Matrix Rats Rattery

My name is Janine Shull, I first moved to the states in 2001, I was born and raised in the wonderful country of Germany. I first started breeding rats in 1996 being 16 years old, I had alot to learn. The first rat I ever received was a black berkshire that my dad had bought for my snake. After watching the rat sitting in the corner of the snake cage for over an hour I made a deal with my dad and bought the rat off of him for $20.  And forfeited my snake in return who was adopted out a week later to a loving reptile family. I kept the black rat and named her "Blackie" and she lived in a small bird cage at the time, I wasn't sure what to do with her but I found it neat none the less to have a rat as a pet. I never held her and she scared me half the time with wanting to be held, When she was allowed to free roam I would hide on my bed and watch her. She always attempted to come up to me but it freaked me out.. It's funny if I think about it now.. but my mom and dad always said "Rats carry diseases, you can get sick.. it's gross that you would want that in your room." So I was raised with the stenotype of rats being nasty. I kept "Blackie" for about 6 months and with in the six months she gave me a litter of 16 babies 2 weeks after I bought her from my dad. Thats when I learned how loving rats were as parents and I found a new carrying way of taking care of rats, and soon over came my fear of them. I played with the babies daily and even "Blackie" was getting more attention. After the 6 months, my dad thought it was best to sell the rat and ratlings and when I came home from school one day I was devastated to find that my rat and her babies were gone, My dad had sold them back to the petstore to become feeders.. I however I didn't let this be the end. A week later me and my friend Birte want out and bought a pair of breeders and started breeding rats, we learned from our mistakes such as don't keep males and females together.. Duh! but from our mistakes we learned proper care of rats, Me and Birte kept breeding rats until I want to college in 1998. Since I didn't have the time to keep up the breeding Birte continued without me. I lived ratliss until 2001, where I got married, moved to the states and acquired my first 2 American rats from a petstore here.. I didn't breed them, until I came in contact with a local breeder in upstate NY, she should me all the genetics and thought me some helpful breeding advise, I started breeding rats again and fell in love with these wonderful little creatures again.  So with spending my last 5 years breeding rats in the states, I've had my ups and MAJOR downs, but my love for rats continues my goal in improving these animals as wonderful loving pets. I'm breeding my rats to be the best that they can be in all 3 major categories, Health, Temperament, and Longevity. Colors and markings are secondary but because I breed several different lines I don't have to sacrifise those to get what I'm breeding for.  So I hope you enjoy my rattery, and if you have any questions please feel free to send me an email, I'm a very friendly person and usually reply with in 24 hours, if you don't hear from me, Just send me another one.

- Janine