Brisbane Breeders

[fizzlesticks]

Hullo,

I'm considering entering the world of fancy rats, but I want to do as much research as possible before actually purchasing a (same-sex) pair. I'm a full-time uni student with a part-time job and poor health, so I also need to make sure I have the money, time and energy to support the little critters. Not to mention, I live at home, and the family is not happy about the prospect of rats! So it may be a while before I buy, but it's best to be prepared.

I know now not to buy rats from pet stores, so I'm looking to contact breeders in/around Brisbane. I've done the obligatory Google searches and not much has turned up.

I visited a run-of-the-mill pet store today to handle some rats as an experiment (I'm allergic to dogs, horses, and to a lesser extent, cats), and I didn't seem to react. I was really taken in by their gorgeous little faces. I like the idea of a pet that will travel around the house with me on my shoulder!

I've seen the Brisbane rat rescue site, but I feel as a 'first time' owner it would be best for me to have rats that have definitely been bred for good health and temperament.

Anyway, enough rambling. Brisbane breeders, where are you!?

Thank you,
Fizzlesticks

[28thrat]

We have lots of breeders down in Melbourne/Sydney. I recall there being a few Brisbane breeders years ago, but now..it's pretty blank. Try Carawatha Rodents, but I'm not sure if they're up to date or not:
carawatha.tripod.com/

The other option would be to get rats flown up to you. A lot of breeders do it, and it costs somewhere around $100 for the shipping, I'd imagine.

There's nothing wrong with getting a rat from a rescue. Any rat can make a wonderful pet, no matter the origin. Breeders are often a good choice as well, but in some areas it's just so hard to find them.

[fizzlesticks]

I emailed Carawatha a few days ago but haven't heard back yet.

I'd be happy with rescue rats, I guess, because even if they don't have the same health/temperament standards, I'd be saving ratties from being snake food!

[wulfyskingdom]

Hi,

If you would like to own rescue rats you could try Brisbane Rodent Rescue:

furry.org.au/brisrats/

[28thrat]

Just letting you know that I'll be popping through Brissy in May, and probably taking along some ratties to drop off with me. So if you'd like to make a reservation, go ahead.

[newbie]

I was going to say try Lou at BRR, she's a brilliant woman who's work for rats will probably never be surpassed!

[fizzlesticks]

28thrat said:

Just letting you know that I'll be popping through Brissy in May, and probably taking along some ratties to drop off with me. So if you'd like to make a reservation, go ahead.

That's not a bad idea! I'll have a look at your site. Thanks.

[chaoskitten]

Hey Fizzlesticks, are you still looking for rats? I currently have two pairs, one pair of boys (Tao and Bishonen) and my girls (Sal and Pipsqueek) who need homes.

The boys are about six months, the girls eight or nine. They are all sweet and I haven't had any health issues with them as yet.

While I'm in Townsville, it is highly likely I will end up sending them down to Lou anyways (there aren't that many rat loving people up here). Are you interested?

Cass

[dreamer]

I am finding I am having the same problem finding brisbane breeders, especially as I am interested in rex & manx but will perservere.

[wulfyskingdom]

Hi Dreamer,

Let me know if you have any luck in finding breeders in Brisbane. down the track i figured i might have to look at getting some ratties transported from a breeder down south as it doesnt seem we have as many varieties up here - probably due to lack of breeders lol

I've been to a few rat shows in Brisbane and they're all pretty standard colours and markings - selfs, berks, hooded, then colours, argente, agouti, PEWs, champagne, dove, mink, black etc.

Ive only seen one rex so far, a few blazed, but no manx's yet.

[dreamer]

Well if neither of us has any luck maybe down the track we could think about sharing the shipping costs of getting what we want from down south. I am still looking into what breed/s I want as I have been told that rex & manx can have health problems but have read other people say that theirs are perfectly healthy so want to look into it some more. I am also looking into Silkys as I think they look cute.

Which show did you go to, was it the one at Wishart? It is a shame there are not many varieties up here. I don't think it is a lack of interest in rodents as I know that sadly the Brisbane Rodent Rescue & RSPCA get alot of unwanted rats & mice. I guess it is just a case of most breeders being pet or snake food breeders, not registered pedigree breeders & it costs alot to ship the breeds we don't have up from another state.

[wulfyskingdom]

That is true - there isn't a shortage of rats, there is just a shortage of people who want to do it properly. I hate buying from pet stores because I dont know where my rats are coming from or how they've been treated or I even dread to think how many times they've bred them! and of course there's problem of the ones that don't care and house both sexes together so unwary customers get a nice surprise when they buy female rats.

At the same time i am nervous about buying from the wrong breeder as the only 2 rats i've purchased from a breeder didnt live very long. They were beautiful boys but weren't healthy. one passed away at 1.5 yrs old in his sleep and the other was only 2 but he was alot of pain one morning and had to be put to sleep.

The cost of transporting rats interstate doesnt worry me too much if i know I am getting them from a reliable breeder and they breed them for quality not quantity etc.

Itd be good to be able to share the cost of transport but depending on the size and type of litter we might find we dont buy from the same littler or same time lol

I definitely like the rex rats - that'd be my favourite coat type. I saw one in person a while back and the coat was so lovely. My favourite markings are irish followed closely by blazes and any colour in cinnamon, agouti or black i dont sound picky do i? lol

Where I live i cant house too many rats - but at the same time if someone was interested in becoming a responsible breeder in Brisbane and getting some really nice healthly lines going i would gladly stud my boy rats and help out (as i dont own females, i stick to male rats). I know its easy for people to have other things happen in their lives and hence can't keep breeding as its seems this is why many of the old rattery sites aren't updated or still current, so I wondered if 'sharing' the work would make it easier to manage.

but its just a thought for now... who knows what the future holds! lol

The Brisbane show i went to was at Mt Gravatt i think - is that the suburb next to Wishart? its probably the same show

i keep an eye on Brissy rat rescue incase there is an opportunity to adopt - but it also comes down to timing - sometimes when there is some available i dont have the time to devote to new rats then we im in a position to get a new ratty there isnt any available. Its easy to say rats are so small, they'd be easy to house and feed but its quite alot of work! I've spent a lot of money on food, then cleaning their cages takes time and it needs doing frequently, then vet or medication costs and of course play and social time with them - which probably takes up the most time lol

[Kim]

Apr 28, 2008 19:56:31 GMT 10 wulfyskingdom said:

Ive only seen one rex so far, a few blazed, but no manx's yet.

Manx rats are very, very hard to breed. You can breed 10 litters and get only one manx baby.

Most manx rats born have been unexpected, coming from two tailed rats that the people had no idea carried manx genes, and so far I have only ever heard of one at a time being born in any single litters.

So when a manx baby is born most of the time the breeder/owner keeps it for themselves to try and produce more, which of course as I said then probably doesnt happen because they will produce say 4 litters all with tails and then stop trying.

[dreamer]

Yes I feel the same way about pet shop rats, you never know if they are going to be healthy, how they have been handled or in the case of girls if they are pregnant or not.

Lol I don't think you sound picky...it is good to know what you are looking for

If I can get rex, manx or silkies I might look into registering & breeding a litter or two a year if the breeder agrees but I don't want to breed other types (though I do understand the litters will include normal types as well)

The show at My Gravatt is the one I meant, sorry, I have only been once but the people seem friendly.

I completely understand what you are saying about the manx & most breeders wanting to keep them Kim. I used to breed cavies (and still have most of them) & when a rare one pops up you do tend to keep it as you never know when you will get another. That is one of the reasons I would think about looking into opening a stud if I had manx & the breeder agreed, as I understand the need to have a few people working on the rarer types to provide the genetic diversity if that type is going to thrive.

[wulfyskingdom]

Ahh that might be why i havent seen and have hardly heard of manx rats. genetics are a strange thing.

pet shops dont give rats the treatment or credit that they deserve. Its like they're a throw away pet because they're cheap to buy and have short life spans - its such a shame that alot of people dont realise the huge personality they get in such a tiny furry package. *sigh*

i definitely know what i want in a rat lol.

i'd like to get 2 rex boys in the future but i dont know how hard it'd be to get the colours i want lol.

lol, yep thats the same show. i mainly go because i dont know anywhere else in brisbane that i can meet & chat to other rat owners.