I'm just throwing ideas out here, and having been met with a very cold shoulder by the rat community, would anyone want to make our own little club or whatever for us rat breeders with herps.

I've seen some pretty sick rats being raised as feeders, and non of them carry any good genetics to speak of, so if you wanted to start breeding lines that will last for generations, where are you supposed to get them? You may have a lucky break and buy some from a Mom and Pop store that are clean, but you have no idea about the history of that rat, or what to expect from it.

I know not many breeders for feeders keep track of that stuff, but I want rats that aren't going to give out after a year and have some knowledge of their background.

My main goal is to again, breed animals that are healthy, and can stay healthy for generations. To breed out and away from high risk colors or rats. This is where my main interest in genetics lies. I would love to breed rats that are just pets for myself, which is mainly what my breeders are. I love those animals, and they are very close to us, and I want also the friendliest rats that i can get.

As for breeding for fancy rats as a whole, I would leave that to other more experienced breeders. I don't even think I could get a foot in the door if I wanted because no one would sell to me because of the herps.

I ask you a question, if every society and club is toward progress of breeding healthy animals, and ridding disease from rats, would you also want those of us that breed for both purposes to achieve the same? Yes we may feed them as well, but most herp breeders also view their Breeders as pets. And when they do sell or give those rats from their lines, would you then care if the animal was sickly from inbreeding? Or healthy from selective breeding, because the breeder was knowledgeable and only bred those that met good standards?

In trying to progress positively as a whole in the rat hobby, I'm trying to get in and also breed my rats to the same standards.

Does this make sense, or is it sorta not even worth it at all??? Let me know what you think.