BEW Babies

[The Mad Ratter]

Here in Australia we are not as lucky as you guys OS when it comes to colours and markings available. In fact here in Aus till my 3 new babies, I had only ever heard or seen of 2 other Bew's. My three girls were a fluke really, I bred my agouti mismarked bareback boy over my black bareback girl and out came three gorgeous bew baby girls.

The question I have is ... I hear a bit about high whites and mega colon over there, and wondered if there was a chance our bew babies over here might develop it? I have looked around the net a bit on the issue, but nothing I have read really fits with us here. The girls are now 6 weeks old and healthy as can be, but one day I would love to breed them, and try and get some more, but wonder at the risks of doing so.

Here are a couple of photos as I know everyone here loves baby pics 

[NYDaisy]

Oh my gosh!   I have no idea about MC in BEWs but I have to say that BEW is my FAVORITE marking for a rat... *THUD*

[The Mad Ratter]

Here are a couple more from when they wre younger. Two actually have very fine dark hairs on their ears while one is white all over. It is REALLY strange to see a white rat and not have pink eyes looking back at you and it has taken me a number of weeks to get used it it lol







And as little guys ...





When they were first born I didnt know what I had as I knew within the day they had black eyes, and I was rather shocked as they grew and they stayed white to see what I had. I was sooooo excited!!

[julztoni97]

They are soooo cute.  I passed up a BEW dumbo at a pet store and wish I hadn't.  I didn't have any rats at that point and was just considering.  Now, I wish I had picked up that little cutie!

[~*ChaoticSerenity*~]

have no clue about megacolon...but i must agree!! They are completely to die for!! 

[NYDaisy]

Awe!! Thanks for posting the other photos!  You don't seem them too often.  I also love seeing black-eyed siamese rats.  Simply stunning babies you have!!

[The Mad Ratter]

Thanks Guys   

Here in Aus we dont get siamese, himmis, bermese, dumbos, our blues have health issues so there are very few of those too, there are sooo many different colours and markings we dont have here which makes this very exciting for us here. I just to make sure though of any possible risks etc before I go forward with this down the track when they are old enough.

[scout]

Here are a couple of articles about MC, perhaps you've already read them:

Rat Guide: Megacolon
Spoiled Ratten: High White and High Risk
Journal of Heredity: Association of megacolon with a new dominant spotting gene (Dom) in the mouse
Rat Behavior.org: White Blazes and Megacolon

Curiosity Rats: Marking Genetics

You might also try the Marked Rat Club in the UK for some experienced breeders who may have had BEWs show up.

Just off the top of my head, I'd say if you have a prevalence of MC occuring in the lines you have in Australia, particularly the marked white lines, then there's a fair chance it will show up in the offspring of these girls. But if it's rare to non-existent, then there's probably little chance of it popping up. Can you do some line chasing with these kiddos to see what turns up? Has BEW turned up in NZ? Might be a good place to look, also,  as the lines are probably distantly related.

Totally off topic, BTW, love your website! 

[chiropteragirl]

Awww... What BEW-tiful babies you have! 

[The Mad Ratter]

Thanks Scout,

I had read a couple of those but will look at the ones I have not seen yet. So far as I am aware not a single person I know has ever had MC at all. I asked my vet a few weeks ago as she treats quite a number of rats and she also had never seen it. But I have to wonder is it because they die and people dont know why or they dont get them to the vet in time and therefore it isnt seen by them either.

As for whether it has turned up in NZ or not I would have to look into that too. We cannot import rats at all, not even from NZ. We can export though which is how they got downunder as far as I am aware.

My site I am afraid was my pride and joy for a long time, however I now work full time and I am the webmaster to the club site and I just dont have time to do it all anymore. I actually have a whole new look to put on it, got it organised and started it over a year ago but never uploaded it as it wasnt finished. I also have such a long waiting list that most babies to my litters are all reserved so there is no point putting their pics up as none are left lol

But thanks    It was alot of fun at the time, and who knows I might give it a revamp.

Here are a couple of articles about MC, perhaps you've already read them:

Rat Guide: Megacolon
Spoiled Ratten: High White and High Risk
Journal of Heredity: Association of megacolon with a new dominant spotting gene (Dom) in the mouse
Rat Behavior.org: White Blazes and Megacolon

Curiosity Rats: Marking Genetics

You might also try the Marked Rat Club in the UK for some experienced breeders who may have had BEWs show up.

Just off the top of my head, I'd say if you have a prevalence of MC occuring in the lines you have in Australia, particularly the marked white lines, then there's a fair chance it will show up in the offspring of these girls. But if it's rare to non-existent, then there's probably little chance of it popping up. Can you do some line chasing with these kiddos to see what turns up? Has BEW turned up in NZ? Might be a good place to look, also,  as the lines are probably distantly related.

Totally off topic, BTW, love your website! 

[Addicted2Rats]

WOW!      Those babies are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!      My heart just flipped over when I saw their cute little faces.  Definitely need a *THUD* warning on your subject title.   

Deb

[diabolique]

  GAH they are beyond beautiful!

Think I might make a trip down under and abscond with them...

[WEAVER]

Steal my   They are just precious!  Congrats on your new additions.

[Siana]

Has BEW turned up in NZ? Might be a good place to look, also,  as the lines are probably distantly related.

I wish!  Unfortunately we're even more deprived in the rat variety department than Australia.  The only real exotic variety we have is DU, which were imported a few years ago from Australia just before all importation of rats was banned (yep, we can't even import from Aussie anymore).  A lot of the DU line that were imported from Australia also seem to have a few health or temperament issues, and I don't know of any reputatable breeders that are still breeding from them.  Very occasionally a NZ Nude Hairless rat pops up too, but no one is breeding from them either.

Adorable bubs, The Mad Ratter.  I am green with envy!  Hopefully megacolon won't be an issue with the bews that are appearing in Australia. 

[The Mad Ratter]

I still breed DU on a regular basis and have to say that I have luckily avoided any issues with my line. There were small eye/no eye issues, as well as other things going on with many of the lines. I got 3 girls and 1 boy originally 4 years ago, and have been very careful since and it has paid off. I have read up on the MC and going on what many are saying, there is a good chance we wont see it in our rats at this point But time will tell, I will just be vary careful and take it slow and see how we go. In the past we have not had many rats with what is classed as "high white". Blazes etc really are a rarilty over here. I have been slowly breeding blaze for a couple of years now with no issues of aggression (was a problem with many blaze lines in Aus at one point). I will just plod along, and see where this takes me, but if it continues like the last few litters I have had then I know it will be very exciting!!

[Heatherama]

My PEWs would like to meet your BEWs....

I adore BEWs....such big doe eyes, they are stunning.

[Addicted2Rats]

   Taking another peek at your beautiful BEW's... *dreamy sigh*   

Deb