08/06/2026
We really really need some more good rat breeders in NZ. Over the last few years a few of our most longstanding breeders have stopped or put their breeding on hold while they do other life things and left a bit of a void. I've heard through the grapevine another really big (but quite unethical) breeder is winding down so there's plenty of room for newbies.
The NZ Fancy Rat Society is a super supportive group of breeders and rat people who are always keen to help people start up (me in particular). We can help you with everything - finding rats from carefully bred healthy families, sharing studs, getting set up with cages etc, finding homes for babies, helping with the care, ethics, and husbandry side of things, and just generally being supporters and cheerleaders.
A couple of my current litters should be pretty good to breed on from if anyone wants to work on the fluffy line, and if you'd prefer to focus on markings there will be some potentially suitable future breeders born (hopefully) toward the end of the year.
Breeding is incredibly rewarding and, once you're set up, not a super expensive hobby (usually). My first litter was born in 2017 and I'm more than 10 generations down in some families! Here's a pic of a lovely golden family - starting from my first stud Rufio, all the way down to my potential future breeding boy Tiger Stripes. I could have added a few more generations in there if I had gone down the maternal line but it wouldn't have been so matchy matchy 😆
