Rat Genetics?

[Aric]

Im fairly new to rat breeding and ive got a question about genetics. I have a male hooded and a female Agouti and their litter contained 4 solid beige with red-eyes, 1 red-eyed white, 2 agoutis (same color as mom), 1 solid black, 1 black hooded, and 1 grey hooded. How many different combos can there be between the 2 and are there any certain colors I should hold back for future breeders?

Mom and Pop


A few of the babies.


we do plan on keeping any of the beige ones that are females to breed later on to our beige hooded.

[frankykeno]

Aric you're guess is as good as mine LOL. Rats coming out of pet stores are just chock full of a genetic mish mash so you just never know sometimes what will pop out. After you breed a pair enough times you'll tend to see patterns but I'm amazed at the occasional odd color or pattern pup that pops out.

I have a link somewhere for rat genetics. If I can locate it I'll post it for you later today. Basically I just breed healthy, nicely tempered adults that are decent looking and hope to get the desired result. When I'm picking hold back future breeders I tend to pick the ones from really consistent, good breeders or from females that show top notch birthing and mothering skills. I avoid rats with nasty tempers as that's show to be very genetic in rodents. Color and pattern, just basically is more personal taste than anything though I don't care for albino's personally.

[rabernet]

Well Caesar apparently has no genetic mish mash except black - black hoodeds and black berkies is all I EVER get from my breeding.

[Flagg]

Sounds like you have buff (red eye dilute beige) and blue (grey) in the mix. both are simple recessives. When combined they will give you a very white looking blue-buff with pink or red eyes. Sometimes called platinum. Not actually white though, it's actually blue diluted by the buff gene.

Or you might have albino in the mix as well, but since you got blues and buffs in this litter, I suspect the platinum.

[tigerlily]

Here's a link that may help... http://www.afrma.org/ratgenpart1.htm

[frankykeno]

Found this chart recently, no idea if it's accurate but might be of interest....

http://www.afrma.org/rataoc.htm

http://www.afrma.org/pdf/colorchart.pdf (easier to print out)

A link on markings....

http://www.curiosityrats.com/