely faded black/grey/white (salt-and-pepper) appearance. Roan to have Striped or Berkshire markings.

Faults: A completely faded (white) rat.

    * Striped

      Symmetrical marking in which the legs, underside and sides of the rat to be completely white creating a thick stripe of color across the back. To have a prominent inverted V-shaped blaze encompassing much of the nose, coming close to but not touching the eyes. Jaw line and underside of the head to be white.

      Faults: Stripe too thin, non-wedge blaze.

    * Berkshire

      Marking to be same as regular Berkshire. To have a prominent inverted V-shaped blaze encompassing much of the nose, coming close to but not touching the eyes. Jaw line and underside of the head to be white.

      Faults: Messy berkshire marking, non-wedge blaze."

Well described by the NFRS in the UK.