# Getting a rat from a breeder? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628 "2016-11-21T03:48:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/1 "2016-11-21T03:48:44Z")
Has anyone gone this route? One just relocated to my area from a big city to the north of me and I’m kind of interested, but still a little worried about the crazy I might encounter. I’ve joined several rat forums and it can get down right scary at times. Whole rooms set aside for 2-5 rats, ALL store bought foods are poison/evil/unhealthy, if you don’t spend $$$ to save an elderly rat you are a child of Satan, etc. My four boys (Hyde, Brodi, Stripey and Skunky) from Pet Smart are fed store bought food mixed with fresh fruit and veggies, are allowed out of their cage nightly, and have plenty to chew on. They are almost a year old and are starting to look rough. Not sickly, just old and worn. They sleep more and no longer frolic around. The main reason I want to go the breeder route is 1. I want to start out with younger ones and 2. I want them to have been handled from birth. So, any experience? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/2 "2016-11-21T04:26:40Z")
I always had a pet rat as a kid and as an adult I always had one around for the kids. I never kept more than 1. I fed mostly human food but always had some grain on hand from the pet shop. It seemed like they usually lived about 2 1/2 to 3 years. I always bought them as feeders so they were very young and handled a lot. I don’t think I ever had a bad one. As an adult I captured a baby wild rat and kept him in my shop. He tamed down just like the domestic ones but eventually reverted back to being wild once he started breeding. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/3 "2016-11-22T21:12:32Z")
Oh dear god, run far far away from rat fanciers. They’re bizarre humans for whom no one is good enough to adopt one of their precious rats. I tried to get a rat from a “rat rescue”, ie, a rat-hoarder who was appalled that I wanted to get a baby and not an adult rescue rat in need. She made send her photos the cage I planned to use, plus a questionnaire about what brand of rat food I was going to buy, the name of an exotic animal vet who would take care of my rat if he got sick- eventually she told me that she would only allow me to adopt a (older) rat if I purchased this specific, expensive rat food she recommended, plus I had to buy one of her special rat-carriers, since a cardboard box lined with newspaper would not be sturdy enough to take my potential rat to the vet. Instead, I went to an exotic pet shop that specialized in reptiles. I asked for two female weanling feeder rats, and I picked the two cutest ones. Then I drove home with them in a cardboard box, feeling really happy that I had actually rescued two rats that were intended to be snake food. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/4 "2016-11-22T21:19:04Z")
> [@Turpentine](#): > > Oh dear god, run far far away from rat fanciers. They’re bizarre humans for whom no one is good enough to adopt one of their precious rats. . There’s strain of this in the devotees of ANY pet. Try to adopt a dog these days and tell the breeder you’re going to feed the dog actual dog food. They’ll look at you like you said “I am going to set the dog on fire just to watch it die.” ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/5 "2016-11-22T21:29:29Z")
Mice people can be just as bad; one local place insists that the rescue lady has the right to spring surprise visits to check on her rehomed mice. Other demands include a fan in summer (this is England, we don’t have summer), one specific brand of bedding, a visit to the house beforehand… Bet you have to hide the mousetraps while she’s there as well. The breeder I eventually got some from was fine though, she was just a small scale hobbyist who liked mice a lot. A few questions about what they were going to be kept in and a few diet recommendations, but nothing weird. Mice are good at escaping, it’s sensible to check. Personally I’d be a bit wary about transporting rats any kind of distance in cardboard boxes, they’re pretty good at chewing their way out, or peeing and turning a section of cardboard to mush. Our local vet requires a plastic carrier. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/6 "2016-11-23T00:31:29Z")
I had pet rats in college and got a few of them from small scale hobby breeder. No craziness, and the ratties were well handled and socialized. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/7 "2016-11-23T18:57:34Z")
> [@](#): > > **Getting a rat from a breeder?** Why should the sexual preference of your rat seller matter? [sub]Sorry, I waited 3 days and couldn’t stand it any longer…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Brodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-rat-from-a-breeder/772628/8 "2016-11-23T19:15:45Z")
Well, she updated her FB page with her “rules” and NO WAY IN HELL am I even going to try and get a rat from her! > [@Turpentine](#): > > Oh dear god, run far far away from rat fanciers. They’re bizarre humans for whom no one is good enough to adopt one of their precious rats. > > I tried to get a rat from a “rat rescue”, ie, a rat-hoarder who was appalled that I wanted to get a baby and not an adult rescue rat in need. She made send her photos the cage I planned to use, plus a questionnaire about what brand of rat food I was going to buy, the name of an exotic animal vet who would take care of my rat if he got sick- eventually she told me that she would only allow me to adopt a (older) rat if I purchased this specific, expensive rat food she recommended, plus I had to buy one of her special rat-carriers, since a cardboard box lined with newspaper would not be sturdy enough to take my potential rat to the vet. > > Instead, I went to an exotic pet shop that specialized in reptiles. I asked for two female weanling feeder rats, and I picked the two cutest ones. Then I drove home with them in a cardboard box, feeling really happy that I had actually rescued two rats that were intended to be snake food. Your rescue sounds like the breeder I was looking at. The “rules”: > [@](#): > > Adoption Information: > \*Instead of adoption agreements, **I will request a picture of the set up you plan to bring your young rats into. Please include food and bedding information.** > \*Pet rats require companionship and for that reason you must buy/adopt at least 2 rats. If you already have one rat I will need a recent picture. > \ ***My pet rats range from approximately $25-35.** I spend a lot of money, time, and effort to make sure I am providing the best temperament, health, and appearance possible. I do not give discounts or negotiate. I will occasionally have very sweet retiring breeders available. These rats will be $15. > \ ***I do not let people “just come see” the rats or the rattery. I am not a pet store. I am, however, a responsible breeder who takes great pride in her rats.** > \*I do not “count” rats until their eyes are open. There are just too many things that can happen before that age. I don’t even check to see how many males or females before this time. If you are looking for a specific color or type I will tell you if I have a litter due or coming available soon but cannot guarantee there will be a certain gender or even type available. Nature and chance influence whether or not a baby is doing well and what genetics pop up. > \*If you are more interested in temperament/personality than color/type you will get first pick when new litters are ready. > \*If you are planning to or think you may ever breed any of the rats you get from me please let me know. I can give you background information and family breeding information that wouldn’t be needed for a pet placement. > \ ***Please be sure to shower, change clothes, and not touch any rats you own at least 3 hours prior to picking up your new rats.** I also recommend quarantining any rat entering your home for at least 2 weeks. > \ ***If you have any health issues please contact me and I will help you decide what plan of action you need to take**. I do not pay vet bills or medication costs. I will take back any rat I have sold with a refund within the first week. > \*I do everything within my power to make sure the rats leaving my rattery are healthy and friendly, however anything with a mouth can bite. I am not responsible for any bites and do recommend any bite be seen by a medical professional. If your rat is having behavioral issues, please do contact me as this is not normal. > \*Last but not least, **I am a strong believer in rats first** and no rule is steadfast. If you have questions or concerns please ask. > [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Why should the sexual preference of your rat seller matter? > > [sub]Sorry, I waited 3 days and couldn’t stand it any longer…[/sub] Don’t we all have preferences?😉