"Rats are like potato chips... you can't have just one." - Nash -

It has come to my attention that some visitors to the Spaz Rats website are confused about my breeding practices, so let me explain....

After my first accidental litter from Sage, pregnant at the pet store, I learned that most pet stores sell rats both as pets and as reptile food. I did not want the latter to happen to my babies so I decided then and there that any babies that were born in my home would stay with me for life, and I started by keeping all of Sage's nine pups. I had the opportunity to return the pups to the store for resale, but I declined the invitation from the store owner.

So I do breed rats. It started with a few accidental litters because I didn't have a good enough set-up to keep boys and girls totally separate from each other. I now breed rats obtained from other breeders, and special rats from my own litters, but I breed for myself. In some circles this is known as a "Closed Rattery". I'm still interested in genetics, health, temperament, and color, just like any breeder who would be selling their babies to the public. Note, a "Closed Rattery" also means that no one is allowed to come and go from your Rattery, and this is done to prevent the spread of disease. Something I also practice.

As with the accidental litters I found Myco and Tumors common in the lines of the pet store rats and that would be a burden I would not want to place on the shoulders of any rat-keeper. So I felt that the only responsible thing to do would be to keep these babies myself and deal with their lifetime health issues on my own.

However, the biggest issue that I have with giving my rats to others is that I fall madly in love with all of them, and my emotional attachment to them will not allow me to give them up.

Every rat that I take in, whether or not it is born here, has my home, as their forever home. I buy rats from ethical pet stores, and breeders; I rescue rats from the Humane Society, and from Small Animal Auctions; and I accept rats directly from people who no longer want to keep their pets. These rats are known collectively as the "Alfabit Rats".

With that said, come into the Rat Room and enjoy your visit with the Spaz Rats....past, and present.