23/05/2025
Adopting pet rats from an ethical breeder: Why the wait?
You have decided to get pet rats. You have done all your research. You have picked out names. You have gotten excited. You may even have gotten your setup ready. Finally, you decide to reach out to an ethical breeder, only to learn that you may be waiting for a few months before they have rats available! You are understandably disappointed and impatient to adopt the new pets you have been so eager for. You may even consider taking your chances at a pet shop or feeder breeder instead.
However, there are good reasons why many ethical breeders have a wait period before they have pups available. In fact, a breeder who always has rats available may even be a red flag that you are not, in fact, working with an ethical breeder. Many mill and back yard breeders masquerade as “pet breeders” to sell their rat pups for higher prices, while delivering the same quality of a cheaper feeder rat. One of the first indicators that you may be dealing with one of these breeders is that they always seem to have pups of the appropriate age ready to sell.
So, why can you expect a wait period when adopting from an ethical breeder, and why is this wait a good sign that you are working with a breeder who puts quality over quantity? The following article discusses the answers to these questions, as well as looking at why the wait is worth it.
Why do ethical breeders often have a wait period, and why is this a sign that they prioritize quality over quantity?
To answer these questions, it is important to understand that any truly ethical pet rat breeder is not making a profit from selling their rats. Ethical breeders are always prioritizing the health and temperament of the rats they breed, and assuring they produce the best quality pets can be very costly. The following are just some of the aspects of pet rat breeding that breeders need to consider:
Diet – Pet rats bred by an ethical breeder will have been raised on a high-quality dry mix with frequent fresh meals to provide rats with fresh fruits, vegetables and protein. Some breeders even choose to feed only on a fresh diet. This diet can be expensive, and takes time to prepare, but is crucial to assure the health of their rats.
Husbandry and cages – Ethical breeders keep their rats in pet setups. All their rats, whether future, current, or past breeders, or just pets, are kept in the same setups that are expected for rats to thrive. This means that they need enrichment, they cannot become overcrowded, and depending on how many lines a breeder is working on, they may easily have 3 or more cages in their house at a time. These setups take up a lot of space and require a lot of work, time and money to keep accessorized and clean.
Retired and pet rats – Pet breeders do not get rid of their retired breeders once they no longer breed them. Most females are bred only once in their life but will remain in the rattery for their entire lifespan to evaluate them for health and longevity. A surprising number of rats held back for breeding may also never be bred, as breeders select for the best temperament or hold onto backups for certain varieties. However, ethical breeders do not cull, and these rats will remain in their rattery as pets. This means that ethical breeders need to manage their space well so that their rattery does not become overcrowded.
Vet care – Ethical breeders view their rats as pets, just as any dog breeder will, and a sick rat will require veterinary care. Not only is vet care already expensive for most pets, but since rats are exotic pets, their care can be even more expensive. The more rats a breeder has, the more precariously steep their prospective vet costs can become.
These are just some of the things ethical breeders need to consider when they are deciding when and how often to breed. Most breeders will focus on one or two lines at most, so that they have the resources to maintain these lines. If a breeder takes on too much, they will not be able to afford the space, enrichment or food required to continue producing good-quality pets. They will also not be able to give the necessary attention to their lines to properly evaluate temperament and health.
Considering all of this, ethical, reputable breeders will limit the number of breedings they do. They may breed only as many as four litters per year and will not breed more than two litters at any one time. Having no more than two litters at a time to manage, ensures that the breeder can spend adequate time with all of the pups to evaluate them for temperament. Most breeders also choose not to breed during winter. This is because early evaluation of temperament in pups is difficult if they are sheltering from the cold in their hides.
Furthermore, for the health of their females, and the quality of their lines, ethical breeders will wait until females are at least 6 months before breeding them. This ensures that females are old and large enough to care for and nurse all of their pups, and it gives breeders time to accurately evaluate temperament. For the health of the female, ethical breeders will also not breed their females back-to-back but will give them at least 3 months of rest before breeding them a second time, if they do choose to breed them a second time. Most of the time, however, females are bred only once in their life and are then replaced by their daughters as the next breeders. Feeder breeders, on the other hand, will breed a female from the moment she is fertile, and will keep her with a male constantly so she can produce as many pups as possible during her lifetime.
Unfortunately, this does mean that you may expect a wait time when adopting from an ethical breeder. However, this wait is well worth it for the quality of the pets that you will receive. So let us explore the many benefits of adopting from an ethical breeder.
Why is the wait worth it?
Pet rats from a reputable breeder are not much more expensive than adopting from a pet shop, especially when one considers the cost for a pedigree animal of almost any other species. In fact, according to SARBU’s cost guide, the most expensive you can expect to pay for any variety is R250 per rat from well-established, 5 generation pedigree lines. Yet, despite the marginally higher price, there are many benefits when adopting from a reputable breeder:
1. As we have already mentioned, breeders choose parents for good health, friendly temperament and longevity. While it is impossible to predict what one will receive from a pet shop or feeder, rats from ethical breeders have more predictable personalities and are less prone to genetic health conditions. Breeders will also give you an honest and accurate assessment of what you can expect from the specific pups you are adopting from them.
2. Pups from ethical breeders will be weaned and socialised at the appropriate age and with the appropriate methods. Breeders will keep pups with mom until they are 5 weeks old before splitting them into their respective genders and letting them socialise with friendly adults for at least a week before they are sent home. This ensures rats that are well-adjusted, confident, and used to human handling. It also helps with introductions to existing colonies as the new pups have been well-socialised with other rats.
3. Rat pups from ethical breeders are raised in pet environments from birth. They are treated as companions, and not as livestock, which means that they easily adapt to household settings. Besides often needing trust training to be handled, many rats from feeders and pet shops are also not used to large enclosures or vertical space, so may even be unfamiliar with the concept of climbing when they come to their new home.
4. Pups from reputable breeders will be free from parasites when brought home. Ethical breeders do regular health checks and ensure appropriate treatment before the pups leave for their new homes. Rats from feeders or pet shops will almost certainly have parasites and will need to be treated when you bring them home.
5. If you are adopting females from a pet shop or feeder, odds are high that one or more of them is pregnant. However, ethical breeders will ensure that females and males are separated at 5 weeks, and you can be assured that you do not need to prepare for any surprise litters.
6. Rats from reputable breeders will have eaten a balanced, nutritious diet from a young age. This promotes healthy development and results in healthier, larger animals than rats that are solely bred as feeders.
7. Lastly, if you are adopting from a pet breeder, you can expect continued support after adoption. Your breeder will be available to give advice, or to take rats back in worst-case scenarios.
Ultimately, while having to wait for your new pet may be frustrating, the wait is worth it. Not only are you supporting ethical, sustainable breeding, but you are waiting for quality and support that you will not be able to get from a pet shop.
