Standard Animal Breeder Red Flags:
🚩 Animals look poorly/ breeder not sending photos or requested videos
A reputable breeder will send videos and photos when they can upon request. Always reverse search the image if possible as well, it is always possible they are a someone trying to scam others. If the animals look sick, or uncared for, of course that is a cause for concern.
*Never send a deposit before being sent legitimate images.
🚩 Breeder not asking questions
A reputable breeder will ask about many things. Habitat, other rats/animals, kids in the home, experience, substrate, diet, living conditions, free roam for free roaming animals, and more. When a breeder doesn’t ask these questions, or have one fill out an adoption request form, then it is obvious they do not care about what living conditions and standards the animal(s) they are selling will be in.
It is common for a breeder to ask for an odd picture, such as a spoon or cup on top of the habitat, or a newspaper with the date on the front with the habitat in the photo, this is to ensure you are not stealing someone else’s image, and to ensure you are giving them optimal living conditions and reaching the standard of care for this animal.
🚩 Breeder not offering advice
If a breeder will not offer you advice, or assist you when you ask questions, they are not reputable. They will be more than happy to provide sources, and answer your questions rather than have you wonder.
Rat Breeder Specific Red Flags:
🚩 Not listing variety
There are a number of ‘breeders’ that post and send pictures without clarification as to what exactly it is you are purchasing. There are varieties; varying coats and colours. It’s good to know what exactly your rat is variety wise, as some varieties have health predispositions. Though setting price by variety is controversial,
🚩 Adopting out rats before six weeks of age
Rats, at the very least, need to stay with the breeder until six weeks of age. This is to ensure the temperament and health of the rats, and monitor them after leaving their mom and weaning. Breeders adopting out sooner are not reputable. The best and most ideal age for reputable breeders to adopt out is eight weeks of age.
🚩 Selling single rats
A reputable breeder would not send out a rat alone, as they shouldn’t go into a new environment by themselves, even if the adopter has other rats. Rats are not solitary animals, taking someone's word is a huge risk and a reputable breeder will not send out singletons. Even in cases in which rats will be introduced to an existing mischief, being brought into an established clan and new environment is extremely stressful, being alone through that process can have consequences. It is also advised new rats undergo thorough and proper quarantine before being introduced to others, this can range from a few weeks to a few months, a long time for a social animal to be without their own kind.
🚩 Selling in pairs instead of trios
Groups do best, not only for hierarchy reasons, but when one passes away, the other isn’t alone and forced to go through introductions without a familiar companion. This is not necessary a reason to cross off a breeder entirely, however a truly reputable breeder will push for a trio if one does not have other rats already.
Controversial Rat Breeding Practices:
*I am not trying to highlight my opinion, I’m trying to be unbiased and simply highlight some concerns about some of the controversies out there.
🚩 Pricing based on variety/lineage
Arguably one of the most controversial practices, there are many breeders that price rats differently.
For instance, someone breeding dwarves and standard rats. With dwarves holding a lot more health issues and being more difficult to breed in a sense, more effort, money, work, and time is put into that line than a standard line. However, one shouldn’t be pricing based off gender (for pet homes) or mother specifics that don’t take a lot of work. Things like breeding dumbo vs top ear, in some places one is more rare than the other, in which it could be understandable to price them differently.
Someone pricing based off how long they have been breeding, or how much effort has been put into a line isn’t necessarily a red flag, just something some do or don’t agree with.
Apply as much logic and factors as you can, and come to your own conclusion/opinion on this controversial and quite honestly complicated topic.
🚩 Colony breeding
Colony breeding is the practice in which a male is placed into a cage with multiple females, the male then impregnates each female. This practice can be stressful on the rats, as it is often constant mating and pregnancy. This can, and has, resulted in severe injuries and even death; As many negligently ross a male (or a few) into a cage of females without doing proper intros. Some are confident they know their lines but many lie and are just beginning this practice.
🚩 Breeding True Hairless
True hairless rats are completely unethical, the absence of the thymus gland leaves them predisposed to severe immune deficiencies. They also lack whiskers, which causes them to have a difficult time getting around. Rats have poor eyesight, they rely on their whiskers to get around; Truly hairless rats are completely absent of hair, and thus don't have whiskers, making it extremely difficult for them to navigate a new cage layout or new environment. Rats of this variety are rare, and most commonly found within lab environments and not as pets, though there are some out there.
🚩 Breeding rats of the Hairless variety
These rats often have skin issues. Awhile heavily moderating and administrating large facebook groups, I have seen more abscesses and cysts and severe skin concerns within the rats of the hairless variety compared to their furry counterparts.
🚩 Breeding Manx
Manx rats have quite a few issues. Not only does the tail provide body temperature control, but it also assists majorly in balance. When they are born without a tail, they are at a severe disadvantage and face possible life long pain due to spinal cord structure issues.
I am in no way saying a rat should be euthanized due to lacking a tail, I’m simply saying that breeding this variety is unfair through and through due to the issues that they have.