IMGN
Breeding Goals

Imagine Rattery

Imagine Rats (IMGN): Services

Genetics

All my pairings are carefully planned out in accordance with my goals.

I love genetics. I'm passionate about it.
How do you think breeders get all these amazing rats you all love? Through selective breeding and knowledge of genetics.
I do a lot of work with recessives. Such as the blazed and chocolate gene.
This means that I HAVE to select for the colour and markings I want. Otherwise I'll never reach my goals.

Conformation & Health

I believe that conformation works hand in hand with health.

Shorter, wider muzzles mean that the rats are less prone to respiratory infections.
Wider hips and the curvature of the spine can influence how the doe carries and delivers a litter.
I could go on and on with eyes, ears, shoulders, tails etc. If anyone would like to know more then please pop me a message and we can learn!
I feel that there is always more to learn. We never know everything there is to know. Things change, new research is released. You have to be open to learning new things.

Temperament

Yes. I've put temperament last.
IMO it's slightly easier to fix...

Obviously if the rats are evil demons it's a different story. But I wouldn't breed them anyway.

GENETIC temperament is something that you CAN breed for. You shouldn't have to dedicate hours to socializing young rats, all this does is mask their true temperament. And while there's nothing wrong with doing this, most breeders even add this to their breeding ethics and practice... I just prefer to breed for good temperament to begin with.

I want to produce happy, friendly rats.

I want to produce adult rats that can have another adult thrown in with them and have NO FIGHTING.

No need for month-long introductions.

I want rats that run to the front of the cage when I open it. To be excited to see me.

As a breeder I constantly have rats coming in an out. Whether that is new babies I have bred. Or even babies from other breeders. Because yes, I often collect rats for other breeders and they live with me for a little while before they go to their new homes.

I need to make sure that if I put a baby or an adult into my cages. My rats won't be an issue.

And guess what... I've almost perfected that with my boys.

All of these things take TIME.

There's a lot of trial and error because of how genetics work.

Which means that yes, I have to cull.

And by cull I mean hard cull. I humanely euthanize according to the AVMA standards as well as the guide to the use and care of laboratory animals booklet.

If you want these links I can send them to you.