Tail_less
New Member
I can understand what you mean about indiscriminate breeders/fanciers who will happily sacrifice temperament in order to get a special marking, colour or coat type. For me, you have to be able to handle them foremost, with a stable and trustworthy temperament. And ditto for a healthy body.
You know the manx rats (tailless) have a form of spina bifida? And dumbos (with ears on the side) are considered 'sooo cute' but actually have downs syndrome?
Who would want to perpetuate that? It's downright cruel breeding these genetic freaks and mutants as a 'fancy' breed when they are something that should be culled out.
Rexes and patchwork hairless aren't properly stabilised yet as a breed...they do end up runty and sickly from inbreeding. And blues are still very dodgy. They had this bleeding problem like haemophilia where if they got cut the blood wouldn't clot. This also happened internally. Ugh.
I used to be a member of a rat fancier's society but I quit because of the lack of ethics I was seeing in the other breeders. When I reported what I knew to the head honchos, they just turned a blind eye. I thought hell, what is the point? If we are not here to promote the healthiest, nicest natured and best of the breed...then why bother?
I am always prepared to pay anything for a sane, nice natured and well bred, healthy rat of any regular colour. Thankfully there are some fancy rat breeders out there who are ethical and realistic. It's just a matter of sorting out the wheat from the chaff.
You know the manx rats (tailless) have a form of spina bifida? And dumbos (with ears on the side) are considered 'sooo cute' but actually have downs syndrome?
Who would want to perpetuate that? It's downright cruel breeding these genetic freaks and mutants as a 'fancy' breed when they are something that should be culled out.
Rexes and patchwork hairless aren't properly stabilised yet as a breed...they do end up runty and sickly from inbreeding. And blues are still very dodgy. They had this bleeding problem like haemophilia where if they got cut the blood wouldn't clot. This also happened internally. Ugh.
I used to be a member of a rat fancier's society but I quit because of the lack of ethics I was seeing in the other breeders. When I reported what I knew to the head honchos, they just turned a blind eye. I thought hell, what is the point? If we are not here to promote the healthiest, nicest natured and best of the breed...then why bother?
I am always prepared to pay anything for a sane, nice natured and well bred, healthy rat of any regular colour. Thankfully there are some fancy rat breeders out there who are ethical and realistic. It's just a matter of sorting out the wheat from the chaff.
