Humane rat distributor?

[Bogertophis]

So recently I came home from the pet store with a live rat only to realize he was too big for my snake after I got home. I ended up keeping this rat for a few days before I could find a home for him, and i realized what sweet little creatures rats are! This issue prompted me to look more into feeder rats vs “fancy rats” and it seems the biggest difference is just that feeder rats are neglected and kept in poor conditions...

Rats make great pets- I kept pet rats long before I ever "accidentally" got into snakes, & they're cute, intelligent, trainable, & even affectionate animals. I agree that it's sad that so many are treated poorly because they're "just feeders" -but truthfully the same is often true for the animals consumed by humans.

Those rodents labeled as "fancy" are also usually more genetically diverse- they may have various coat colors & markings, or they may have been bred for other appearance variations too (such as "dumbo" ears, wavy-coated "rex", etc). Some of these variations actually ARE harder to breed for- I can vouch for that being the case with fancy coated mice such as "silky" (fine long coats) & "satins" (fine, short shiny coats)- because I used to produce them when I sold to pet stores, so that does justify the higher price & the "fancy" label, but otherwise most rats & mice cost the same to raise- & ALL deserve good care & humane treatment regardless. Unhealthy rodents aren't good for your pet snakes either. I find it every bit as disturbing as you do that so many animals raised as "feeders" are mistreated, & I'm glad you cared enough to ask & choose sources carefully.