My first breeders!

[littleindiangirl]

If you haven't already, you'll quickly find that there are cool rat people like Becky and Crissy, then the rest of them.

Most will not sell to you if you keep snakes, many will not sell to you because you don't have this credential or that, or want to breed. The fancy rat world is very unwelcoming to us reptile people.

I imagine the buzzed he's referring to are Fuzzy, and last I heard not a very desireable trait. I don't really keep track of what the fancy rat world deems acceptable or not. I just try to keep on top of genetics and any problems from certain genes. I don't have any fuzzy or hairless, so I'm not to worried about them I guess! lol

Berks are common, I have a crap ton of them. Too bad you aren't anywhere nearby, I'd hook you up!

Here's an email I got from one local breeder, her's was one of the "nicer" ones.

Hi Connie, I don't understand your interest in producing healthy rats of genetic high quality if they are just used for feeders. That would be like saying you wanted a high quality frog to feed your snake. The snake doesn't care as long as it's alive and warm. A rat that is not healthy will not hurt a snakes health.

The established breeders will not provide their stock knowing the offspring will be used as a food source. There is a lot of work that goes into getting the ratties healthy, with just the right size ears and eyes and nose length.

Some people spend hundreds of dollars getting these beautiful pit bull dogs and then put them in dogs fight and kill them, what is the point? Either you are strickly a pet only breeder or a feeder breeder, in the rattie world you can't be both, you will not be accepted. I'm sorry.

My response

Thank you for responding, it is much appreciated. I understand your points on whether or not I should care if the rats are healthy or not, because the reptile would not care either. I guess I was misleading in my question, I'm not looking for show quality animals, I just don't want animals that are heavily inbred and more susceptible to disease. This is because I selectively choose who gets bred to who, and I'm trying to prolong the health and temperament of these animals for generations to come; which is what most good responsible breeders do.

Her response (and welcome to crazy town)

HI Connie, I love all animals and everything has it's purpose and place in this world. I respect and find reptiles fascinating. I know they have to eat. I've heard of many snake owners who teach their baby snakes to eat thawed out frozen pinkies that were humanely put down. This part I can live with. What I have a hard time with is the large reptiles and the large ratties being but into their aquariums with no where to hide or escape just waiting to die.

The reason why this bothers me is because I specialize in rattie behavior. Many people don't realize it but ratties have feelings and emotions just like we do. They feel happiness, sadness, and pain. They can be emotionally hurt and psychologically damaged just like we can. They are capable of real feelings of devotion, love and affection, not just for each other, but for us humans.

This waiting to die fits into the psychologically damaged category. They suffer emotionally during the time it takes to become supper. They have panic attacks and can go insane because they know what's about to happen and are helpless to defend themselves. Just picture yourself caught in a lions cage and the door is locked and you start to get the feelings that these animals get in their circumstance.

It's the suffering...that's what makes me sick to my stomach. I wouldn't wish suffering on any animal or person. I feel every living creature has the right to have a happy life. In the wild, a rattie can out run and hide from predators. If they are smart they may live a long life, but at least they are given a chance to try and make it. When stuck inside a glass wall they don't stand a chance of survival. It's just not a fair fight. I just want it all to be fair. It's like two boxers fighting in the ring and one is blindfolded. Just not fair.

Well anyway, enough said...sigh...