Why I started Arcadia Rodentry

This is my most commonly asked question, and I think it is a very important one to ask a breeder when you plan on adopting.

My rattery's goal is not to make money; it's quite the opposite actually. I do not make a lot of money, and I am completely fine with that. Arcadia Rodentry was started as a dedication, a movement, to honor a rat and share my story.

I created my rattery after the tragic passing of one of my young does. I had bought her from a pet store, which ultimately caused her death. See, pet stores do not properly care for their rats and do not get them from responsible breeders. This causes the rats they sell to have a diverse amount of illnesses and often temperament issues. Not to mention, buying from pet stores only encourages colony style, mass production. 

The rat I had bought had caught a severe respiratory infection from the terrible living conditions she was forced to live in, and she couldn't be helped. She passed away a week after I got her.

I learned an important lesson that day about adopting rats: source them from reliable breeders who breed according to good practices and truly care about the heath and happiness of their rats.

But I know not all rat lovers understand the risk of buying a "pet store rat". My goal is to spread the word and have people adopt from responsible ratteries instead. Rodents make amazing pets, and they should be bred with just as much care and dedication as any animal. Buying from ratteries is better for both rats and rat lovers! 

Since 2021, we have taken the name Arcadia Rodentry, taking to heart the meaning of the word arcadia: idyllically simple and joyous, a piece of untroubled wilderness. A utopia. 

While we are still relatively new, we strive to breed to the best practices of the trade!