First off I know this forum thread or whatever is mainly mouse related, but for some reason couldn't find one for just breeding rats but I need help and advice... Anyways... Okay, so I started collecting ball pythons about a year or so ago (hell of an addicting hobby) and recently decided to start keeping the rats that some of my BP's didn't eat for breeders because I'm spending $50 a week at least to feed them all. Well of course the ones that I keep are the ones that I like, for exampple have an all gray head besides a white dot in the middle, or have a stripe down their back, etc. All the rats that I've kept that I want to turn into breeders of course I've gotten attached to, I've even had to formula feed some for 2 weeks xD. But what I would like to know is what a good breeding size is and also if stripes down their backs and white dots on their head are genetic traits because I'm a welder and I'm welding a rat breeding rat at work and once I'm done with it and the appropriate rats are up to size if certain fur traits are genetic I'd like to pair them up like that. Any help would be greatly appreciated xD.