That depends on what your trying to compare them to. Our fancy rats are actually physically different and mentally different from wild rats from years of domestication and breeding. So, your right they are the same species, but they are less like wild rats than you would like to believe.

Respecting the life of your feeders is tantamount to breeding successfully. If you think it's easier to just start over, than you really have no clue what it takes to start a good colony.

I only have around 30 rats in my colony, and it would be a disaster to lose even 1/4 of those rats for my production. This isn't even close to what most people have for their collections.

Starting right from the beginning with strong genes, and careful selectivity and strict quarantine isn't "spoiling" by any stretch of imagination, it's making smart choices to build a strong foundation for your colony in the future.

If you choose to not practice quarantine even at a small level, you will find troubles shortly down the road. Especially if you've already shown contempt for what your feeding your snakes now, how do you expect you'll care any more when you have 30 female rats breeding?

Set some good rules for yourself now, and everything will be that much easier down the road.

You don't have to enjoy rats, but your doing a disservice to yourself by not taking time now to start right.

Just my .02 cents