Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm currently having a debate with my 12 yr old daughter - I know, I'll lose every time right? She wanted a pet rat but the pet store only had "feeder" rats. She handled it and it wasn't mean or anything so she forked over the $4 or so and brought it home. Well, it died about 3 or 4 days later. She and her sister have had other "pet quality" rats that lived several years. Soooo - she is now convinced that feeder rats are genetically bred to live less than a week since they're going to be eaten anyway. When I asked her why I get to choose between small, medium, and large feeders she says they just feed the large ones more, they don't really live longer !!

Anyway, I told her last night I'd post this and get some feedback from knowledgeable rat breeders or longtime herpers.

Fire away everyone!!!

All my breeder rats have been bought in pet shops as "feeder rats" They live just as long as any other rat of pet quality. The only problems with buying from pet shops is A..some of the feeder rats are retired breeders... B.. Most are usually sick with Myco symptoms.. IE.. respiratory infections... which, when given correct food and bedding, usually go away though weaker individuals will succumb to it. All of my breeder rats live long and healthy lives... I had one that was 4 before he died... Surprised us all to live that long...
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Lucien

1.0 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)
3.1 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzard and 2 het Blizzard)
0.1 Savannah Monitor
13 rats
12 Gerbils
2 Dogs
3 cats
1 Albino Corey (fish)

My first 2 breeder females were purchased as feeder pups. When they weren't eaten I mixed a formula and raised them up. I bought a feeder rat male and have since tossed in a few dumbos. I have lost a couple of my females to the respiratory thing and lost a pair of Russian blues before I had a chance to even get them started. Other than these few my rats have all been very healthy, have produced large healthy litters, and have been very friendly with the exception of a couple who quickly became feeders!

So, feeders and pet rats are the same critter but as Lucien stated the feeders are frequently retired breeders and I would say that those sold as pets are just the luck of the draw when they are sorted out. Many of those that are sold as feeders are males that are being culled out since you don’t need as many males as females when you are breeding.
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

The main difference between feeder and pet rats is that the fancy type rats are generally sold for pets. (Blues, rex, hairless, fancy patterns, etc.) This is just because most people like something other than all white, black, brown rats for pets. Also, people buying pet rats will pay extra for the colors/patterns they want while people buying feeder rats won't. Genetically and health wise, they are pretty much all the same. I hold back my nicer ones for breeding and guess what? I now have about 15 colonies consisting of about 95% blue rats. Everything I produce is now used as feeders even though most pet shops would sell blues at a premium.

One other thing. Pet rats must be weaned before selling since they can't eat on their own yet. Feeder rats can be sold at any size since they will not need to be eating for very long!

Was the rat you bought possibly too small to eat on it's own? 4 days would be about the right time period for one to starve if it wasn't weaned yet.

So basically, the only difference between the two is marketing (profit/demand for fancy rats) and weaning.

Rodney