inbreeding ????

Ok so im going to start off with 1 male 2 females, lest say i keep one of the male offspring along with a female and start breeding them as well, any changes of anything crazy looking being born, or unheathly ?????

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Originally Posted by Drew87

Ok so im going to start off with 1 male 2 females, lest say i keep one of the male offspring along with a female and start breeding them as well, any changes of anything crazy looking being born, or unheathly ?????

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It is generally referred to as "line breeding". Reptiles can handle several generations of inbreeding before as such deformities could/would show up.

Many of the morphs we know and love were started from a few single specimens, and to prove them out line breeding was used. After all the work is done to figure out the genetics, it isn't a bad idea to out-cross the animals to non relative individuals to help restrengthen the lines, and create more genetically diverse animals.

So really, no you do not have to worry about it.

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Originally Posted by jknudson

It is generally referred to as "line breeding". Reptiles can handle several generations of inbreeding before as such deformities could/would show up.

Many of the morphs we know and love were started from a few single specimens, and to prove them out line breeding was used. After all the work is done to figure out the genetics, it isn't a bad idea to out-cross the animals to non relative individuals to help restrengthen the lines, and create more genetically diverse animals.

So really, no you do not have to worry about it.

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Even for rats?

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

Even for rats?

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Whoops...I didn't look at what forum this was posted under!:oops:

I would feed off the male and bring in a fresh stud when possible.

Good idea haha feed off the male and bring in new blood great thinkin !!!!:gj::gj::salute:

I do it for up to 3 generations maximum before I bring new blood in.

Has worked very well so far and never had any issues.

cool i will keep that in mind thankx.... :gj::bow:

i sometimes keep 1 male of a litter.then save 2-3 females. i just mix them up. i know a lot of inbreeding happens there but so far, out of alot of rats, only 2 have shown deformity. their heads started to tild sideways. and when the girl had a litter, only 1 survived and the pup's eyes was closed even after 4 weeks. so i just fed them off. the large rats to a burmese and the pup to a ball.:P

well i just picked up the tub, so ill post some pics tonight of the colony

I've assembled my colony from I think 5 different sources to limit the amount of inbreeding. As I go on in generations, I will do like others and buy new males to freshen the blood lines.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I've assembled my colony from I think 5 different sources to limit the amount of inbreeding. As I go on in generations, I will do like others and buy new males to freshen the blood lines.

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this is a better idea from connie.:):):)

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Originally Posted by munding

this is a better idea from connie.:):):)

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Well it was difficult I will say that. Trying to keep strict quarantine, getting rid of crappy lines and working up to a strong colony is work.

The small mom and pop pet stores had the worst rats in my experience. I don't even go into those stores anymore.

I have a lot of time and work invested into my colony as it is, I shudder at the thought of bringing in new blood... but it will have to be done someday.

One infected rat could destroy my whole colony, and that would be very devastating. I take the health of my colony very seriously and really work hard to reduce the amount of inbreeding by the use of records and who to pair up when I need new females or males.

Working from as many blood lines as possible does make it easier for me.

I tend to keep females and bring in new blood with new males. I have only two generations right now. My original group and their offspring. I shouldn't have to bring in another male for a while so no inbreeding for me. I would not want to risk health issues in my rats.