Brisbane Breeders

[asy]

Wulfys...

How did you go finding a breeder in Brissie?

I'd be interested to hear whether you got anywhere or what you decided to do.

I'm also interested in a Rex Rat, so maybe if you're going to bring one up from Melbourne or such I'd consider 'getting in on the act' with regards to shipping.

asy

[wulfyskingdom]

gosh, i havent been able to get much further. I currently have 5 boys so i'm going to take my time in deciding what to do.

ive heard that a few people have organised transport to get ratties between states, but i havent looked into it myself yet but at least it can be done and i havent heard any bad reports so thats good.

breeder wise i dont know who would breed rex's and when. I definitely will get some one day but unfortunately we're not as ready as i thought we were

[harlequin]

Hi you two Bris Vegas rat-owners! I was wondering if you are still interested in rexes? I don't know if you've seen any of my other posts, but I do have some single rex pups born 18 July.

[wulfyskingdom]

Hi Harlequin,

Unfortunately I cant have more rats at the moment as I'm at my maximum now. But in the future I will look at getting some.

I bet they're very cute and very fuzzy though!!

[pobblebonk]

I'm looking for a rat breeder in Brisbane.

Where could I find information on the types of rats they breed? I almost said 'brats they breed' then. Ha!

[wulfyskingdom]

The only breeder I've heard of that's operating is Carawatha Rodents.

There is also a site which breeders can register - you may be able to find a current breeder through there too.

I've heard of a few people that are looking to start breeding etc but I don't know their contact details or when they'll start.

There aren't many breeders in Brisbane and they don't always seem to stick around either. Forums seem to be a better place to find current breeders too as the websites I have found are old and out of date lol. There is always the option to contact an interstate breeder - some will transport their animals. Animal shelters & rodent rescues are another option - The Brissy rodent rescue has closed for a while but the RSPCA may have some for adoption.

And then there are pet stores of course. They can be a bit hit and miss when buying rodents as you dont know their history and some stores dont look after them properly. Its always good to do a self check of the rat before buying it. Look to see that its alert, there is no discharge from the eyes, nose or ears, look to see if there are any mites or skin irritations, put it up to your ear and listen for a clear chest, look at the general living conditions - check that the cage is clean, doesnt smell (of course it'll smell a little but nothing noxious) or is overcrowded, that they have fresh food and water etc.

Also spend a little time deciding on which rats to buy. A breeder will usually handle babies and get them used to human contact. A pet store usually won't so they may seem a little skittery or scared to start with. It can take a few weeks for them to get used to you, but don't be worried, just be patient and let them get comfortable. The car ride home may also scare them a little - when that happens its best to have their cage ready, put them straight in with lots of places to hide and lots of water and food and let them be for a few hours in a nice quiet spot.

[Kim]

One other thing to worry about with Pet shops is whether they keep their males with their females?

Sometimes to a male can be mistaken for a female as young males can draw their testicles into their body and so can be mistaken as females.

Because females can get pregnant from 5 to 6 weeks of age, although its better for then not to be mothers until they are at least 6 months old... its always a good idea to just check that there are no males in with the females. Of course if you can not tell, then the only thing you can do if getting females is to cound 24 days from the day you bring your girls home.

Females normally have their babies between 21 and 23 days, but as pet shop rats tend to put on weight after getting to their new home so sometimes its hard to tell if they are pregnant or not but if no babies are born after you having a girl for 24 days then its likely she is just getting better food with you.



Just something else to think about if you are looking at pet shop rats.

[wulfyskingdom]

Absolutely. I dont know how many stories I've heard through the rescue group about people buying pregnant females from pet stores. Its terrible when some pet stores cant set a good example by actually caring for the animals they sell (but thats a story for another day).

Its more a case of buyer beware when getting pet store rats