Fancy Rats

Contact: Connie
Email: exoticpets@shaw.ca
Website: working on it
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

I place my rats privately as pets 
I sell to pet stores that sell my rats as pets only 

Describe the types of rats that you breed or intend to breed.

Dumbos. Rex, standard....mostly berkshire, white, siamese, some hooded

Do you keep records?  That is, do you have knowledge of the health, temperament, and colour of past rats in your breeding lines?  How far back do you have knowledge of the parentage?

Yes.  Most to the grandparents.

What type of bedding do you use?

yesterdays news, or aspen shavings

What type of diet do you feed your rats?

lab blocks / suebees diet

Do you also rescue rats?

No

Describe the steps you take to quarantine new rats.

I keep them quaranteened for 2 weeks, in a different level of the house.

How many rats do you currently own?

6 adults, plus babies

Describe your cages.

large wire cages, plastic floors on some, and wire floors on others..

How many litters do you have or expect to have per year?

5

Do you wait until you have waiting lists to breed your rats?

Yes

Do you insist that people adopting rats from you must sign an adoption contract?

Verbal contract

Describe your goals with respect to breeding rats.

to breed for excellent temperment and health

Is it your intention to make a net profit from breeding rats?

No

How long have you cared for rats?

one year

How long have you been breeding rats?

5 months. I have been breeding other species for several years, including sugargliders, chinchillas , gerbils, so I have a good understanding of the care and responsibility of  raising animals.

Do you ship your rats? If so, how?

yes, within Canada.  I ship them by air. Either aircanada or westjet straight through flights so that it's not too hard on them

At what age to you adopt out babies to people?

6 weeks

Describe your breeding techniques (inbreeding, linebreeding, outcrossing, etc.).

Outcrossing

Are you a member of a rat club such as the RMCA RMFE or rat fan club?

No

Do you keep in touch with people who have adopted your rats in order to keep track of trends in health and temperament?

yes, by phone or e-mail

At what age do you breed female rats for the first time?

4-5 mths

How many times will you breed a female over her lifetime?

2ce

Describe how you socialize babies.

They are handled daily from birth

Describe where you got the rats that you are breeding. 

My first rats were given to me by a friend, the rest I purchased through a rat breeder.

Date form was completed: June 2002