GENERAL QUESTIONS
HOW OFTEN DO YOU HANDLE BABIES?
During the first 5 weeks of their lives, our babies get handled for health check ups, photos and when their enclosure is being cleaned.
AT WHAT AGE DO YOU SELL BABIES TO NEW HOMES?
Babies are weaned and sexes separated at 5 weeks. They spend one more week here, minimum. Our babies are ready to go to new homes from 6 weeks onwards. All babies get a final health check up the evening before planned collection.
WHAT HAPPENS TO BABIES IF THEY DON’T GET OFFERED A HOME?
No worries! Babies who don’t get offered a home, stay with us. They will be available to buy, but will stay with us as loved pets as long as needed. We do not breed more than we can hold back at a time.
DO YOU EVER CULL BABIES?
We cull babies only for health and safety reasons, like failure to thrive(FTT) or major injuries for examples. We do not cull babies for aesthetic reasons or to make space.
DO YOU SELL YOUR RATS AS FEEDERS?
No. We only sell our animals as pets.
DO YOU USE RACKS OR BIN CAGES?
We do not use a rack system, but we do use bin cages for temporary housing and transport. The bins are used for does to give birth in and to nurse the babies for the first two weeks, hospital cages and for long distance transport. All the bins are kitted with hides and toys to make them comfortable.
WHAT BEDDING DO YOU USE?
Kiln dried pine (Bedmax) and Horse cardboard squares (Bedkind)
WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR RATS?
Our rats are fed a home made food mix and suitable lab blocks. Veggies are offered afew times a week.
WHAT DO I DO IF I CAN NO LONGER KEEP THE RATS I GOT FROM YOU?
The rats are always welcome to come back. Please contact me ASAP so we can find a time and date when you bring the ratties back. Once back in my care, i will asses the animals and rehome them if they’re all good or keep them here as pets if they are very old or in poor health.
BREEDING QUESTIONS
WHERE DID YOUR DWARFS COME FROM? HAVENT SEEN THEM IN UK BEFORE
Our dwarfs arrived to us from germany in autumn 2020, from Karni mata.
DO YOU SELL RATS FOR BREEDING?
Yes, but if you are lookin to buy our rats as starting stock or as new additions to your existing lines, please be up front and honest about it. Its always best to work together for the best out come. You will be given records of what the rats and their lineage carries and other valuable info on the lines. If after buying our rats as pets, you decide you’re interested in breeding them, please contact me before doing so. Together we can make sure that you know what youre getting into and that you are in a place in life where its a good decision to become a breeder. Making friends with other breeders is very valuable as a first timer and as a veteran.
HOW MANY LITTERS DO YOU BREED AT A TIME?
2-3 litters at a time depending what kinda rats we are pairing. Pearl and dwarf litter tend to smaller. Knowing this, i like to pair two large litters, or two small litters and one large at a time. New litters won't be paired until most of the current babies have gone to new homes. We do not breed over the capacity we can hold back, you never know when the world goes crazy and you’ll be stuck with all the babies for multiple extra weeks due to lockdowns etc.
AT WHAT AGE ARE YOUR DOES BRED?
Our does are bred for the first time around 5 months old. Age is not the only thing taken into consideration with our does. They must weigh a minimum of 250g and have a healthy and strong body condition. A doe will not be bred if they have been consistently sick, instead they will be removed from breeding plans and kept as a loved pet.
HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOUR DOES BRED?
1-2 times, 2 being the most common with our does. In some cases i find the doe looses a lot of body condition during mother hood, i will not breed these does again, instead they will retire and be kept as pets. If there were any major complications with birth or feeding the babies, the doe will not be bred again.
HOW DO YOU HOUSE MOTHER AND BABIES?
Birth and first 2 weeks the does and babies will spend in large bin cages with hides and other enrichment. Once the babies open their eyes around 2 weeks of age, the doe and babies will be moved to a grow out cage, currently our grow our cages are savic zeno2s. Once the babies are weaned at five weeks, males and females go to their own Mamble 100 cages.
WHERE DID YOUR STARTING STOCK COME FROM?
Pipistrelle Mouse and Rattery.
HEALTH QUESTIONS
CAN YOU RECOMMEND VETS IN THE AREA?
Chine house has fantastic facilities for exotics and you can take a bus from Leicester city center right to their door step.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH TIPS?
Mite treatment is sold pre-dosed in pet stores in uk, so it does not require a vet visit unless the mite infestation is severe or there are other complications.
Beaphar spot on is a great safe, affordable brand.
Do not buy bob martins spot on, its known to be dangerous.
During winter house heating can dry up the air very badly, this can irritate the respiratory system. If you notice your rats having more respiratory issues, investing in a humidifier can make a big difference.
Its always good to have a small cage available as a hospital cage!