What varieties do our lines produce?
Varieties
Fancy Rats come in many different varieties of colors, markings, coat type, ear set, and eye color! Our lines have a good range of genetics and can produce several different varieties!
What coat types do we produce?
Standard, Rex, Double Rex
At this time we have 3 different coat types in our lines! These coat types are determined by the Rex gene (Re). Rex is an interesting gene that causes a curly coat and whiskers when the rat has one copy of this gene. When a rat has two copies of this gene the rat will usually have a patchy/partially hairless coat! 1. Standard Coat (re/re): these are the most common type of rat you see with a smooth coat and straight whiskers. 2. Rex Coat (Re/re): these have a fluffy appearance with their wavy longer coat and have unique curly whiskers. 3. Double Rex (Re/Re): this is the result of a rat inheriting 2 copies of the Rex gene. These rats usually have thin, patchy coats sometimes appearing nearly hairless. At times they may have longer cury coats before molting into a thinner coat. They will also have curly whiskers.
This rat has a Standard smooth coat with long straight whiskers.
This rat has a Rex coat, note his curly whiskers and wavy longer coat.
This is a Double Rex, note his thin, patchy coat and tightly curled whiskers.
What Ear Sets Do We Have?
Dumbo and Top Ear
Rats come in two types of ear set. Most of our lines only come in Dumbo, however our Russian Blue and American Blue lines are primarily Top Ear.
1. Dumbo: this ear set sits low on the side of the head.
2. Top Ear: this ear set sits high on the top of the head.
What Colors Do Your Rats Come In?
Base Colors
All rats have a base color of either Agouti (A/A or A/a) or Black (a/a). Agouti is the dominant gene and appears as a brown with individual hairs being banded with multiple colors. Black results from the recessive gene so both parents need to carry black in order to produce it.
Silvermane
Silvermane is technically a "coat type" but causes a unique coat color! This gene (Sm) is a dominant gene so a rat just needs 1 copy in order to produce. It is also suspected that a rat carrying two copies of this gene (Sm/Sm) will be resorbed in utero so you will never have a rat that carries both dominant copies. Silvermane have a striking silver color that results from the end of the hair shaft being hollow. This also causes their coat to be silky soft. Silvermane also have a darker "mask" around their nose. Silvermane can come in any color. Right now we have lines that produce Agouti Silvermane, Black Silvermane, and Marten Silvermane. We will be working on American Blue and Russian Blue Silvermanes in the future. Silvermane is a dominant gene.
G Locus
American Blue
American Blue (g/g) is one of the two separate genes that can cause a blue coloration in rats. This gene requires two recessive genes in order to produce this pretty blue color. This is a beautiful Slate Blue that can vary from a light sky blue to a darker slate blue. This is a recessive gene so it takes two parents carrying it to produce it. This color is best on a Black Base but can be paired with Agouti bases for different variations.
D Locus
Russian Blue
Russian Blue is the other blue type gene that we have (d/d). This blue is a dark ticked blue. Being a recessive trait, both parents must carry it in order to produce it. This is a Black Based color but can be combined with Agouti to make other variations.