Problem is with not knowing health history is that rats can be carriers of illness but not show it. Pet shop rats have many underlying health problems. I'd advise looking around for a good healthy rat, with family history already in place before breeding again. Ones that you know are healthy. I know you have to stop somewhere but petshop rats is not the way to start...

Peace
Akai-Chan

I completely understand Red, it's the devil and the deep blue sea really
If I could have bought from breeders I really would have, I have looked into it for quite sometime
Just to give you an idea of the situation, the people we have sold our babies to, most have travelled over an hour, one couple an hour and a half because the only other rats they could buy were from pet shops, mainly unhandled and a good possibility from rat farms.
I know that Nippy didn't come from a pet shop, the woman said she went down the valleys to get him (which obviously she wouldn't have gone so far knowing she could have gone to the next town for one from the pet shop)
Shelby was from Jollyes, who said they don't buy them in from rat farms (I only have their word for that)
When someone came to buy the babies, I was completely honest about the background of Shelby and Nippy, well they got the background on all the rats TBH
I know at least that the 11 babies I have sold is 11 babies less from the pet shops and because of the ratties friendliness and eager to play, they are less likely to be ignored, so less unwanted ratties (not saying thats the only reason people rehome rats BTW)
I know it isn't ideal, but I do think I can make a difference.

hi rosie i was just wondering if you had considered keeping two babies out of your adult female.

if the mother is a lot older then when she passes it will leave the younger female all on her own.

sounds like you've done a great job with all your ratties x.

amy

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I'm Amy I have a
German shepherd-blade.
11 male rats.
1 male mouse.

Yes she does look like a Himalayan but if she has white feet she is more likely a marked Himalayan, i.e. Berkshire or Irish, maybe even a Hooded, but being so pale you can't see the white markings.

There are quite a few good breeders in South Wales and a show in Cardiff every year - have you had a look at the NFRS website? National Fancy Rat Society
You can also request a list of breeders from them.

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unlike everyone else, rosie, i would breed from your petshop rat, keep the first litter and see what problems arise, if none of the babies get problems at 1 y/o then they're likely to be safe to breed from. course it does mean not breeding or not selling any other kits that arise from the parents but only selling from the first litter or first litters kits.

you will also be able to see lifespan of the parents by doing this allowing you to know how long the litters will live. all pedigrees start somewhere

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This is not a game of 'who the fek are you'.

Not a single gram of fek shall be given today.

Thanks for all your advice, I have taken them all on board.
I am only keeping one girl from this litter, though if the 2 other girls don't get new homes I will keep them too, I will be breeding Shelby's daughter next year and will keep males from that litter, and a female or 2.
Shelby is 6 months old, so not that much of an age gap between them, but will be keeping at least one from each litter, so there should be no fear of a lone rat
I am in contact with the new owners via the internet (the ones local I see alot too)
Something very strange has struck me though, everyone I have met with rats, or new rat owners are such lovely natured people.
Is it something to do with lovely natured people naturally drawn to lovely natured animals? I don't know, but there is something very different about rat owners/potential owners.

Why do this when you can get rats from decent breeders who have already bred out alot of problems??

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