Name: Zen Armitage
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Black Tan

Litters: Armitage & Aeon, Armitage & Loki

Date of Birth: 23rd April 2008
Date of Death: 5th February 2010
Cause of Death: Mammary tumours

Name: Maxim
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Black Marked (bellyspot)

Date of Birth: 28th October 2008
Date of Death: 3rd December 2009
Cause of Death: Premature old age / Unknown

Name: Zen Faith
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Bone Marked (backspot)

Date of Birth: 23rd August 2007
Date of Death: c. November 2009
Cause of Death: Old age

Faith is Willow's calmer sister, a beautiful girl who looks freakily like her father, Lugh - right down to the chubs! Apart from her weight problem, she has absolutely stunning conformation - huge eyes and ears and a lovely sleek coat. If the mood is quiet, she'll come around and climb on me and nibble at my fingers, but when the rest of the circus is going nuts, she'd rather sit back and wait for things to subside. She was named for the vampire slayer, Faith, from Buffy, as her mother was called Drusilla.

Name: Jack the Monkey (Monkey)
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan Broken Marked

Litters: Monkey & Forensics

Date of Birth: c. 1st September 2008
Date of Death: 13th November 2009
Cause of Death: Mammary tumour

Name: Furbio's Nom
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Cinnamon Marked

Date of Birth: 9th July 2008
Date of Death: 13th November 2009
Cause of Death: Abcess

Name: Gr. Ch. Zen Loki
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Bone Fox

Litters: Indah & Loki, Luna & Loki, Harleen & Loki, Bon & Loki (x2), Armitage & Loki, Southo & Loki

Awards: Best Longcoat (Jul 07)

Date of Birth: 26th December 2006
Date of Death: 16th August 2009
Cause of Death: Old age

Possibly the best-known Zen mouse of all time, Loki was absolutely stunning, with literally the biggest eyes you've ever seen, and a gorgeous plush soft coat. He was one of the first Zen boys in a long time who lived alone, due to all his beautiful brothers finding homes remarkably quickly... and who could blame them! He didn't mind, though. He was a funny boy, and while always friendly and happy, he kept to himself and liked his alone time. The one exception to this was when he sired a litter with Bon, and stayed in to help raise the first litter. He absolutely loved the babies! Loki was our most successful mouse to date, winning multiple Grand Champion titles, and siring a whopping 7 litters, more than 50 babies! What a stud! I think the whole club was sad when Loki finally passed, but at 2 years and 8 months old, and healthy til the very end, he had a fantastic life.

Name: Gr. Ch. Zen Willow
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Chinchilla Fox

Litters: Willow & Riot

Date of Birth: 23rd August 2007
Date of Death: 16th August 2009
Cause of Death: Old age

Willow was one of the most well-known Zen mice of current time. She did beautifully in shows and with her single litter. Although she was from a different branch of the Zen line (through Ciaran and Lugh, instead of Velvet and Gossamer), she follows in her family's footsteps as a gregarious, bossy chinchilla girl. There's one in every litter! She was one of the alphas of the cage and enjoyed all aspects of mousey life with vigour - from running in the wheel to devouring food to escaping at playtime. She was named for Willow from Buffy, as her mother was called Drusilla. When she won her Grand Champion title at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, 2009, she became the poster girl for 'what a female mouse should look like'. She was very special, widely loved, and will be greatly missed.

Name: GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Argente Marked (belly spot)

Date of Birth: c. 16th January 2008
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Old age

I bet you're wondering where on Earth I got that name from. Well, it's from a wonderful game called Portal. GLaDOS is a violent, insane and ultimately caring and motherly computer presence that has some of the funniest lines ever written for any sort of character. Why did I choose to name this sweet, innocent mouse after such a thing? Well, she's orange. And Portal is from a gameset called Orange Box. Ok, it's weak. But it's such a good character! Anyway, this GLaDOS was a lovely, confident, outgoing little girl who fit right into the Zen mouse family. She was often first out and about and always interested in me and the goings on. She did go through a bit of a homicidal period, now that I think of it. She just started hating every mouse, new or old. She had to live on her own for a couple of months because of it. But, she came good, and ended her life with the gang.

Name: Rocket Moxy
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Rex
Colour: Agouti

Date of Birth: 5th August 2007
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Moxy was so-named because on her first days in the cage, she wouldn't let any of the girls boss her around! She was always a bit of a shy girl around people, though she would come over and investigate and climb onto a proffered hand if things were calm enough.

Name: Rocket Nyuu
Sex: Female
Type: Rex
Colour: Dove Tan

Date of Birth: c. 7th June 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Old age

Nyuu was just gorgeous. A lovely little rex with a pretty face and great ears. She was soft and cuddly and sweet and gentle. Not too in-your-face but certainly not shy. A very nice girl that I was exceedingly fond of. She was named after the main character in the anime Elfen Lied.

Name: Isis
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Phenotype: Pink-Eyed White

Date of Birth: c. 19th March 2007
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Old age

Isis was from a local petshop, where she was purchased to "save" her from nasty conditions (I know, I know). She was a surpsisingly lovely girl, who never ran from being picked up and despite her piggy little eyes, was quite a pretty girl. She ended up being a member of the trio of alphas, but was never mean, always gentle. She added a nice little personality to the colony, and I'm glad I got her.

Name: Captain Jack Sparrow (Jack)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Agouti Broken Marked

Date of Birth: c. 20th February 2007
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Old age

Captain Jack Sparrow... odd name for a girl, perhaps, but what else could she have possibly been called with a patch over one eye like that? She was a nutter and a bossy-boots, one of the alphas right up til the end. A beautiful friendly girl who was interested in everything, and always had her nose in everyone else's business. And with the cutest little face you could ever want on a lovely little mouse. She made it to a grand old age, for a pet shop mouse.

Name: Gr. Ch. Zen Freyja
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Colourpoint Beige Fox

Litters: Freyja & Timone

Awards: Best Longcoat, Grand Champion (Aug 07)

Date of Birth: 26th December 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Possible pituitary tumour (head tilt)

Freyja was a wonderful, sweet little thing (perhaps not so little - both of her parents were, uh, big-boned after all). She wassuch a ovely colour, a completely non-standardised colourpoint beige fox. And with those huge doe eyes and gorgeous coat of the line, how could we have done anything but love her? Over her long lifetime, Freyja became one of the icons of the Zen line and won her fair share of awards. She was the most beautifully friendly girl, acting as nanny to a litter or two, and having one of her own during a visit to DogStar Rodentry. Her soft little face is missed.

Name: Zen Lugh
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Bone

Litters: Drusilla & Lugh

Date of Birth: 7th April 2006
Date of Death: 29th August 2008
Cause of Death: Old age

When he was born, Lugh was our little mystery man, Cian's full brother from a second litter. This stunningly beautiful mouse was bone, but it took us well into his adulthood to figure that out! He had a gorgeous plush coat, huge eyes and ears and a stocky body. He unfortunately had a small white spot on his back, or he would have been Grand Champion material! He has passed his very special features onto his two daughters, Willow and Faith, and further through Willow's children. He was one of the stars of the Zen line, and a boy I am immensely proud of, although he never visited the showring.

Name: Mousekateers Mab
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Snowtiger

Date of Birth: 14th June 2007
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Possible stroke

Mab, named for the Queen Mab of Shakespeare, was stunning. She was so soft and gentle, with the sweetest little face and the hugest radar-dish ears in all existence. She would hunker down on your hand in the most confortable way. She was no pushover, though, and held her own in the colony. Another 'pancake' mouse, following in the footsteps of Sabbath and Bel. I do love my fat mice! We think Mab might hve died of a stroke, as she declined quite suddenly. She will be missed.

Name: Zen Cian
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan

Date of Birth: 17th March 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Cian was another in my beloved pet line, son of Ciaran. He was an only child (though he lived with his full brother from another litter, Lugh), and so was spoiled rotten by his mum until he was the chubbiest, pudgiest little guy you've ever seen! He stretched out a little as an adult, and actually ended up being a nice, svelte boy in the end, but was still gorgeous. He was not a show mouse, being mismarked, but had beautiful conformation (his dad's) and a fair amount of white ticking that was technically a fault, but I love. He lived to the ripe old age of about 2 years old.

Name: Brylewin Dor
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Agouti Marked (tummy spot)

Date of Birth: 9th May 2007
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Mammary tumour

Dor was an absolute nutbag. She was from Loki's brother and a petshop girl, bred by Lisa of Brylewin Rodentry, and obviously picked up her mother's crazy temperament! As she got older, she grew in confidence and became very in-you-face attention-seeking - just what we like in a mouse. And she was such a beautiful girl - how could you not have loved her?

Name: Zen Polyester (Ester)
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Chinchilla

Date of Birth: 1st October 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Ester looked just like her mother Gossamer and her grandmother Velvet. A line of female chinchillas. She had a gorgeous personality, very in-your-face and confident - even bossing around mice twice her size! She got that from Velvet. She was instantly loved by anyone with a hand near the tank (onto which she'd leap). She and her sister Ray were the end of this line, by my choice. The whole litter was average in strength and size, and although I loved them dearly, I felt that they shouldn't be bred from.

Name: Gr. Ch. Zen Selkie
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Ruby-Eyed Himalayan

Litters: Selkie & Brandy

Awards: Best Longcoat (Aug 06, Sep 06, Feb 07), Champion (Sep 06), Grand Champion (Feb 07)

Date of Birth: 7th April 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Respiratory infection

Selkie was from Angel and Ciaran's second litter. She had the sweetest personality, very confident and outgoing, always in the middle of things, or vying for my attention. She got all of her dad's genes in that regard, and I'm exceedingly happy that the friendliness of the line is continued through her. She also won her share of awards because of her stunning temperament and gorgeous conformation. A very special girl who can never be replaced, one of my favourites.

Name: Zen Rayon (Ray)
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Silver Agouti

Date of Birth: 1st October 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Ray was a stunning little mouse with fantastic, bold ticking. She would have done very well in the show ring had she not suffered from ill health most of her adult life (also the reason there's no picture - she never looked happy enough to go into the photo booth). She was a little less outgoing than her sister Ester, but still very curious and into everything. An absolute sweetie.

Name: Zen Ember Blackfoot
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Rex
Colour: Agouti

Date of Birth: 7th July 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Ember had one of the most unique little faces I've seen on a mouse, thanks to her daddy, Samson. She was fantastically outgoing and afraid of nothing. She would always come and say hi, even when the other girls were picking on her during introductions. Nothing can phase this little beauty. She is named after a dragon character in Graham Edwards' series.

Name: Zen Sabbath
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Rex
Colour: White Tiger

Awards: Best Pet (Aug 06, Sept 06, Mar 07)

Date of Birth: 24th Nov 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Sabbath was a sweet girl with fur more fluffy than curly. Her mum, Bel, was a... well-rounded mouse, so Sabbath really had no choice but to end up the same way - but that's fine with us, all the more mouse to love! We will miss the little pancake's antics, and all the girls snuggling up to wherever she chose to sleep.

Name: Mountain Blue Angelina Ballerina (Angel)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Colourpoint Beige Fox

Litters: Angel & Ciaran, Angel & Ciaran

Date of Birth: 3rd June 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Angel was a stunning-looking mouse - not necessarily show-wise, but a truly beautiful creature. She had the hugest eyes I'd ever seen on a mouse, and a beautiful gentle personality. She's passed these eyes onto several generations now - most notably her grandson, Loki. She enjoyed nothing more than playing inside my sleeve while I'm at the computer, which almost got her the name of Peeker. But, since she was always on the move and was just so graceful, she was our little Angelina Ballerina, from the children's books.

Name: Missikins River Tam (River)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Manx
Colour: Lilac

Awards: Best Pet (Mar 07)

Date of Birth: c. July 2006
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

River was an impulse buy from a new club member. She just had to come home with me - look at that face! She just had the cutest little ears and nose, and tiny little manx stub. We don't get many manxes at Zen, the last was fat orange Nova, so it was about time we got another. River was a little shy at first, but with some time and love, she became one of the most outgoing and confident mice in the cage. She particularly loved leaping up onto the mesh roof and clambering about upside down - with no tail to help her balance! What a clever girl.

Name: Dog Star Ayla
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Burmese

Date of Birth: 16th March 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Ayla was a lovely outgoing little girl, who followed after the late Asha in becoming our resident escapee (or so she wishes!). She just loved to come out for a cuddle and a run around, and being one of the daintier mice in her younger days, would quickly find any gaps in the wire that I may have missed. She was known affectiotely as Nutbar, as she would do anything and everything to climb onto me during playtime, and was impossible to get back into the cage when it's time to go to bed. Ayla was named after a character in Jean M. Auel's Children of the Earth series. Her and her sister Nedra were a most beautiful pair of mice. They were much loved, and are much missed.

Name: Zen Aria
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Rex
Colour: Agouti Fox

Litters: Aria & Samson

Awards: Best Longcoat Rex (Mar 06)

Date of Birth: 7th July 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Old age

Aria was an absolute sweetie who was often one of the first to come out and say hello, and clamber onto my hand at playtime. She and her sister Ember were inseperable, and would often play 'Parent Trap' style who's who tricks on me! She had a beautiful outgoing temperament, with just enough spice to make things interesting. She was named after a dragon character in Graham Edwards' series.

Name: Zen Geiss
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Argente Cream

Date of Birth: 13th December 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Old age

Last of the three brothers is little Geiss. As a young mouse, we was smaller and not as strong as the other two, but he made up for it with personality. He was always first out of the cage at playtime, and will run and bounce over anything he can reach. He was into everything, and would just as happily run over me as the cage, the floor, or into the food bin. He was a funny boy - and as he grew, he became just as big and strong as his brother. He, too, was named after a basilisk character in Graham Edwards' series.

Name: Res. Ch. Mountain Blue Maybe
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Blue Self

Litters: Maybe & Boy

Awards: Reserve Champion (Aug 06)

Date of Birth: c. 13th November 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

I had had my eye on beautiful Maybe for a long time before I owned her - while she was living at Mountain Blue. When her mousery closed down I jumped at the chance of making her mine. She was raising a beautiful litter at the time, so it was a 11 for 1 deal! She's got a stunning face and a very outgoing personality. She was named for "maybe sable girl" which I kept referring to her as, when asking about her at MB, as she came from sable lines.

Name: Zen Professor Lodz (Lodz)
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat Double Rex
Colour: Blue Agouti (?)

Awards: Best Longcoat Rex (Aug 06, Sep 06)

Date of Birth: 11th April 2006
Date of Death: 3rd February 2007
Cause of Death: Heat

Lodz was my favourite of the three curly brothers (shh!). We think he was a blue agouti, and he had a beautiful face and an even more beautiful personality. He was always the first to say hello and the only one of the four who would consistently climb onto my hand. His coat isn't quite as curly as his brothers unfortunately, but he makes up for it with style. He is named after a character in the gorgeous series Carnivale. Lodz and his brothers all died one hot summer day, due to a stupid mistake on my behalf. I miss them every day, and wish oh wish they could have made it.

Name: Res. Ch. Zen Ben Hawkins (Ben)
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat Double Rex
Colour: Lilac Agouti (?)

Awards: Best Longcoat Rex, Reserve Champion (Feb 07)

Date of Birth: 11th April 2006
Date of Death: 3rd February 2007
Cause of Death: Heat

Little Ben was the smallest of the three brothers, and had a beautiful mystery coat colour that may be a blue-based ticked colour, but we're not sure. He was an absolute sweetie and would always come and say hello and see what's going on. I liked to think of him as the sweet, innocent little brother that acts as the glue keeping the group together. He was named after a character in the gorgeous series Carnivale. Ben and his brothers all died one hot summer day, due to a stupid mistake on my behalf. I miss them every day, and wish oh wish they could have made it.

Name: Zen Brother Justin (Crowe)
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat Rex
Colour: Chocolate Fox

Date of Birth: 11th April 2006
Date of Death: 3rd February 2007
Cause of Death: Heat

Crowe was the biggest of the four brothers, and also the only rex (the others were double rexes). He had a beautiful thick wavy coat and a gorgeous chubby face. As a baby, he was the nutty explorer - into everything and climbing all over the cage. As an adult he calmed somewhat, but still retained his fervor for life. He always felt like the healthiest and most solid of spirit. He was named after a character in the gorgeous series Carnivale. Crowe and his brothers all died one hot summer day, due to a stupid mistake on my behalf. I miss them every day, and wish oh wish they could have made it.

Name: Ch. Zen Ocher
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Agouti

Awards: Best Standard, Champion (Mar 06)

Date of Birth: 13th December 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

We thought Ocher was a "plain" agouti, but as we learned more about genetics, realised he was in fact a silver agouti - and he was stunning. He had a gorgeous head, beautiful big eyes, and a lovely even coat. Ocher was another of those Zen nuts - he absolutely had to be on your hand, out of the cage, exploring and into everything. He leaves behind a lonely Geiss, once used to 3 brothers, now an only child.

Name: Dog Star Ce'Nedra (Nedra)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Mock-Chocolate Fox

Date of Birth: 16th March 2005
Date of Death: 24th December 2006
Cause of Death: Mammary tumour

I think I miss my Nedra more than any other mouse right now. She was a gorgeous, beautiful mouse in both personality and form. She had beautiful ear- and tail-feathers when she was younger, and kept her lovely soft coat til the end. She had the quirkiest, most in-your-face personality; known for climbing as high as she could get on your body, even your head. She was always the first to say hello to me, and always the last to leave. The cage is utterly empty without her, and I miss her so, so much.

Name: Zen Fortune
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Argente Cream

Litters: Opal & Fortune

Date of Birth: 13th December 2005
Date of Death: c. December 2006
Cause of Death: Unknown

Fortune was our little miracle man. He was a rare (and impossible to get without a spontaneous break and re-link of genes) pink-eyed chinchilla, or argente cream. A beautiful boy, always out there to say hi, but without being a nut. His two brothers, Ocher and Geiss, will miss him dearly.

Name: Gr. Ch. Zen Gossamer
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Chinchilla

Litters: Gossamer & Cotton Ball

Awards: Best Standard, Grand Champion (Sep 06)

Date of Birth: 13th December 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Gossamer was a member of Zen's famous pet line. However, she didn't have the gentle, quiet nature of most of the line - no, she was a little minx! Independant and feisty, and almost always refused to be caught - but would practically leap onto your hand if you offered it first, funny girl! She was a happy light in the cage, and is missed.

Name: Mountain Blue Mystery
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Silver Sable

Date of Birth: 27th October 2004
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Mystery was thus named because we were not sure whether she'd turn into a silver sable, or a white tiger. She was a quirky little mouse who, when she was younger, liked to play 'catch me if you can'. She usually was too busy running around like a nut to bother with cuddles, but would always rush up to me to say hello, nibble on my fingers, and let me know she loved me. As she matured, she calmed considerably, and would even climb out onto my leg when having playtime. She added a lot of personality to the cage, and will be missed.

Name: Res. Ch. Mountain Blue Tiger Lily (Lily)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Siamese

Awards: Reserve Champion (July 05)

Date of Birth: 12th March 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Respiratory illness

Lily was a stunning looking little mouse, with an equally as gorgeous personality. As soon as she got to knew me, she was climbing all over me whenever I went near the cage, which I absolutely love in a mouse :) She was constantly vying for my attention with her best friends Velvet and Nedra, and in her prime was a member of the Top 3 Alphas. She's the only mouse I'd ever added to the colony without so much as a rustle. All the girls accepted her instantly, and she immediately knew she was home. Lily was a very special mouse, with a beautiful face, coat and personality. She is greatly missed.

Name: Ch. Ally's Rats & Mice Tutankhamun (Tut)
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Cinnamon

Awards: Best Longcoat, Champion (Feb 06)

Date of Birth: 20th November 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Tut was Africa's grandson. Unfortunately, we learned after she was bred that Africa came from a line of relatively short-lived mice, and after Tut was born his ARM father also died young. He had the odds stacked against him, and it meant a short life for this beautiful boy. Tut was a very special little mouse. He came home with us at only 3 weeks old, and was almost unhandleable - he was an adorable little nut. I started a program of handling him multiple times a day, and every time I fed the gang, he would ride around on my shoulder. Within a few weeks, he was standing on his hind legs waiting to be picked up. Nothing could cure him of his nuttiness, though - not that I would ever want to! He spent his time plotting to escape and attempting to chew through the metal bars of his cage. He was also the only mouse that my non-rodenty-boyfriend really liked. Tut was a very special little nut, and I will miss him terribly, all the more because of his sudden and unexpected death.

Name: Share the Whiskers Mirabella (Mira)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Chocolate Fox

Date of Birth: c. 28th August 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Mira was a curious, friendly and outgoing little mouse who really grew into her coat and colours as she got older. She was the cutest little thing as a babe, but she was a beautiful adult. We'll miss your little face, Mira.

Name: Zen Ciaran
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan

Litters: Angel & Ciaran, Angel & Ciaran

Date of Birth: 2nd March 2005
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

I was not originally planning on keeping Ciaran, but after he did not find a home immediately, I couldn't face parting with him. He was just so well-tempered, and such a gorgeous boy. It didn't matter that he was mismarked, he was the best pet you could want. Ciaran developed a growth under his neck, in the same place as his mum Wicket, and in the end also got a head tilt. But I loved him til the end. Always attentive, always wanting to climb onto me for cuddles. He was a very, very special boy.

Name: Gr. Ch. Zen Velvet and Smoke (Velvet)
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Chinchilla

Litters: Velvet & Zircon

Awards: Best Standard, Champion (May 05), Best Standard, Grand Champion (July 05), Best Pet (Nov 05, Feb 06)

Date of Birth: 2nd March 2005
Date of Death: 28th April 2006
Cause of Death: Unknown

From the day she was born, hairless and squirmy, Velvet stood out from the pack. She would follow me around the cage, demanding to be picked up. I could do anything to her, and she would simply look at me with adoration. She was truly a special mouse. In her prime, she was in the Top 3 girls of the colony, with Lily and Nedra, who worked together to lead. Velvet also thrived on the show scene, taking many placings and even a Grand Champion award! She was quite the little star, and the mousery will not be the same without her.

Name: Rocket Samson
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat Double Rex
Colour: Lilac? Fox

Litters: Wicket & Samson, Bel & Samson, Aria & Samson

Date of Birth: 28th December 2004
Date of Death: 19th April 2006
Cause of Death: Unknown

I can't believe my Samson is gone. Samson was a stunning little mouse, with a unique personality who won the heart of anyone who met him. He consistently won and placed at almost every show he attended. His coat was so, so curly, and his colour still a mystery. Maybe he was lilac, maybe burmese, we'll never know. His favourite thing was to snuggle into my hand with a look of adoration, and tilt his head to the side, close his eyes and lean into scritches around his cheek and ear. I've never had another mouse who would do this. He was also my bruxiest mouse - very few brux at all, and he was a master. The mousery will never be the same without you, Samson.

Name: Mountain Blue Lenore
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Blue Blazed Banded

Date of Birth: 25th May 2005
Date of Death: 23rd March 2006
Cause of Death: Chronic respiratory illness

Lenore came home with Bel, and though she was mismarked as far as shows go, who could go past that face?? She was an absolute sweetie. She had a lovely sweet temperament, and would sit in my hand and clean herself til infinity without a worry in the world. Little Lenore was often known simply as Little - because she didn't grow! Possibly because she had a bout of sneezes when she first came here and took antibiotics that may have stunted her growth. She was a real little sweetie, and will be missed.

Name: The Rodent Ranch Beltane (Bel)
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Rex
Colour: Black-Eyed White

Litters: Bel & Samson

Date of Birth: c. 12th June 2005
Date of Death: 23rd March 2006
Cause of Death: Unknown

Bel was a beautiful (not so) little longcoat rex girl, who frequently placed in shows, but never won any major prixes - if only because of her tremendous girth! She was probably a fawn or brindle mouse genetically, with dilutions to make her white. It was her beautiful, stubby little face and radar dish ears that found her a home in our little family.

Name: Osiris
Sex: Female
Type: Rex
Colour: Black Self (bellyspot)

Date of Birth: c. September 2004
Date of Death: 23rd March 2006
Cause of Death: Chronic respiratory illness

Osiris was a lovely little black rex who was always happy to cuddle. She wasn't the slimmest of girls, probably not helped by the fact that she was always first into the food bowl at dinner time. Unfortunately she lost her curls, and had chronic myco most if her life (she was kept on pine at the pet shop where I got her, grr), and it was this that took her in the end. She was a fighter!

Name: Ch. Rocket African Queen (Africa)
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Agouti

Litters: Africa & Manxy's Boy

Major Awards: Champion (Nov 05)

Date of Birth: 22nd October 2004
Date of Death: 3rd February 2006
Cause of Death: Old age

Name: Zen Duncan
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan Broken Marked

Litters: Wicket & Duncan

Date of Birth: 16th May 2003
Date of Death: 5th January 2006
Cause of Death: Old age

Name: Zen Fionn
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan

Date of Birth: 2nd March 2005
Date of Death: c. November 2005
Cause of Death: Suspected heart condition

Name: Wicket
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Agouti Tan Marked (backspot)

Litters: Wicket & Duncan, Wicket & Samson

Date of Birth: c. Jul 2004
Date of Death: 16th September 2005
Cause of Death: Unknown

Name: Nova
Sex: Female
Type: Longcoat Manx
Colour: Ginger Self

Date of Birth: 19th September 2004
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Respiratory illness

Name: Mountain Blue Asha
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Ticked?

Date of Birth: 21st September 2004
Date of Death: 1st June 2005
Cause of Death: Injuries sustained while escaped

Name: Zen Piper
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan Broken Marked

Litters: Piper & Brin

Date of Birth: c. January 2003
Date of Death: 1st October 2004
Cause of Death: Mites

Name: Sienna
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Chocolate Broken Marked

Date of Birth: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Name: Tyr
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Black Tan Broken Marked

Date of Birth: 16th May 2003
Date of Death: c. March 2005
Cause of Death: Unknown

Name: Kin
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Unknown

Date of Birth: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Name: Zen Gwen
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Brindle Marked

Date of Birth: 16th May 2003
Date of Death: c. August 2003
Cause of Death: Unknown

Name: Brin
Sex: Male
Type: Standard
Colour: Brindle Headspotted

Date of Birth: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown

Name: D'Arcy
Sex: Female
Type: Standard
Colour: Brindle Broken Marked

Litters: D'Arcy & Circe

Date of Birth: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Mammary tumours

Name: Circe
Sex: Male
Type: Longcoat
Colour: Black Tan

Litters: D'Arcy & Circe

Date of Birth: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Cause of Death: Skin condition