Rat breeding re: inbreeding

ChristinaM · 04-30-04, 11:40 PM

I have a pair of unrelated rats that I am breeding. They are pets, but their babies are not.

If I were to raise a couple of the female babies to breedable age, would it be "acceptable" to breed them with their father? Or am I looking at birth defects, etc?

Around here I've found it hard to get unrelated rats, due to only one supplier....But I do have the male and female, but ultimately I'd like to up it to 1.5. If I have to get the girls elsewhere I will, but if I can raise them up and mate them with dad, it would be easier. Not so if the results would be increased stillborns, deformites, etc.

Oliverian · 04-30-04, 11:42 PM

If you're breeding for feeders, the snakes won't care if the rats are deformed or not. Personally I have rat-son who breeds with his mom, and no problems so far. Sounds a little harsh but I don't think it causes too severe of problems if they aren't heavily inbred. If you're breeding for pets though, it may be a problem if you kept breeding generations. Good luck.

-TammyR

Matt_K · 04-30-04, 11:45 PM

I can't see you having any problems at all. I have a couple colonies going right now i use daughter to fathers all the time, have yet to have the slighest problem.. I think most people on here that breed rats have had Son to mother or father to daughter breedings of their rats quite frequently

Oliverian · 04-30-04, 11:51 PM

Da da da DA da daaaaaaaaa! SUPER-Moderator!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Must have had too much sugar or something.

-TammyR

Matt_K · 05-01-04, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oliverian
Da da da DA da daaaaaaaaa! SUPER-Moderator!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist. Must have had too much sugar or something.

-TammyR

*smiles and pretends to know what is going on*

sapphire_moon · 05-01-04, 06:11 AM

Even if you went to 5 different pet stores your chances of getting related pairs are pretty high. Most rats are already inbred when you buy them, even the "fancy" ones from the high profile breeders. Unless you go to two different states to get an unrelated pair, which there is still a GOOD chance that the pair is related.

Inbreeding doesn't hurt unless you heavily inbreed which could take YEARS for rats to show defects......IMO only.

BoidKeeper · 05-01-04, 07:13 AM

I've been doing it for two years to feed my 30+ snakes. When I started I had two rats. Sure I picked up some fresh blood along the way but I started with two.
Hey, they're being raised for food not to be rocket scientist.
Cheers,
Trevor

Jayson · 05-01-04, 08:51 AM

I would say that most if not all captive rats are inbred. Even alot of fancy rat breeders will line breed for 5 or more generations to get that perfect morph or mutation, and large scale breeders surely dont do blood work on their rats before pairing them up.
Also I provide pet rats to 4 local pet shops, so buying rats in my area will get you brothers and sisters in most cases.
I have also provided new blood lines to other breeders in ontario,

Linds · 05-01-04, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oliverian
If you're breeding for feeders, the snakes won't care if the rats are deformed or not.

Although feeders do not have to be in wicked genetic condition to be eaten, you don't want to be breeding deformed or otherwise weak animals, as this will only become counterproductive to your colony's production. You want to be breeding strong animals so they will breed large, healthy litters on a regular basis.

annieb_mice · 05-01-04, 09:45 PM

Breeding brother to sister is not recommended as any genetic problems <ie: poor health, ect> will have a MUCH higher chance of being passed on to the offspring. However, a father to daughter or mother to son match doesn't contain nearly as much risk and many people, including many "pet and fancy" rat breeders do this type of breeding regularly.
These are feeders that you are breeding and if you are doing this solely for your own animals, I wouldn't worry about it.
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~