Well because my rats are not the "run of the mill" rats... literally! My rats do not come from pet stores. The rats are pedigreed and the breeders I get them from knew this genetic and temperament and health back ground. I don't pay small fees for new breeding stock. All my rats that are born here, are held daily. Mom is checked daily. I check each ritten out.
These big chain pet stores that sell rats, get them from small animal mills. Those rats are bred for ONE purpose only...supply and demand. They are not bred for temperament or health nor are the mill breeders working toward longevity. Their goal is to to sell as many as they can and produce as many as they can. They are sold for pennies on the dollar and a profit is made as they produce so many are bred that it's possible.
All the fees I get from the rats I sell goes right back into the rattery. I don't even break even. I don't breed enough to come close to breaking even. I breed a few litters a year. I breed to improve my lines. I breed for temperament, health and working on longevity. The little money I get for the rats that go to new approved homes, helps support the rattery. Also I do annual serology testing, which isn't cheap.
BREEDER FEES
Standard Coats are $ 35
Rex Coats are $45
Double Rex Coats are $45
Harley Coats are $65
Marten $50
Roan are $55
Silverman $55
Tonkinese $55
With an approved breeder application, those rats sold to breeders will come with a pedigree.