About Twin Squeaks

šŸ€ The rattery

Twin Squeaks is a small rattery based in Hull, UK. My aim to to breed healthy, curious and friendly rats in self black, both top ear and dumbo. I have been an NFRS member since 2020 and my rattery was registered in 2022.

šŸ· Foundations

My foundation rats are from Arecules Rattery (Manchester). They are also related to Lovecraft, Poplet, Isamu, Azuline and Azarath.

I picked up two does from Lovecraft to also add to my lines in January 2023.

Finally, in 2023 I recieved two bucks from Ellfin Stud to add Rex to my lines.

The line contains mostly black self, with some agouti and russian blue.

šŸ  Cages

My rats live in either an SRS XL or a Little Zoo Venturer. Substrate is dust extracted, kiln dried wood shavings. The maternity cages are Alaska Hamster cages. For weaned babies I use Mamble 100s.

The Doe Cage

The current doe cage

šŸŽ Diet

My rats are fed a diet based on the shunamite recipe (shunamiterats.co.uk) and made up following those proportions. The ingredients are:

  • Dodson & Horrell Conditioning Mix
  • Allen & Page Pygmy Goat Mix
  • Cornflakes, wheat pillows, pearl barley, popped corn, rice snaps
  • Rosewood Herbs Plus, dried carrot, dried flowers
  • High quality fish based dog food
  • Buxton conditioning pigeon mix

Shunamite Style Mix

This is supplemented with additional Calcium, Copper and Vitamin D3, plus fresh veg.

šŸ’• Care

I scatter feed food to encourage natural foraging behaviours. The rats are also given foraging toys to keep their brains busy. One cage has a bioactive soil base to encourage digging and tunnelling. The cage layouts encourage activity so contain 16 inch wheels, ropes, perches and branches to ensure th rats stay fit and healthy. The rats are handled reguarly so they are human friendly and enjoy human company.

šŸ“… Future Breeding aims

I decided to breed self blacks as this is the variety I bred in mice, about 15 years ago. It seemed natural to take up my new hobby where I left off!

In the future, I may add silken. If I have enough time/room I’d also like to add another variety, possibly Ivory as I’d love the contrast between black & white rats!