My Adventures in Rat Breeding

[nightwolfsnow]

I'm deep into rat breeding now, currently have five litters. I'm also breeding mice with around 20 litters right now. I really enjoy rodent breeding, the rats especially. I've learned a lot about rat genetics. I just wanted to share some of my rats.


My first rat Tony. She is a mink irish who carries RED and russian blue. She has produced three litters for me and is now in retirement at a year old. aa B- CC Dd G- mm pepe P- Rr DuDu


Skittles was my second female rat. She produced two litters for me. She was always skittish and had maternal aggression, so I culled her. She was a himalayan who carried russian blue and dumbo. aa B- chc Dd G- M- P- RR Dudu


Charles is essentially the founding male of my colony, he had eight litters. He was a russian blue berkshire that carried albino and dumbo. aa B- Cc dd G- MM PP RR Dudu


Mephistopheles is my second founding male and I have only recently started to breed him and determine what genes he carries. He has had three litters. So far, he has proven to be a fawn hooded that carries black, mink, and PED. Aa B- C- D- G- Mm Pp rr Du-


Nixie is my third founding female, a black hooded who carries russian blue, albino, and dumbo. She is on her second litter that is less than a week old, it is from Mephistopheles and there are some RED or PED but I can't tell which yet. aa B- Cc Dd G- M- P- R- Dudu


Succubus is my fourth female, a champagne berkshire who carries russian blue, albino, dumbo, and RED. She is on her second litter presently. aa B- Cc Dd G- M- pp Rr Dudu


Stheno is my fifth female, a cinnamon irish who carries dumbo and albino. She is currently resting from her first litter. Aa B- Cc DD G- mm pepe P- R- Dudu


Euryale is Stheno's sister and sixth female, also a cinnamon irish who carries dumbo and albino. She is on her second litter, she didn't raise her first, four of the pups have died from this litter. At first I thought it was her poor mothering skills, but I'm starting to think there was something wrong with them. Aa B- Cc DD G- mm pepe P- R- Dudu


Gengar is the seventh, and last female that I will be bringing in. The rest of my rats will be hold backs from litters as I work on improving temperament and color. Gengar is a black self and is still too small for breeding. aa B- C- D- G- M- P- R- Du-

I will post the second generation of my rats in the comments another time.