Best dedicated rat forums?

[ThyTempest]

Topic pretty much says it all....bp.net is nice, but looking for another forum specializing in rats.

[stangs13]

Your not going to find any that accept people with feeder rats.

[ThyTempest]

I am most likely just going to lurk.

And I am anticipating this, so I don't plan on advertising that I breed for feeders and pets....not that I am going to lie if they ask outright, but I think it is rediculous how high and mighty some of the pet only breeders think they are.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

You won't find a bettter one then here. Is there some information that you are looking for there that you aren't getting here?

Disclosure*** By all means, there is absolutely nothing wrong with looking at 10 rat specific sites a day if that is what you want to do!!!! I am just curious.

Mike

[SatanicIntention]

I am most likely just going to lurk.

And I am anticipating this, so I don't plan on advertising that I breed for feeders and pets....not that I am going to lie if they ask outright, but I think it is rediculous how high and mighty some of the pet only breeders think they are.

Doesn't seem like you realize how ignorant you're seeming when you don't know how long some of those "high and mighty" breeders have worked on their lines. It takes years and years to remove genetic diseases such as megacolon out of lines. Then feeder breeders get quality rats and just mess up the genes by breeding to feeder-quality rats and wonder why they get megacolon or dead babies from poor immune systems.

I have rats that are registered and pedigreed and have longer pedigrees than most dogs.

Yes, some rat people are neurotic to an extent, but you need to understand why. They have put time, money, and more time into creating healthy lines of show-quality rats(yes, show-quality...).

How would you feel if I just wanted your ball python babies as feeders for my Cobras or Kingsnakes? To me, it's all in the same ballpark.

[ThyTempest]

I have no complaints for the info I get here, I am just wanting to lurk at a site that has a bit more info/faqs/caresheets/discussion etc on rat topics....mostly breeding (breeding itself, colors/markings), diet and caging. I have been really happy with the community here and again, I have no complaints, I just want to see what other communities are discussing and see how they size up.

Basically...I just really like our rats, and I want to find some extra places to lurk for when we have a lull here.

[SatanicIntention]

www.ratguide.com

[ThyTempest]

Doesn't seem like you realize how ignorant you're seeming when you don't know how long some of those "high and mighty" breeders have worked on their lines. It takes years and years to remove genetic diseases such as megacolon out of lines. Then feeder breeders get quality rats and just mess up the genes by breeding to feeder-quality rats and wonder why they get megacolon or dead babies from poor immune systems.

I have rats that are registered and pedigreed and have longer pedigrees than most dogs.

Yes, some rat people are neurotic to an extent, but you need to understand why. They have put time, money, and more time into creating healthy lines of show-quality rats(yes, show-quality...).

How would you feel if I just wanted your ball python babies as feeders for my Cobras or Kingsnakes? To me, it's all in the same ballpark.

I dont think I seem ignorant at all. I realize the blood, sweat and tears that many pet rat breeders have put into their colonies...but the fact is, just because we breed for feeders doesnt mean we arent careful about what we are doing. I got almost all of our rats from Connie, save for 2 from petco, which we dont do holdbacks from. We only plan to bring in blood from established colonies from people we learn to trust...not just some joe schmoe, which may seem like what I am doing....but that would be incorrect...who just breeds because he fell into it or whatever.

Whether a rat is being bred for a pet or for a feeder should make no difference. It is like the whole community says as a whole...dont let one bad guy in the industry ruin it for the rest of us. Not all feeder breeders are bad/not reputable...just like not all burm keepers are going to go release their snakes into the everglades when they get too big.

[JamieLynn]

you can try www.ratchatter.com
I am a member there, just haven't been on much lately.

[littleindiangirl]

I think you missed her point entirely.

For example: ME
I put a lot of time into rats, so much so people think I'm a bit crazy for how much time and study and play time I put into these rats, BUT (big ol' but)

I am no where near the dedication and intimacy fancy rat breeders are with their own stock. They are 10,000 times more devoted than I will likely ever be in regards to their pairings, genetic pedigrees, and just plain socializing.

If you plan on charging ahead anyways and trying to meet them in a middle ground, I have some emails I'd share with you first on the responses I got when I reached out to them.

They will not accept you; plain and simple.

I have joined a few rat forums, but honestly, not my thing.