we have looked everywhere but only could find albino rats with red eyes. no hoodeis (black eyes) we want a pet not a feeder.
Please help!!!
Actually, "pet" rats are the one and same as "feeder" rats ...
There are no types of rats, and it is all up to individual personality to determine how nice of a pet one can make. It is up to the way you raise it more so than genetics, on top of that. Pink Eyed Whites are one marking of rat, but it represents nothing other than the outer appearance. Are you really so shallow you choose your pet based on looks?
Just because a rat is called a feeder, doesn't mean it isn't still a rat ...
EDIT: White rats being blind is a pure myth. ALL rats have poor sight, and lighter coloured eyes are sometimes worse off than darker ones. This is an anatomical relationship, but having said that, eyes are not either black or red, but mixed shades in between as well. It is pretty uncommon for a rat to be completely blind out of genetics.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com You are right about feeder rats being bred improperly, but you are wrong in thinking "pet" rats are even the least bit different. There is a huge difference between private breeders and pet stores. Breeders usually DO NOT make any profit, but spend time, knowledge and money in breeding healthy, friendly pets they sell out of their own home; more of a hobby than a sales production. Stores are all about PROFIT, which means they can't afford to wait around for quality, but are rather driven by quantity and buyer appeal. Most stores get their rodents trucked over from rodent breeding farms, where conditions are just as bad as you described. They do not have time, money or interest in health, genetics, nutrition, cleanliness, socializing, etc . Pet stores may supply you with more colour variations, but underneath that, they are just as good as feeder quality animals.
Here is a site worthy of a glance:
http://www.brecklagh.com/petshops.html pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com I really don't mean to offend you in anything I say, but I hope that you don't associate quality with anything that comes out of a pet store. Instead, why try to find a private breeder?
And I suppose you should like the way your pet looks, but isn't their character more important? What goood is a beautiful animal when it bites you and hates handling? Just a thought.
I see lots of hooded rats at my local petco, in differing colors (I've seen cream, black, and grey, but mostly chocolate) in fact, most are not albino. It depends on the supplier, I guess.
Talk to smaller shops and ask if they can call you if they get one in.
I breed feeder mice myself, and I keep them in really clean conditions, socialize them, and make sure there isn't any inbreeding, so don't discount a "feeder". It's better for my reptiles to eat mice that are healthy . Check craigslist and see if anyone in your area is selling feeder rats, give them a call and ask them how they keep their rats, and if you can see their set up. Tell them you are looking for a pet. Most will be upfront with you about if their stock would make good pets. Not all will care how their rats are raised, but you'll probably find at least someone who is making an effort to raise healthy, geneticly sound animals.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com PS I don't like the way albino rodents look either. I don't blame you for wanting a rat with a bit of character;)
Try going to somewhere like a Petco, Petsmart and Petupermarket. A chain shop should carry them.
