about us...
Matt & Chelsea
We’re young, in love, and big rat fans. Matt jokes that I love them more than him, I just laugh :P Matt goes to Melbourne Uni for science & engineering and loves building the ratties play houses. I go to ACU for early childhood & primary education and just love giving and recieving kisses, cuddles, and scratches. We love spending time with our kids and try to give them the best and most loving home.
We’re young, in love, and big rat fans. Matt jokes that I love them more than him, I just laugh :P Matt goes to Melbourne Uni for science & engineering and loves building the ratties play houses. I go to ACU for early childhood & primary education and just love giving and recieving kisses, cuddles, and scratches. We love spending time with our kids and try to give them the best and most loving home.
my rats...
Yoshi my 1st girl, sweet as a button and the boss of everyone. She lived alone for 6 mon with me and can not love me enough, always licking, grooming, and loving!
Boo bought as a baby from Ratmadness Rattery. She has a slight Rex coat which just makes her look very scruffy and cute! She’s very funny! LOVES hand chasing, she’ll run away and run right back for more! SO CUTE!
Dora The darling little girl from Boo's litter, Dora is cheeky and shy. She is super playful and very small for her age! She's gorgeous, has a lovely personality, and has such a cute little stature.
Gus was a rescue from Ingrid and Ruby Rattery. He's a chubby little man, loves hand chases and scratches and yoggies. Very slow and lazy, and he loves his cuddles and rubs. He is truly a golden rat, and we love his nuzzles and kisses.
Ezio is one of Boo's babies. He is a beautiful black bareback rex. He is SUCH a glutton and has a really squishy bum to boot! He is fiesty, lovely, and sweet.
Ratatouille is a white self. He is the most intelligent rat we've ever had! He opens the cage doors and can get into anything! What a cheeky monkey!
Gareth is a gorgeous fat hooded black double rex. He is sweet and quiet, but he loves hand plays and roughing up his brothers! He is very handsome and gentle.
Boo bought as a baby from Ratmadness Rattery. She has a slight Rex coat which just makes her look very scruffy and cute! She’s very funny! LOVES hand chasing, she’ll run away and run right back for more! SO CUTE!
Dora The darling little girl from Boo's litter, Dora is cheeky and shy. She is super playful and very small for her age! She's gorgeous, has a lovely personality, and has such a cute little stature.
Gus was a rescue from Ingrid and Ruby Rattery. He's a chubby little man, loves hand chases and scratches and yoggies. Very slow and lazy, and he loves his cuddles and rubs. He is truly a golden rat, and we love his nuzzles and kisses.
Ezio is one of Boo's babies. He is a beautiful black bareback rex. He is SUCH a glutton and has a really squishy bum to boot! He is fiesty, lovely, and sweet.
Ratatouille is a white self. He is the most intelligent rat we've ever had! He opens the cage doors and can get into anything! What a cheeky monkey!
Gareth is a gorgeous fat hooded black double rex. He is sweet and quiet, but he loves hand plays and roughing up his brothers! He is very handsome and gentle.
my ethics...
Health
Temperment
Appearance
Documentation & Evaluation
Restricted Litters
Planning
Precision
I breed first and foremost for the continued and bettered health of the species before anything else, although I do take markings and coat types into account in a pairing. I only chose rats with excellent health, lovely personalities, and handsome markings.
All of my breeding rats have to pass health and personality at the right age. All of my rats are seen by a local vet specializing in rat health at the point when they reach the best stage for breeding; 6-8 months for females and at least 8 months for males. Pet store rats will only be bred in exceptional circumstances where they have golden personalities and incredible health.
My girls are only bred twice in their life times. Their first litter is between the ages of 6-8 months, and depending on their health and outcome of the litter they will be evaluated for having a second litter. I'm a teacher by profession so documentation is one of my specialties. The second litter will be right before a year old. My girls are then happily retired as loved pets.
I will breed from my males no earlier than 8 months old, but preferrably I'd like them to be over 12 months old so that I can fully assess their possible change in temperament towards other rats and people as they age. Many male rats go through a hormonal change around 8 months old, and this can cause some males to become aggressive, particularly towards other males. I will never breed from a male that shows agressive tendencies as this passes down to his sons.
Litters will be held every day from day one, so that they are very socialized and friendly. Male and Female babies will be separated at 5 weeks old, and then after 6 weeks old they should be ready to go to their new homes.
All of my breeding rats have to pass health and personality at the right age. All of my rats are seen by a local vet specializing in rat health at the point when they reach the best stage for breeding; 6-8 months for females and at least 8 months for males. Pet store rats will only be bred in exceptional circumstances where they have golden personalities and incredible health.
My girls are only bred twice in their life times. Their first litter is between the ages of 6-8 months, and depending on their health and outcome of the litter they will be evaluated for having a second litter. I'm a teacher by profession so documentation is one of my specialties. The second litter will be right before a year old. My girls are then happily retired as loved pets.
I will breed from my males no earlier than 8 months old, but preferrably I'd like them to be over 12 months old so that I can fully assess their possible change in temperament towards other rats and people as they age. Many male rats go through a hormonal change around 8 months old, and this can cause some males to become aggressive, particularly towards other males. I will never breed from a male that shows agressive tendencies as this passes down to his sons.
Litters will be held every day from day one, so that they are very socialized and friendly. Male and Female babies will be separated at 5 weeks old, and then after 6 weeks old they should be ready to go to their new homes.
my rat journey...
I was lucky to have grown up around rats. I had a close family friend who had the loveliest female rats, and they would always curl up in the pocket of my sweater and sleep. After school I would wait in front of their apartment till Ron came home from work just so I could hold, cuddle, and play with their rats.
In July of 2009 I moved from my home in Anchorage, Alaska to Melbourne, Australia to go to school and be with my boyfriend, Matt. Having come from a home with 2 dogs, and living in a dinky, small, jail cell of a dorm room I wanted something to keep my company. I went to a local pet store and fell in love with Yoshi at first sight. I bought her instantly. I was guilty of not doing research and the pet store worker gave me, what I later learned, was incorrect and bad information. Only out of my desire to be the best rat owner I could be, and doing extensive online research, did I realize that her information was false. Not only did she let me take just one rat home to live all alone, but she also told me that pine shavings were safe to use, and sold me rat food that was inappropriate and too high in protein! While Yoshi was an only child for 6 months, I was a very doting and loving mother and we were best buddies. But, I've learned that a rat living alone is a sad and lonely existence, even with a really dedicated owner, and the pet shop should have made encouraged me to get two rats instead of telling me one on its own would be okay. Selling me pine shavings for bedding was so inappropriate! When I think about the health damage that she could have caused by not knowing the proper care for the animals in the store, it just upsets me. I’ll stop ranting.
In January of 2009 I knew that I wanted to get a companion for Yoshi. I found an add on Gumtree for Rat Madness Rattery advertising Tash’s babies, I replied to her add and picked out my darling, Boo. Tash was, at the time, looking for a home for her adult rat Mishke (now Peach!), and I happily brought Peach into my home while we waited for Boo to be old enough. Yoshi is a bit of a boss and after a few days of pecking order arguing Peach and Yoshi were best buddies! They always share a nest/hammock and groom each other every day. A few weeks later, Boo was ready to come home. She was sooo tiny and cute!! As a little baby, she annoyed Yoshi to death, as Yoshi had never had to deal with other rats, let alone babies. Peach, having come from a breeder, was so good to Boo and played mommy till Boo was older. It was soon thereafter that we noticed Peach was developing a cataract in her left eye. Instantly we took her, and all of our rats, to the vet. The vet gave them all a clean bill of health, and said that there was no obvious reason for Peach’s cataract, but that they are common in rats. She said that Peach would go blind, and sure enough within only about two weeks she was completely blind. This was such a sad and disheartening experience for Matt and I as we love each of our rats dearly. We were worried that her quality of life would be hindered and that she would suffer, but since then we have been proven wrong by Peach’s happy and otherwise healthy life. She hasn’t had to be moved to her own single story cage, and she easily navigates our 3 story one. She has proved to us that a rat with a disability can still live a beautiful and fulfilling life! A few weeks later I decided to get Boo a companion when I went into a local pet store that I frequent and know a lot about. Daisy was added to the family in a spur of the moment decision, as I couldn’t resist her sweet nature. She just sat in my hand and looked at me with her big pretty eyes. Now she's the biggest girl, such a goof. I just recently brought Gus into the family. He's a rescue from Ingrid at Ruby Rattery he's about four months old and an agouti. He's clumsy and a goof, but very quiet and sooky.
That’s how my rat family has come to be, but I always want to add to my family! I love rats and their individual personalities are so intriguing. Right now I'm getting ready for Boo to be a mom and bringing my first ratty litter into the world :)
