Imagine Rattery • South Africa

Imagine Rattery • South Africa URC Registered & Approved Breeder
(4)

07/01/2023

In 2023 I took a step back to focus on what really made me happy birthday in my breeding journey.

We only adopted out rats to a select few special adopters ❤️

Here are some of our rats in their new home with Sushiii_rats ❤️

Please go send them so me love. They are amazing adopters.

https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=8Ypfc6RvpGo&_r=1

✨ Racks for sale ✨6x rat rack for sale - Excludes tubs- Excellent condition- RFS: I don't have the space - Collect in Mi...
24/10/2022

✨ Racks for sale ✨

6x rat rack for sale
- Excludes tubs
- Excellent condition
- RFS: I don't have the space
- Collect in Midrand
- R1500

05/08/2022

🥰❤️ throwback to this beautiful litter

DOB: 29 May 2022

©️ Imagine Rattery 2022



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website

Our Pawtners 💜



Chocolate baby 🤎🤎🤎Can't wait to see him grow up! ©️ Imagine Rattery 2022•••For more info on the rats we have and our rat...
04/08/2022

Chocolate baby 🤎🤎🤎

Can't wait to see him grow up!

©️ Imagine Rattery 2022



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website

Our Pawtners 💜



Conformation & HealthI believe that conformation works hand in hand with health.Shorter, wider muzzles mean that the rat...
03/08/2022

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.



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


GeneticsAll my pairings are carefully planned out in accordance with my goals.I love genetics. I'm passionate about it.H...
02/08/2022

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.




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


"Be careful of breeders who breed SO MANY litters."Firstly, sure. I can understand the concern. But the number of litter...
01/08/2022

"Be careful of breeders who breed SO MANY litters."

Firstly, sure. I can understand the concern. But the number of litters a breeder has is nobody's business but their own.

A breeder isn't "better/more ethical" if the have fewer litters a year. Each breeder has their own set of goals and expectations in a line, and as long as a breeder is following a set of goals... Then I see no problem with having more than 2 litters a year.

Each breeder may be working on more than one line. I, myself, currently have 6 in total. These are all different varieties with different characteristics I want to work on. Some of the lines may be active lines I've been working on for quite some time, while others might just be starting up or are test pairings to determine which direction I would like to go with the line.

I have goals for each line.
Expectations.
I've done my research and I'm not just breeding for the "sake of".

If anyone was to ask my anything about any of my lines. I would be able to explain to them where I am now, and where I want to be in 3 to 5 generations time. Of my 6 lines I currently have, only 2 are ready for pet homes. I'm still actively working on the others to ensure that they meet all my goals and expectations.

No. I am not breeding for the public and specially for pet homes. I am breeding for myself, I am breeding to an incredibly high standard that I have set for my rats.
Yes. It would be incredibly easy to just breed the rats, over socialize, and sell them to pet homes. But that's not how I conduct myself in my rattery. I believe in breeding sound genetic temperament, and working on this takes time.

So what happens to the rats I don't adopt out? They are humanely euthanized as per AVMA standards and donated to a reptile and owl rescue/rehab.

Because I have 6 lines, this means that I will have more than 2 litters a year in order to reach my goals. If anything, I might have 2 litters PER LINE per year. If I only had ONE line I would understand this "only 2 litters a year" stance. But to say I'll should only have 2 litters when I have so many lines to work on is ridiculous. How do you progress and achieve your goals?

Breeders breed. It's how we get to where we want to be.
I'm sure there are many breeders who feel the way I do, especially those working on more than 1 line. But for us to sacrifice our progress and our goals because a select few have deemed that only having 2 litters a year is a thing to strive for, is incredibly unrealistic.

PS. If anyone ever has any questions regarding my breeding practices, my inbox is always open. I don't have anything to hide.

_____________________________________________

Picture credit:
Imagine Photography

_____________________________________________

Originally written by Imagine Rattery on 22 Feb 2020

https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/photos/a.182950725728534/489660325057571/?type=3&__tn__=-R



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


Why are our standards so high?Our adoption and screening process is thorough for a REASON! We don't let just ANYONE get ...
31/07/2022

Why are our standards so high?

Our adoption and screening process is thorough for a REASON! We don't let just ANYONE get our rats. We ask questions. We request pictures of cages. We want to know what you feed. Etc.
This is all so that we can be sure our rats get the best possible homes. None of this is unreasonable.

Just because they are rats, doesn't mean that their welfare doesn't matter.

If our process is too much effort for you, then we aren't the breeders for you. Please READ our adoption process thoroughly before completing our application. We explained everything in there.

Just because you apply to adopt rats from us DOES NOT entitle you to get the rats.

We DON'T have an obligation to adopt rats to you just because you asked.

We DON'T have to adopt ANY of our rats out if we don't want to.

We care about the animals we breed. And we will NEVER let them go to a home we aren't 100% happy with.

_____________________________________________

The following was written by All Rat Rattery on: 28 June 2020, and perfectly sums up why we are so picky when choosing adopters.

It is with great sadness that we write this post.

Our rats mean the world to us. They are a part of our family, and when we adopt them out we expect our adopters to love and care for them as we would.

Our adoption application is extensive and we do our best to screen everyone intensively.
But unfortunately it only takes a few bad apples to ruin the bunch and we are honestly heart broken right now.

As a result. We will no longer be adopting out to just anyone in the public anymore.

Yes, we acknowledge that we have had some incredible adopters and we will always be willing to adopt out to our existing approved adopters.
However, when it comes to new adopters we will be making some strict changes to our process.

We have had to blacklist an adopter.
Our sister ratteries and URC breeders have been notified.
International breeders we work with have also been made aware of this situation.

We want everyone to be made aware that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.
We are always willing to take rats back, no questions asked.
It's completely unnecessary to lie to us and harm the rats we entrusted in your care.

_____________________________________________

[redacted] – Blacklisted by Kelly Large from All Rat Rattery (URC Breeder in South Africa)

On 6 November 2019, [redacted] adopted 3 rats from my rattery, All Rat Rattery.

On 26 February 2020, I was contacted by [redacted] , who informed me that they were looking at emigrating to Canada.
She asked that if they did decide to emigrate, can she return the rats to me as she cannot take them with her, because it is a 28 hour flight.
I asked her when she estimates it will happen, and she said definitely this year (2020) as they are currently busy with job searches and interviews.
I said that it is no problem at all, and in terms of the ADOPTION CONTRACT I will take them back.
I mentioned to her that they need to arrive with their cage, she informed me that her mom wants the cage for her birds. I told her that they need to arrive at me in some sort of cage to be housed in while in my care.
I asked her about her dog and other pets, to which she said she is taking her dog with her as she will never leave him, but is rehoming her cats.

On 3 June 2020, I received a message from her, stating that they are in the process of moving, she asked if she could arrange for a family member to bring the rats to me.
I said I am only available Saturday mornings, she said she will let me know and I heard nothing further from her.

On 28 June 2020, I noticed a Facebook post by [redacted], showing off her new puppy. I questioned her as to what is going on with the rats, as I haven’t heard from her and that I see she has a new puppy now.

I further noticed on 28 June 2020, that the cage the rats were housed in was posted for sale 6 days prior.

She informed me that the puppy arrived with them overseas yesterday 27 June 2020, (a puppy from a South African breeder, who has never shipped dogs in their entire existence, as confirmed by another South African dog breeder).
She told me that the rats are now with her mother in law and that she has a different cage for the rats.
(I don't know how she was able to move over the past few months due to COVID restrictions. Let alone send a dog and a puppy across.)

Naturally this was not adding up in my head, and I asked her to get her mother in law to contact me, if she is the new owner of the rats. I also informed her that she should have pre-approved this with me.
She later responded, stating she has just phoned her mother in law and that her mother in law has informed her that all 3 rats have died.
(3 health rats just mysteriously died in the past month with no explanation).
The mother in law allegedly said she didn't want to say that the rats had passed away because it might upset [redacted].

These rats were all born in September 2019, they were all under a year old. I called her out for lying to me and she insisted she was no longer in RSA and that she did not know this was going to happen.

I was subsequently blocked on What’s App and Facebook.

_____________________________________________

Our hearts are broken and we feel like we failed our rats 💔

We will never know what truly happened to them.

But we will do everything in our power to make sure this never happens again.

_____________________________________________

Link to the original post here:

https://www.facebook.com/allratrattery/posts/559400744963593?__tn__=H-R



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


Why do we charge so much?This is a comment I'm sure many breeders have gotten. There are countless sources that explain ...
30/07/2022

Why do we charge so much?

This is a comment I'm sure many breeders have gotten. There are countless sources that explain why purchasing a pet from a reputable breeder costs so much. But I would like to take the opportunity to explain my pricing ❤️

My pricing reflects the amount of time I've put into each line, as well as the overall quality of the rats each line is producing.

The TWO (2) lines I currently have available are priced R350/450.
The reason for this is that I've been working on these lines since 2018.
That's almost 2 years of food, water, research, cleaning, planning, etc.

Now, when breeding rats there's no way you can make a profit unless you're adopting out most of the rats you produce. (Yes, it is possible for ethical breeders to make a profit. I'm not discrediting them.)

I currently have 6 lines, I only feel that 2 are ready for pet homes. I have high standards for my lines, so it takes time before I'm even at the point where I'm happy to adopt a rat out.
This means that most of the rats that I'm producing I'm not yet selling to the public.
To put it in perspective, (as of making this post) I have only officially adopted out/sold ONE rat this year.
That ONE sale in no way shape or form pays for the upkeep of my rats.

My rats are fed a high quality diet. I use KDP and hay as their substrate. I constantly treat their substrate, accessories, and toys for parasites. I have 4x large, quality cages to ensure that they have the space they need.
I do this because I love and care for my rats and I want to give them the best lives I possibly can ❤️
I'm not doing this for the profit. I'm not doing this to make money. I'm doing this because I truly love my rats.

My pricing reflects what my rats are worth ❤️
Yes, there are breeders and pet shops who charge less. And that's totally okay! I don't FORCE anyone to purchase my rats. If you feel that my rats are too expensive that's totally okay! You're just not my target client.
Potential adopters are always welcome to adopt from other places and I can even refer them to the best options.

But unfortunately I'm not going to change my pricing to try and compete in the current market.
When you pay the R450 or R550 for one of my rats you're paying for a quality animal ❤️

A rat that I have put 100% of my time, energy, and soul into.
You're not just buying a rat.
You're buying a quality pet with guaranteed temperament and health.
You're buying life-long support and advice.
You're buying history, years of work, research, and planning.

You are buying into the Imagine Family ❤️




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US?:★ We will ALWAYS take any rat back, no matter what, no questions asked.★ Whilst we do our best t...
29/07/2022

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US?:

★ We will ALWAYS take any rat back, no matter what, no questions asked.

★ Whilst we do our best to breed only the best, things do happen. We will replace any rat
who has temperament faults free of charge, assuming the issues have not been
caused by environmental faults.

★ We will always be available for any questions and advice.

★ We will inform all adopters of anything we believe may affect them in a line from which
they have rats.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM YOU?:

★ Should you wish to breed, inform us so that we can provide you with better breeding
stock and the relevant pedigrees.

★ The rats must be housed indoors in an appropriate cage

★ The rats must receive care or euthanasia when ill. They will not be allowed to suffer

★ The rats must live in accordance with the 5 freedoms

★ The rats MUST be returned to the breeder should the owner no longer be able to care
for them/no longer want them. They MAY NOT be given to another individual or
organisation without the express, written permission of myself.




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


REFUNDS:We will never sell a rat that we don't believe will make an ideal pet with nohormonal/aggression issues. However...
28/07/2022

REFUNDS:

We will never sell a rat that we don't believe will make an ideal pet with no
hormonal/aggression issues. However, if for any reasons you experience these issues with
your rats we will do everything in our power to assist you or we will take the rat/s back.

If you choose, we will offer a replacement from a future litter where possible.



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


RETURNS:If you no longer want or are no longer able to care for your rat/s, we ask that you returnthem to us.We will alw...
27/07/2022

RETURNS:

If you no longer want or are no longer able to care for your rat/s, we ask that you return
them to us.

We will always take back any rat/s not matter the reason.

Refunds for the rat/s will not be given and the rat/s must be returned at the buyer's expense.

Rats need to be returned in an appropriate cage.

Please note that once you return your rat/s you relinquish all rights to the rat/s. We will then
decide if the rats are to be rehomed/retired/etc.
We want our rat/s to go to the best quality
of life possible, and we will do anything in our power to facilitate this.



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR RITTENS ARE HOME:★ New rats may sneeze during the first 10 to 14 days in a new environment, thi...
26/07/2022

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR RITTENS ARE HOME:

★ New rats may sneeze during the first 10 to 14 days in a new environment, this is
perfectly normal as they adjust to their new home. Please notify us immediately if you
notice any sneezing.

★ Please let us know how the babies are doing by the end of the first week. We will also
add you to our Rattery Facebook/Whatsapp groups where you will be able to share
updates and ask questions. Please make sure that you are added to this group by the
time your rats have been taken home.

★ We may request any health or mortality updates, should the need arise. we like to
keep track of these details in our lines so that we can continue to breed healthy,
well-tempered rats in the future.

★ We have an "open door" policy for all our clients who have purchased rats directly
from us. Should you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us. All our
clients will also have access to the exclusive Facebook/Whatsapp Groups for any
questions, comments, or concerns. Clients will also be given our personal phone
numbers, should they need to contact us urgently.



For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


ON THE DAY:★ The day your babies are ready to be collectd can be very exciting and also verydaunting. But please be rest...
25/07/2022

ON THE DAY:

★ The day your babies are ready to be collectd can be very exciting and also very
daunting. But please be rest assured that we will be here for you every step of the way.
On the day of collection please ensure that you confirm your appointment time with
us and please bring an appropriate carrier. (Do not bring a dog or cat carrier as
those are for dogs and cats. Rats are too small and may escape through the holes in
those carriers. We won't send our rats home in them! You will be sent away and asked
to return with an appropriate carrier.) Here is an example of an appropriate carrier:
https://www.facebook.com/182551212435152/posts/272658056757800/

★ All our rittens need to go home on the food they are on now. Rittens can't just be
taken home and switched to a new diet immediately. So even if you choose to change
diets you will need to wean them off the old one slowly over several weeks. You will
need to order food beforehand so that it will be available on the day of collection.
Your babies will not be sent home without the proper food.

★ After your rittens arrive in their new home, allow them 2 to 3 days to adjust.
Everything will be new to them and they need time to adapt to their new environment,
find food & water, get used to the new smells, etc.




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


RECEIVING YOUR RATS:★ Rittens are ONLY sold in SAME S*X PAIRS or larger groups. WE DO NOT SELL SINGLERATS.★ Rittens will...
24/07/2022

RECEIVING YOUR RATS:

★ Rittens are ONLY sold in SAME S*X PAIRS or larger groups. WE DO NOT SELL SINGLE
RATS.

★ Rittens will be ADOPTED OUT at/after 8 weeks of age where your FINAL PAYMENT will
be made. (Some lines might be kept back longer, individual adopters will be notified.)

★ If at any point the baby you reserved at 6 weeks is no longer available, we will notify
you and you will have the option to select another rat or wait to receive a pair of rats
from another litter. We will NOT allow you to only take ONE rat.

★ When your rittens are ready to be collected, we will contact you with available dates
and times. Please note that these times are considered to be "appointments" and are
to be treated as such. If you are unable to make an appointment please be respectful
and notify us as soon as possible. Any rats that are not collected within a suitable
time frame and without alternative collection plans in place, will be re-advertised and
your payment for the rats will be forfeited.

★ Please note that you may be subject to a holding fee if you are unable to collect your
rats and require us to hold your rats for an extended period of time.




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


BOOKING YOUR RATS:★ The breeder will notify you on the date and time when rittens will be advertised. (anotification wil...
23/07/2022

BOOKING YOUR RATS:

★ The breeder will notify you on the date and time when rittens will be advertised. (a
notification will also be shared to our pages/websites)

★ If you are an approved adopter you will get the list of available rats a few days before
they are uploaded to our Websites.

★ Available rittens will be shared to the WHATSAPP group when they are approximately
6/8 weeks of age. Their names, variety, sexes, ages as well as their potential
take-home dates will all be included in the post.

★ We operate on a first come first serve basis, HOWEVER, return adopters will always
get FIRST OPTION on a rat.

★ If you see a ritten you are interested in please choose the REPLY PRIVATELY option on
the whatsapp group. A direct message will be sent to the breeder and you can book
your rittens.

★ Please make sure that you send through a few different rittens you are interested in,
in case you are not able to book the rittens you had as a first choice.

★ While we try our best to ensure that you get the rats you really want, there is the
possibility that more than one person might want the same rat. If you have any
specific varieties that you are interested in please let us know in your application so
that we can take this into consideration when you’re booking rittens.

★ DEPOSITS will be due within 24 HOURS of booking your ritten. If you fail to pay your
deposit you will lose the booking on the ritten and they will be offered to the next
person in line. You will then be given the option to choose another rat.




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


Very well written!
22/07/2022

Very well written!

How long do you have to wait?Generally, most of the time when you contact us you will need to be prepared to wait 3 to 6...
22/07/2022

How long do you have to wait?

Generally, most of the time when you contact us you will need to be prepared to wait 3 to 6
months for a pair of rats, and depending on the line you might also be waiting upwards of a
year.

If you want rats with specific markings/colours/coat types/ear types, your waiting time might
be a bit longer.

We hope that those coming to us are doing so because they want wonderful, amazing,
well-bred rats. This takes time and patience to achieve.

How long does it take to get your rats? By Imagine Rattery
https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/photos/a.182950725728534/556022491754687/?type=3&__tn__=-R




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


WAITING TIMEIf you are impatient and want rats IMMEDIATELY, then we might not be the right breeders foryou.We cannot str...
21/07/2022

WAITING TIME

If you are impatient and want rats IMMEDIATELY, then we might not be the right breeders for
you.

We cannot stress this enough: We ARE NOT a pet shop.

We don't have stock of available rats at the drop of a hat.

We are ETHICAL and RESPONSIBLE breeders, we breed with a purpose and have set goals in
mind for each and every single rat we produce. Selling is NOT our first goal, we breed with a
purpose in mind and do not just flood the market with an abundance of rats.

We understand that we may share pictures of rittens to our pages/websites, but please note
that we are often working on several lines, and some of these lines are not yet available to
the public.




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


FOOD:★ Rat nutrition is complex. Imagine Rattery has done extensive research into a rat'sdietary needs and is still acti...
20/07/2022

FOOD:

★ Rat nutrition is complex. Imagine Rattery has done extensive research into a rat's
dietary needs and is still actively working to improve on this knowledge.

★ Most pet shop commercial mixes are not appropriate for rats. Especially if they are
targeted to be used for so many different species such as mice and hamsters as well.
Rats have very specific dietary needs that these commercial mixes often can't provide.
I will provide you with some links below and if you have any questions you are
welcome to ask.

★ Please be SPECIFIC when listing what your rats will be fed. This includes their dry mix
ingredients, fresh food, and any other treats you intend to give them.

★ You will be required to purchase a bag of our dry mix for your new babies. This is so
that your babies can be transitioned onto the food you intend to give them. If you
choose to continue to feed them the URC Dry Mix please let us know so that we can
add you to the order group.

★ Please take a look at the resources linked below. If thereafter, you still have any
questions or are unsure of what to feed your rats, please message us.

○ STOP! WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR RATS!? By Imagine Rattery:
https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/posts/448014962555441

○ URC Dry Mix: https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/posts/473787536644850?__tn__=K-R

○ Carbohydrates:
https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/photos/a.183342019022738/455847485105522/?type=3

○ Processed grains: https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/posts/499034357453501

○ Whole grains: https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/posts/499583200731950

○ Herbs: https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/posts/500719377284999?__tn__=-R

○ Rats also need access to fresh, clean water all the time. Please see the following link on advice
regarding water and water bottles for your rats:
https://www.facebook.com/imagineratterysa/photos/a.183342019022738/251848652172074/?type=3&__tn__=-R




For more info on the rats we have and our rattery:
https://imaginealltherats.wixsite.com/website


Address

Midrand
1683

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