{ABOUT THE OWNER}
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It’s been a long time, but years ago I wanted to get a pet for my middle school science classroom. Much to the disgust of some of my classmates that pet was a black self rat named Tar. At the time I hadn't done a lot of research as far as what rats need, and so poor tar lived by himself, but with lots of interaction from the class.
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In the time after that year I have had many pets, from horses, dogs and cats to guinea pigs and snakes. Many were kept as pets but some got rehomed. Throughout it all I really wanted to get back to owning rats. In my late 20's I was able to again, and I adopted Alfie from a girl who was leaving the east coast for the west coast, and could not afford to take him with her. Alfie was housed alone when I first met him, and was very shy. I brought him home, bonded with him as best I could, and started looking for a couple of buddies for him. Ryker and Houdini arrived a couple months after Alfie had, and his obvious excitement and joy at seeing the babies made doing introductions insanely easy (much easier than other introductions after had gone).
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Alfie passed in May of 2016 after struggling with a myco flare, after what I guesstimated to be his second birthday. Watching him struggle with a sensitive respiratory system I decided I wanted to try and breed pet rats with better health.
RuBY's Issy - Black Berkshire double Rex Dumbo Bred by Emerald City Rattery
Goals & Lines
My primary goal is health, longevity and temperament of my rats. I want healthy, long lived, friendly rats that will make fantastic pets. It's heartbreaking to lose any pet, as they become such a fixture in our lives. feeder bin or pet store rats have a woefully short lifespan, some not even making it to their second birthday. It's sad enough that these awesome litter critters don't get as long on this earth as our other pets, but to lose them so young due to poor breeding and health issues is heartbreaking. Likewise having an unfriendly rat does not make a good pet. My rats want to be with their people. my entire colony rushes to the cage door to greet me when I walk in the room, and most will give licks and kisses when I'm close enough for them to do so.
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While the above are most important, I do focus on specific patterns/colors. I breed both Standard and Dumbo ear, although I have a preference for Dumbo.
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COLORS:
Some may find them kind of boring, but I just love how a nice jet black rat looks, regardless of pattern. The sharp contract of white (if they have any markings) with teh black is really lovely.
Russian blue is another color I'll be working on, though in marked primarily.
Agouti and Cinnamon. Something about how these display really appeals to me. They just look so soft.
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Self - I'm working on this line so that I have a "clean" line to outcross to with other varieties. Plus I just really like how selfs look. This line will primarily be black, agouti and cinnamon.
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Marble - Because of how marbling (or Tabby as AFRMA calls it) displays I think this variety looks best on solidly colored rats. There are health issues with this line that I am working on. This line will primarily be black and Russian Blue
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Blazed - My perfect rat is a black wedge blazed self. It's possible, but it's going to be a long term project. I will be working closely with my mentor on this to ensure I'm doing breedings safely.
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Silvermane: I LOVE the look of this on black rats. I'll be working to improve how silver the line gets. Personality wise this variety is fantastic! All of my silvermanes are big squishes and will let you do anything with them. They are softer than standard rats as well. This line will be focused on black coloring.
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Harley - A brand new line for me and one that I won't be working on til 2017
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Marten - Another brand new line for me, I will not be working with this line until 2017
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