Are there good small animal breeders?

[Sweet72947]

I have always wondered, if there weren't any small animals in the shelter (where I tend to get my guinea pigs), and you didn't want to buy from a pet store, where would you get small animals? I have never heard of any "good" breeders of hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. I know that in the UK there are rabbit shows and guinea pig shows and things, but here in the US those things are relatively unheard of.

There is a 4H show at the county fair every year where they display their rabbits, but I have often seen sick rabbits there. I complained to Animal Control about a rabbit one year because its eyes were crusted shut and it was obviously sick and suffering greatly in the August heat, and animal control had it removed eventually.

But if everyone kept all the small animals they purchased and there were none in rescue or shelters, where would you get one?

 

[Maxy24]

I know there are breeders but I don't know what makes one better than another. I mean I'd like to see they have a good understanding of genetics, go to shows and don't over breed. Other than that I don't know, i also don't know if they HAVE to go to shows to be considered good (I'm talking about gerbils by the way I have NO clue about other species).

 

[Zoom]

There is a really good rat breeder, I forget what she's called, but I guess she breeds just like you do with dogs...takes into account health and temperment when choosing her pairings.

 

[FoxyWench]

there ARE good breeders and you find them the same way you do dog breeders, look online and then go through their pages, there ARE also shows, ie the national rat and mouse fanciers association, while they dont have shows in ever state they are out there and can help you find good small animals,
rabbits and cavvy (guinny pig) also have national groups.

 

[Southpaw]

They're tricky to find but with some searching you can find some pretty darn good small animal breeders. I don't know about other animals, but there's an online directory for rat breeders--and most of them listed are respected members of the rat community.

If you can't find a breeder though and shelters don't have the type of animal you're looking for... I don't think it's the end of the world to go to a pet store. It's definitely not on the same scale as pet store dogs and cats, IMO.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

There are a LOT of good rat breeders (Which can be found on Goosemoose.com, in their rat forum section..Everyone there is very knowledgable), and if you go to other GOOD small animals forums, you can find some good people there as well. I have never gotten any small animals from a breeder, all of mine came in as rescues. There are TONS of small animal rescues, so you don't have to get small animals from pet stores or irresponsible breeders (Which IMO most are).

I have taken in some "feeder" mice and rats because they pulled on my heart strings.

 

[SisMorphine]

There are good rat breeders. My friend is a new Gerbil breeder who is breeding under one of the best, apparently. They're just a little bit harder to find than a dog breeder.

 

[Shahrazade]

Hi there, fellow Goosemooser!

I'm Saydrah on Goosemoose and I'm learning to be a good rat breeder. I'm working with lines from some of the best breeders out there, and I can say confidently from discussing with and learning from others that no less thought and agonizing goes into rat pairings than the best dog and cat pairings- maybe more, since there is no genetic health testing available for rats- no rattie OFA certification! I know a rat breeder- TEK in PA- who breeds manx rats. He is so dedicated that he did three sets of radiographs on his manx doe before breeding her.

As for where to find them- for rat breeders, Goosemoose is a good source, and The Ratster is an online directory for rat breeders and rescues (though anyone even the uckiest BYB in the world could put a listing there claiming to be the world's greatest rat breeder, so buyer beware). For other animals, it seems to me that the best place to start is to look for an organization that makes standards for that animal and then see if they have a breeder directory. If someone is dedicated to a species, they will naturally want to move towards a standardization process to make sure that they are breeding to an ideal of health, temperament, conformation, and even color. I have met excellent guinea pig breeders and even heard of very dedicated hamster breeders. When I, in the foolishness of youth (age 13), had a litter of hedgehogs from unregistered parents and bragged about it on an early hedgehog fanciers' email list, I got an earful from very dedicated breeders! All was well, babies were healthy and went on to live long lives, but the lesson that no less consideration should go into breeding small animals than dogs and cats stuck good.

My first litter will be born in March- you can check out my website at http://www.shahrazade.net

The bubs will be showing in the youth class at the NIRO spring show! More info on rat shows at http://www.niro-usa.org and http://www.ratsociety.org