Picked up a little dumbo female

[ajeff]

I have been trying to get things pulled together enough so I can get a couple rats to breed. I had my sis go pick up a fancy rat from petsmart a month ago, it was about the only place I could find a female rat, so she grabbed a small female, which cost about 13 bucks I said it was fine. The idea was to use the fancy rat as a breeder female.

I must say, compared to the other rats I am used to, the dumbo has a good personality. Seems really friendly and loves to craw around on your shoulder.

I am assuming that using dumbo females and a regular male for breeding should not be a problem?

BTW, I was not too happy that I had to go to petsmart and petco for rats, but they are about the only places around here where I can get them

[cobweb2000]

There will not be a problem breeding a dumbo to a top eared male, ear shape/position is the only thing different about a dumbo.

Most rats will be friendly if given half a chance, but dumbos tend to be bred for pets a little more than top eared ones so there is ancedotal evidence that they are more docile. I have 11 pet rats and I foster for a rat rescue and I've not yet met a rat that didn't become friendly if given enough handling and attention. Obviously if they are raised for food and isolated in a rack and never given any human interaction or any kind of environmental enrichment, they will understandably be skittish or nippy.

[rabernet]

I've also found the dumbos to be more outgoing than my top-ears. I love the dumbo's so much that I breed dumbos almost exclusively now.

[littleindiangirl]

I can't say there is much difference in ear orientation with regards to personality. I think we just see them as SOOO adorable, and likely pay more attention to them when visiting, resulting in a rat that likes us better or trust us quicker.

I have a colony about 50/50 top and dumbo, there are dumbos that are skiddish, and some that jump out to play with me. So, I feel it really goes either way.

But they are cute!

[klonedskillz]

i've been looking for a couple dumbo females to add to my breeding but still haven't found any around me

[Gtigirl]

I only knew about dumbo rats because a girl friend of mine buys her dumbo rat pets from a breeder (paying like $50.00 for two or something kinda high!). I thought they were the equivalent of a "designer" rat, until I saw them at two independently owned pet shops around me.

We ended up getting 3 pet rats to start a breeding colony, one of which is a female dumbo. She is definitely the friendliest of the bunch She "greets" us when we open the door to the bedroom. Kinda cute.

[ThyTempest]

i've been looking for a couple dumbo females to add to my breeding but still haven't found any around me

That comes along with the UP

Depending on where you are, you may have better luck looking in Wisconsin or Canada than down here with us trolls.

[littleindiangirl]

i've been looking for a couple dumbo females to add to my breeding but still haven't found any around me

What major city are you nearby? I am sure if you made a thread specifically for the UP and northern lower peninsula members, you'd get some responses.

[klonedskillz]

LoL im near no major city im on drummon island sault saint marie is about an hour drive but it cost to much to get off the island, the ferry ride and gas and all

[littleindiangirl]

LoL im near no major city im on drummon island

Okay, I really meant, what is the next biggest city you'd be willing to go to if you were to meet up with someone?

Make me drag it out of ya....

Looking like the Soo perhaps?