Rats for sale at shows?

Do most shows/expo have live rats for sale? One of my females passed away. I'm out of state for the holidays so neither my boyfriend or I are sure how. I'm in need of another female or two and don't have much access to females in my area. I'm going to the LA reptile super show on the 4th/5th. Do you think people will be selling feeder breeder rats?

Yes. At least one or two vendors usually sell live 'fancy' rats.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Always helpful Satomi. Thank you.

Satomi breeds rats. If you're anywhere near SFB area she may be able to hook you up. Shoot her a pm

Ok, this might be a dumb question, but why not just hit up a pet store? I had rats in high school, and rats is rats, right?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

If you're looking for a rat for a specific purpose other than feeding (like a female breeder), I would recommend checking out the vendor list and contacting whoever will be there to let them know what you need. It's unlikely that they would bring too many breedable females to a show when they could be home breeding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patientz3ro

Ok, this might be a dumb question, but why not just hit up a pet store? I had rats in high school, and rats is rats, right?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

---

Nope. The Petco here only sells males and they often have RI. The Petsmart rarely has rats for sale. I bought two female dumbos from them a month ago and I had to get the inside on when they were going to be up for sale in order to get them. I had to wait three weeks for them to go on the floor and it was $14 for each dumbo. Sadly it was my favorite dumbo female that passed away. I can get very skittish young females from the western ranch store. They are all very fearful of people and all black and white hooded. I'd like some variety, some age to them, and non skittish rats.

Edit:
Annarose- I'll have to google the vendors. I don't know who is who and who sells rats. I didn't see anything with rats in the name. I know Layne Labs is going but they are F/T sellers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marrissa

Nope. The Petco here only sells males and they often have RI. The Petsmart rarely has rats for sale. I bought two female dumbos from them a month ago and I had to get the inside on when they were going to be up for sale in order to get them. I had to wait three weeks for them to go on the floor and it was $14 for each dumbo. Sadly it was my favorite dumbo female that passed away. I can get very skittish young females from the western ranch store. They are all very fearful of people and all black and white hooded. I'd like some variety, some age to them, and genetic variety.

---

I see. Interesting. Every rat I actually bought at a store were female. I never really considered whether it would be an issue to get another gender. I'm probably not thinking of anything you haven't already come up with, but could you check the little mom and pop shops in the area?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

Sadly there are none. To get my male I had to go to the East Bay Vivarium (about an hour away). If I can't find some at the show we'll have to stop there on the way back.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marrissa

Annarose- I'll have to google the vendors. I don't know who is who and who sells rats. I didn't see anything with rats in the name. I know Layne Labs is going but they are F/T sellers.

---

F/T rats were alive once. ;) That's why I suggested emailing/calling them in advance to "special order" what you need.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marrissa

Sadly there are none. To get my male I had to go to the East Bay Vivarium (about an hour away). If I can't find some at the show we'll have to stop there on the way back.

---

LA is a pretty big show, I know they usually have rats at the San Diego show, so LA shouldn't be a problem.

I'm sure LLL will be there. Maybe pm Jen and see if she can help arrange something?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Annarose15

F/T rats were alive once. ;) That's why I suggested emailing/calling them in advance to "special order" what you need.

---

Sent them an email. Thank you for the idea. I need to get more rat tubs built as soon as I get back.

I went to one of the LA super shows last year and did see rats for sale. If you are going to be in the area and still need rats, send me a message now and we might be able to set something up. I'll have to wait until I get home to see how old my babies actually are versus what you need right now.

I've seen Layne Labs sell live rats at the Anaheim show. It was some of their 'prettier' stuff.

You could also contact Wes(Wilomn). He has a little shop in LA called Ratamatic. He may have some nice breeding rodents.

You're an hour from EBV?


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Yes I am. I live in Vacaville. :) 'm hoping to add some different stuff to my group. Like blues, dumbos, pearl, etc. Right now I have a cream male, a black hooded female, and a black dumbo female with some kind of white.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marrissa

Yes I am. I live in Vacaville. :) 'm hoping to add some different stuff to my group. Like blues, dumbos, pearl, etc. Right now I have a cream male, a black hooded female, and a black dumbo female with some kind of white.

---

I'm in Davis. I just PMed you.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patientz3ro

Ok, this might be a dumb question, but why not just hit up a pet store? I had rats in high school, and rats is rats, right?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

---

Because often times pet stores don't care about their rats. I've seen many that keep their rats on pine, and rarely ever clean the cages. You don't want to start bringing in a sick rat into your breeding population. So no, rats are not rats. You should do some more researching before posting on this. If you don't know what you're talking about then the best thing to do is in fact not post on a certain thread.

People who breed rats for pets will most likely have the cleanest rats, because the government is very strict on selling rats as pets. They can come in at any time and inspect. Rats have to have certain amount of water, food and space at all times.

People who breed rats as breeders will most likely be the second cleanest, especially versus a pet store. The one exception maybe like PetSmart or Petco because of the corporate setting they may have their employees stay on top of stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neal

Because often times pet stores don't care about their rats. I've seen many that keep their rats on pine, and rarely ever clean the cages. You don't want to start bringing in a sick rat into your breeding population. So no, rats are not rats. You should do some more researching before posting on this. If you don't know what you're talking about then the best thing to do is in fact not post on a certain thread.

People who breed rats for pets will most likely have the cleanest rats, because the government is very strict on selling rats as pets. They can come in at any time and inspect. Rats have to have certain amount of water, food and space at all times.

People who breed rats as breeders will most likely be the second cleanest, especially versus a pet store. The one exception maybe like PetSmart or Petco because of the corporate setting they may have their employees stay on top of stuff.

---

Seriously? I'm sorry you're upset because I called you out in another thread, but you really need to learn a little self control. I asked a question to gain a little knowledge of my own. I'm really sorry that you can't grasp the concept of asking questions instead of blindly accepting. In the future, feel free to keep your opinions on my posts to yourself.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patientz3ro

Ok, this might be a dumb question, but why not just hit up a pet store? I had rats in high school, and rats is rats, right?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

---

Petstores over charge for rats of equal or lesser quality than ones from other private feeder breeders. Most pet store rats are from feeder lines anyway, so why not get one from some one who has a lower asking price and more variety to choose from. Not to mention, many private breeders have records and know what genetics their rats carry and have special coat colors/patterns/dumbo ears/rex coats/etc etc.

In my experience, most pet stores (especially Petco/Petsmart) mostly have black and white hooded or albino stuff. Maybe the occasional beige or siamese. But overall, not much variety.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neal

Because often times pet stores don't care about their rats. I've seen many that keep their rats on pine, and rarely ever clean the cages.

People who breed rats for pets will most likely have the cleanest rats, because the government is very strict on selling rats as pets. They can come in at any time and inspect. Rats have to have certain amount of water, food and space at all times.

People who breed rats as breeders will most likely be the second cleanest, especially versus a pet store. The one exception maybe like PetSmart or Petco because of the corporate setting they may have their employees stay on top of stuff.

---

Rats on kiln dried pine is fine. Raw pine is toxic, but most animal bedding is kiln dried.
The majority of people here put their rats on pine with no ill effect, myself included.

In general, show breeders will probably have the 'cleanest' rats. Small scale and private feeder breeders will have nice clean colonies in general as well. Large scale and commercial feeder breeders who need to mass produce are probably one of the worst operations in regards to rat breeding.Their rats do not live as long or healthy as a other small scale/private breeders. And most big boxstore petstore rats come from these commercial/large scale feeder breeders.

So what you see in Petco/Petsmart come from feeder stock and bloodlines.
Private petstores usually get their rats from local back yard breeders or small scale feeder breeders who breed for the more 'fancy' colors/coats.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satomi325

Petstores over charge for rats of equal or lesser quality than ones from other private feeder breeders. Most pet store rats are from feeder lines anyway, so why not get one from some one who has a lower asking price and more variety to choose from. Not to mention, many private breeders have records and know what genetics their rats carry and have special coat colors/patterns/dumbo ears/rex coats/etc etc.

In my experience, most pet stores (especially Petco/Petsmart) mostly have black and white hooded or albino stuff. Maybe the occasional beige or siamese. But overall, not much variety.





Rats on kiln dried pine is fine. Raw pine is toxic, but most animal bedding is kiln dried.
The majority of people here put their rats on pine with no ill effect, myself included.

In general, show breeders will probably have the 'cleanest' rats. Small scale and private feeder breeders will have nice clean colonies in general as well. Large scale and commercial feeder breeders who need to mass produce are probably one of the worst operations in regards to rat breeding.Their rats do not live as long or healthy as a other small scale/private breeders. And most big boxstore petstore rats come from these commercial/large scale feeder breeders.

So what you see in Petco/Petsmart come from feeder stock and bloodlines.
Private petstores usually get their rats from local back yard breeders or small scale feeder breeders who breed for the more 'fancy' colors/coats.

---

I had no idea there were such things as "show rats." That's pretty interesting. I suppose I was lucky with mine. I had a small shop nearby, and they had a pretty extensive range in terms of color, sex, etc.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patientz3ro

Seriously? I'm sorry you're upset because I called you out in another thread, but you really need to learn a little self control. I asked a question to gain a little knowledge of my own. I'm really sorry that you can't grasp the concept of asking questions instead of blindly accepting. In the future, feel free to keep your opinions on my posts to yourself.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

---

I'm perfectly fine with self control on the contrary. I'm.also not upset because some kid thinks he has a PhD. I saw you were clueless with your half question, half answer so I was just educating you for a second time tonight. I haven't been active on the forums much the last month or two so I was simply catching up on what I missed. So please try to hate more. and be sure to follow my posts for more education. Ok? Okay, thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neal

I'm perfectly fine with self control on the contrary. I'm.also not upset because some kid thinks he has a PhD. I saw you were clueless with your half question, half answer so I was just educating you for a second time tonight. I haven't been active on the forums much the last month or two so I was simply catching up on what I missed. So please try to hate more. and be sure to follow my posts for more education. Ok? Okay, thanks.

---

The day some self righteous, illiterate, mouth breather manages to "educate" me will be something I'll put on my calendar. Grow up buddy. Since you have nothing useful to contribute tho this thread either, feel free to spare the rest of us from having to see more of your drivel.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patientz3ro

The day some self righteous, illiterate, mouth breather manages to "educate" me will be something I'll put on my calendar. Grow up buddy. Since you have nothing useful to contribute tho this thread either, feel free to spare the rest of us from having to see more of your drivel.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk

---

Stop bringing up other threads in this one. It was about a lady looking to purchase rats, you asked a question. I educated you. School is no longer in session, you can pay your dues the next time I have to school you. No worries. Now stop crying.

Marrissa, have you been able to find rodents? If not I may be able to help you locate some.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patientz3ro

The day some self righteous, illiterate, mouth breather manages to "educate" me will be something I'll put on my calendar.

---

Put today on your calendar ;)
Im gonna educate both of you to stop NOW.
I am "self righteous" and you better not call me illiterate again. Maybe you need to go read the TOU over again.:gj:


Satomi gave you BOTH some good information to go and think about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Put today on your calendar ;)
Im gonna educate both of you to stop NOW.
I am "self righteous" and you better not call me illiterate again. Maybe you need to go read the TOU over again.:gj:


Satomi gave you BOTH some good information to go and think about.

---

Hey buddy :P.

Yea, I didn't know about the kiln dried pine stuff, then again I don't use pine so I had no reason to really look into that. Thanks for that little piece of information though Satomi :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Put today on your calendar ;)
Im gonna educate both of you to stop NOW.
I am "self righteous" and you better not call me illiterate again. Maybe you need to go read the TOU over again.:gj:


Satomi gave you BOTH some good information to go and think about.

---

If I gave you the impression that it wad YOU I was referring to, please accept my apology. Not once have I thought of you as either illiterate or self righteous. I've certainly never considered calling you either of those.

My statement above was in response to an answer to a legitimate question which was unnecessarily condescending. However, I suppose I should have been the bigger man and just let it slide. Again, my apology, to the OP as well. It was not my intention to derail the thread.

EDIT: Yes, Satomi did give some good info. I appreciate it.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk