Agouti: Chestnut, Castor

[ZachsRabbits]

I have a couple quick questions. Maybe you rex people can answer them.
So when selecting castors you want good ring color and high rufus correct?
Is there is any varieties that can help the ring color?

 

[akane]

The bands to make up the ring will be affected by rufus and amount of black on those equivalent bands. Breeding a castor out to rich reds or opals will alter the rings to opposite degrees but this isn't really suggested for inexperienced people. It is better to breed your castor to a castor that is better quality or maybe has some of the opposite problem in color in order to correct the color.
This page is getting a bit outdated but it has some basics of breeding mini rex.
http://mr-colors.tripod.com/
Castor is probably one of the most difficult colors in mini rex to work with followed by the rest of the agouti colors. Starting with any other color is easier and the self colors in particular. You can cross any of the basic self colors and use them with torts. It's even beneficial to cross them because your black based colors will darken your chocolate based colors.

 

[skysthelimit]

Breeding Castor to Castor is best, but any of the agoutis that have good ring color and width (except chin) can also work well. If the Castor to Castor doesn't have good rufus or width, better to go to something that does. Next would be Otters with high rufus that are out of good agoutis so you keep the modifiers for surface color and band width. Selfs out of agoutis with good ring color will also carry good rufus modifiers.