What variation are available in Oz?

[samk]

One of the other forums I frequent is full of American/UK rat breeders, so I see all these great types, but then I read somewhere that not all of the international rat types are available in Australia?

Is there anywhere where I can find out what is available in Australia, in terms of colour/coat/ears etc?

[Australian Rat Forum]

We have a whole section in the Main Forum which members can look through which go through the Coats, Markings and Colours available in Australia.

But as a rough guide in coats we have -

Standard, Rex, Double Rex, Patchwork Rex, Silky and Carasilk.

You then have the mixed coats like Silky Rex.

As a rough guide in Markings we have -

Berkshire, Self, Hooded, Downunder, Capped, Blazed, Bareback, Irish, Varieberk.

As a rough guide in Colours we have -

Agouti, Silvered Black, Mink, Dove, Cinnamon, Argente, Silver Fawn, Champagne, Buff, PEW (Pink Eyed White), BEW (Black Eyed White) *bew is new*, Blue



In the Main Forum where you can look at the standards/varieties available in Australia, I am trying to get photos to show the coats, markings and colours available as it sometimes helps to be able to see different shades or markings as most markings are mismarked, meaning not exactly like the perfectly described markings.

So some will have photos but some wont.

I hope thats been helpful to you.

Cheers, Nathan

[samk]

Thanks for that Nathan, I really like this one persons Silverfawn rats, so I was hoping that we had them available in Australia.

Do we have Dumbo eared rats?

[Australian Rat Forum]

No we dont have Dumbo, Hairless, Banded, Masked, Dalmation, Siamese, Himalayan, Roan, Husky, Merle, Pearl or Burmese.

As we can not import rats into Australia we have to wait for these varieties to show up themselves which may never happen or may eventually happen.

Until recently we didnt have BEW's but they are suddenly starting to show up.

There were hairless in Australia like those in America and the UK, but unfortunately they all seemed to be unhealthy and didnt live long.

[samk]

Oh thats a pity, the Dumbo ears are great!

Maybe they will pop up like the black-eyed-whites?

Its a pity we can't import too...

[Australian Rat Forum]

There is a chance that they will eventually pop up here, I guess we just have to keep hoping.

Although I would like to be able to get some of the types we dont have here brought over, I personally think its a good idea that we cant, as there are Rat diseases and health issues in other countries that luckily our rats dont have because of being isolated from other country rats.

[christie]

Oh nooo, i didnt realize there were so many that we dont have here. I was really hoping to have a Dumbo one day
I can understand the strict rules on not bringing them over from other countries tho. Its just sad that we cant. What about artificial insemination? lol can you get ratty sperm sent over? Then get someone to test it to make sure it dosent have any diseases then use it?
Okay so its a long shot and SOOO expensive, but i was just wondering.

[ashana]

Imagine that, special delivery of rat sperm and trying to explain to one of your girls what you are going to do with that sperm and syringe

I am also sad about not having Dumbo's in OZ

Aimee

[fireyvixxen]

Never mind the frozen straw of rat sperm, Imagine having to "milk" the male .
But if there's IVF and sperm banks availible for dogs, then it's available for Chiwowas (Yes I know it's spelt wrong, I can't think of the right spelling, it's not coming up in spellcheck, Deal with it) which means they have the itty-bitty equipment needed. Now how do we cut through the government red tape
But while we're putting in orders, I'd like a husky (AKA roan) please.
FV

[dimruthien]

AI would be an extremely expensive business, I'd imagine. I only have experience with it in horses, so I'm not much help, but I'd say it's -possible-, but unlikely. AI is something I've never heard of in rats before.

[misskooky]

Sorry for latching on to an old thread, but how common are BEWs? Common enough for pets or are they only show rats at the moment?
I think that would just be gorgeous, as I love white rats and mice but I love little beady black eyes as well. And I heard that pink eyed rats like albinos (or are they albinos?) often have problems seeing, so that makes me a bit sad.

[Kim]

Oh no we incourage members to restart up old threads.



BEW's are starting to become more common now.

One breeder here in Vic had 3 babies in litter just this year, I had the first BEW in Victoria but sadly my boy died, but so did his 2 brothers so his line may have had genetic problems.

Other breeders within NSW are also getting BEW bubs in their litters now.

I actually have some BEW carriers. I may even have a PEW BEW.

Meaning that the rat is a BEW but because PEW masks the actually colour and marking of a rat you can not be sure of what they are as they end up white with pink eyes.

We dont actually now much about their temperament, health and possible genetic issues, so if I breed any or get any I will probably be keeping them to monitor over a few years.

But as I said they are starting to pop up all over the place now.

They really are beautiful though with the white coat and black eyes.

[misskooky]

So PEWs are albinos? I thought they were but was told somewhere else that they are not.
When you have BEWs again, I'd love to see photos. I don't think I can adequately imagine the cuteness.

[Kim]

Yep, a PEW is an Albino.

Basically the best way I find to explain a PEW rat (Pink Eyed White) to people is this way... If you take a Black Hooded male and painted him white all over and gave him Pink Contact lenses for his black eyes... You would have a PEW.

He is still a Black Hooded but you cant see it under the paint and contacts.

So that means its possible to have a PEW that underneath is actually a BEW.



Anyway here are some photos of my BEW boy. I was so upset when he died.







He really loved the car trip from NSW to Vic.






This one I had to add even though it isnt a very good one but it just really looks like he is smiling for the camera.



This one was taken at my home not long after we got home.



This was taken about 3 months later. He is between Fizzgig my agouti Patchwork Rex and Odin my Topaz Bareback Rex.

[misskooky]

Yeah I getcha, Albinism is a masker. I know a little about breeding genetics, but not for mice. I was confused because I read somewhere that PEWs are not albinos but that albinos are separate, and it didn't make sense and had me all muddled up!
Wow that little boy is just absolutely gorgeous!! I would be sad too. What happened to him?