The 2006 Fancy Rat Import

The origin of Fancy Rats in South Africa

The origin of pet rats in South Africa is unknown but it is believed that they may have come from laboratory stock. In the 1950’s there were only PEW rats available with Agouti, Black, Berkshire and Hooded varieties appearing before the 1980’s. In the late 1980’s, Cape slate was first seen in pet stores in Cape Town and Sable Siamese in the early 1990’s in Gauteng.

In 2005 Liezel Hatting of Moonstones Rattery imported 18 fancy rats from the USA. Connie Perez collected the rats and organized the import from the USA side. The import included American, British as well as Australian varieties. In January 2006 the rats were released from quarantine. Liezel and Annalie (Combrink) Prinsloo from Aurora rattery bred these lines intensively and offspring were sent to Wheatfields, Jackalhead and Runebound rattery. Several other ratteries joined in the years to follow. Some of these lines are still being bred by SARBU ratteries today. Annalie Prinsloo wrote the South African breeding standards for fancy rats in 2008 which are used by SARBU and SAFRA breeders today: http://ronelrat.wixsite.com/ptarattery/rat-varieties-genetics

On three occasions rats from the import were bred by pet owners and introduced to local pet and feeder lines:  2010 - Standard eared black husky (Roan). They were cross bred to Sable Siamese. These are common in feeder lines in the Free state, Gauteng, KZN and Mpumalanga today  2014 - Agouti Dumbo husky. These rats were never bred in large numbers but were eventually bred to black hooded and PEW rats. They were mainly sold as pets in the Eastern Cape.  2015 - Dumbo, Harley, Russian blue, Slate blue, Russian silver, Burmese, French Siamese and blazed rats. These animals were bred in large numbers and released as pet and feeder rats in Gauteng. Today they are found all over South Africa in both pet and feeder lines.

In 2015 hairless rats were smuggled into South Africa. Their origin is still unknown. They were mainly French Siamese but were soon bred to other varieties. They most closely represent the Shorn mutation: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/93ab82_7659f0e837884846b5923d63db743e86.pdf

Rats from the 2005/6 import

Abbreviations of ratteries / breeder of that rats: P = Pendragon rattery [UK] OFR = Odd Fellows rattery [USA] F = Flaxholme stud [UK] RG = Rat Genesis [USA] TS = Critters and Friends [USA] NW = New World stud [UK] J = Rattery could not be traced. Breeders name was Johanna

Information was obtained from SARBU documents and pedigrees. Photos and additional information supplied by Annalie (Combrink) Prinsloo of Aurora Rattery.

ORLA & ODIN (Siblings)

Sire: Pendragons (P) Merlin - Burmese (UK)

Dam: Odd Fellows Rattery (OFR) Genisis - Dumbo curly* Seal point Himalayan (USA)

Born: Before June 2005

NOTES: P Merlins' pedigree is not known. OFR Genisis' has a full pedigree and is the direct offspring (3rd Odin (Buck) generation) of the first Harley rat Seal point Himalayan (French) Siamese Berkshire Dumbo found in a pet store in 2002.

All Harley in RSA are from Orla and Odin.

*Curly is a velveteen Harley. Velveteen is a dominant gene that was not imported to South Africa. Although we currently have some Harley with a curl and thicker undercoat, the genetics of the mutation is unknown.

Orla (Doe) Seal point Himalayan (French) Siamese Berkshire Dumbo

MONKEY

Sire: Flaxholme (F) Capers (UK)

Dam: Flaxholme (F) Cappy (UK)

Born: July 2005

NOTES: Full pedigree not known.

Monkey (Doe) Agouti Capped Dumbo

BONNIE & CLYDE (Siblings)

Sire: Rat Genesis (RG) Bowie (USA)

Dam: Flaxholme (F) Casquillo (UK)

Born: 23 July 2005

NOTES: Full pedigree not known

Clyde (Buck) - Black Baldie (Essex)

Bonnie (Doe) - Black Baldie (Essex)

DEVON

Sire: Rat Genesis (RG) Birman (USA)

Dam: Rat Genesis (RG) Siamois (USA)

Born: July 2005

NOTES: Full pedigree not known but a descendant from a UK import.

Devon (Buck) Black Eyed Seal Point (French) Siamese

BLUE & RAVEN (Siblings)

Sire: Unknown

Dam: Critters & Friends (TS) Oscar (USA)

Born: 21 June 2015

NOTES: Rest of pedigree unknown

Carried (American) Slate Blue as well as Chocolate.

Blue (Buck) Russian Blue Blazed Berkshire buck

Raven (Doe) Black Blazed Berkshire doe

FREYA

Sire: Rat Genesis (RG) Jade (USA)

Dam: Rat Genesis (RG) Leak (USA)

Born: July 2005

NOTES: Rest of pedigree unknown. USA descendant of a UK import.

Freya (Doe) Burmese

WOLF, ALASKA & ONYX (Siblings)

Sire: New World (NW) Roano (UK)

Dam: New World (NW) Myrna (UK)

Wolf (Buck) Born: 9 August 2005 Black Badger husky [aka badger roan]

NOTES: Rest of pedigree unknown

Roan is the European gene we call Husky

Alaska lost her first litter and bled excessively. She was never bred again. All roan are from Wolf and Onyx

Alaska (Doe) Black badger husky

Onyx (Doe) Black Berkshire, carry Roan

THOR & GWEN (Siblings)

Sire: Flaxholme (F) Am Wundervollsten (UK)

Dam: Joanna's (J) Jetaime (Unknown)

Born: 23 July 2005

NOTES: Rest of pedigree unknown. Gwen was never bred. No photo Thor (Buck) or further record available. Cinnamon Peal Essex (UK Mink)

Gwen (Doe) - Cinnamon Essex doe

MINKY

Sire: Unknown Dam: Unknown From Bonnies Friendly Furries (USA) - does not keep pedigrees.

NOTES: Australian mink, carried Australian red eye dilution and tailless. Line was lost due to fertility problems. Minky (Doe)

Australian mink hooded

LOKI

Sire: Unknown Dam: Unknown From Bonnies Friendly Furries (USA) - does not keep pedigrees.

Born: July 2005

NOTES: Tailless (tal), Hooded downunder allele (Hdu) Line was lost due to fertility problems. Loki (Buck) Black hooded downunder tailless

TEDDY

Sire: Unknown Dam: Unknown From Bonnies Friendly Furries (USA) - does not keep pedigrees.

Born: July 2006

NOTES: Teddy was infertile and the Rex gene was never passed on. Teddy, Loki and Minky were close Teddy (Buck) relatives. Rex Australian beige [aka buff] hooded downunder tailless

BUSHBABY

Sire: Unknown Dam: Unknown From Bonnies Friendly Furries (USA) - does not keep pedigrees.

Born: Before June 2005

NOTES: Pearl (UK Mink), Carried Bushbaby (Doe) tailless but it never came out in the lines of Moonstones and Aurora Pearl Unmarked ratteries