Rat Genetics and Breeding Questions

I've been breeding ASFs, but I think I want to try regular rats. Since the regular rats are a bit more complicated (rotations and such), I have some questions:

1) I understand basic genetics, but is there a site that I can go to that will break down rat genetics a little better for me...like what traits are recessive, dominant, etc. Additionally, is there a site or program or something where I can put in the phenotype of the parents and offspring and it will give me the possible genotype of the parents?
Well this is messy, I backed up my Rat bookmarks in HTML and upped it. These are just random pages I bookmarks regarding genetics and little growths. Some of the bookmarks start in the middle of webpages but eh...navigate it. Your smart right?
CLICK

2) I'm planning to use Connie's 8 female/2 male rotation. During certain weeks, there are two or three female rats in the same male's enclosure. How do you tell the rats apart to know which week they are on? Do you just try to keep a variety of rats, like albino, hooded black, beige, etc?
Sharpie works on their tails and isn't toxic. Other than that I know them all by what their structure looks like.

3) Similarly, can you recommend two different phenotypes (for my males) that would produce different enough offspring that I should be able to make a reasonable guess about who sired them?
STAY AWAY FROM HIGH WHITE RATS. Blazed rats and rats with white arms and legs. Megacolon is linked to these types. Siamese rats are so much fun to play around with. A Siamese rat can produce Champagne. Himalayan and Albino. All of which are gorgeous. You can also try a Blue rat. Blues and Siamese can make endless combination. :)

4) In a rat rack with medium sized concrete mixing tubs, do the just weaned rats not have a hard time reaching the water and food?
Make it so they can touch the food and water BEFORE weaned. You need to adjust the hoppers and water so they can get to it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tomfromtheshade

There's only one way to solve the clean gene pool dilemma and that is to fix it yourself. I have often thought about making that a pet project of mine.

You would have to pair up as many pairs of like animals as possible.

Example: blue x blue, black berkshire x black berkshire etc

Then you would have to keep all the babies back that look like the parents and breed them together.

I have no idea how many generations you would have to do that for in order to call it a clean gene?

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that does not "clean" a gene pool...

That is isolating and focusing on certain traits.

Bokuza, thanks for all the information! I didn't think about Sharpie...nice tip.
If I'm using this plan, http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack/ratrack.shtml, then what adjustments need to be made to make sure that weaning rats can reach the food and water?

I think you can drill a hole in the tub lower down so they can reach it. Or you can buy a really elongated water bottle top for rabbits. You can build a hopper for the food that is close to the ground or a bowl.

I don't use these kinds of tub for birthing Moms and litters, I use cat litter boxes with hoppers and side mounted bottles.