Heidi's Rat Corner

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Guidelines for buyers

Are you planning on getting another rat? Do you want to be in on a long term project that may increase the pet rat's life span, produce healthier and happier rats? Or do you just want to have a cute little pet or two, and have no plans for breeding? Then please contact me!
(See contact information at the bottom of the page).

I have some strict rules on who I will give my baby rats to, but it will vary with time and with litter. It may depend on whether you are planning to breed or not, or if you would be interested in letting me borrow the rat for future breeding. It may depend on how many rats you already have, on your age, and also sometimes on your location. For instance, I would like to keep some rats close if they are intended for future breeding.

I hope you will let me be involved in deciding on the rat's breeding status. If it is a female rat, I might have her at my place for breeding if you are not interested in having a litter. For male rats the time scope is a bit larger, as they will not be used in breeding until they are older than a year. Typically I will only breed a female rat once, males sometimes twice. Some rats I will not like to breed at all, and then I will ask you to also refrain from breeding him/her.

I will generally not give a rat to you if you have more than 20 rats at home. This is because I want to ensure that all rats get enough attention, and that all signs of misbehavior will be noticed when the rat is in his/her cage. When having large groups of animals together, it may become more difficult to spot who is creating the turbulence, it may not be who it appears! Contagious diseases are also more frequently seen among the large rat groups, just because of the larger number and thus more opportunities to bring something into the rattery.

I will probably want you to sign a contract agreeing on the breeding status of the rat, and also stating that you will contact me if the rat changes behavior, gets ill, or if you have to give it away. I will probably want to be involved in relocating the rat, and will take it back if you want to. Although I doubt that such a contract would be legally binding, I hope that we can agree on keeping our promises.

Be aware that you get no guarantees when buying or receiving a rat from me! Even if I try to select my breeding rats carefully, I can not give you any warrant on the babies' health or future temperament. But you can be sure that I will always let you know if I suspect there could be some problems with the bloodlines, and I will not send the babies away from home unless they are in good health, and completely secure around humans and other rats.

Contact information:
Contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in receiving a rat from me at some time. I do not keep a "first in, first served" system, I'd rather like to find the perfect companion to you based on your wishes (and mine). So it may take a while before you get the squeaker home, as it also depends on me finding the right parents. I prefer to receive an e-mail from you, telling me a little about youself and your experience with rats, what rat you are looking for, and your future plans for your rats. My e-mail address is heidi.sjursen@gmail.com.