Got New Rats

[Jay_Bunny]

We got some new rats yesterday. One male and two females. The male is a black and white hooded from Petsmart. The other females come from Petco and a Petclub. (While I normally do not shop in these stores they are the ONLY petstores in the area that sell female rats that are not for feeder purposes). The bigger female is an albino. She's calmer and let us hold her in the store. The other female is a beige? color but she is very scared and nervous about being held. (it was either her or an albino that bites).

[Jay_Bunny]

So if anyone is any good at rat genetics (or can point me in the direction of a good site that explains the different "morphs" rats come in and basic rat genetics) could they please tell me what I could expect pattern and color wise with these rats?

[littleindiangirl]

Well, you'll most likely get a bunch of hoodeds and maybe some berks when crossing the male and the beige hooded.

If he is het for red eyed dilute (beige) then you will get blacks and beiges from that crossing.

For the albino female, there is no way to tell since we do not know what her genotype is. I would expect some black hoodeds like the father.

A lot depends on what genes your rats are carrying.

Agouti: (wild)
Agouti is dominant (AA)
Self is recessive (aa)

For selfs:
Black is the dominant (BB)
Brown is recessive (bb)

Self (full body coloring) is dominant
Hooded is recessive
Berkshire, Irish are recessive

Albino is recessive
Red eyed dilute is recessive
Pink eyed dilute is recessive
Dumbo is recessive
Blues (Dilute) are recessive

I could go on forever sorry
If you really want to learn rat genetics, do a google for Rat genetics and you will be taken to AFRMA most likely and many other rat fan sites. A lot are spot on with genetics and inheritances and you'll learn a bunch

[Jay_Bunny]

Well the smaller female isn't a hooded. I'll try and get some pictures tonight of them.