Our motto: "Quality in type, sweetest in temperament."

All of the rats used for breeding here at Sweet Genes are healthy and of exceptional temperament. Most have many generations of known family history behind them. Rats bought from pet stores are not used for breeding, due to the lack of information regarding family health and temperament.

In order to help in planning breedings designed to produce rats of the finest quality, all rats are registered with the NARR (North American Rat Registry), an international registry for fancy rats which maintains an extensive database of information regarding pedigrees and health histories on the over 6,500 rats registered. This invaluable tool allows me to plan pairings which will improve the quality of rats being bred at Sweet Genes, as well as the fancy in general.

I am a member of the RSA (Rat Society of America) via NIRO (Northern Illinois Rat Organization), a local affiliate, and have signed its Breeder's Code of Ethics. I have received provisional judge's training at an RSA conference, and will exhibit rats at RSA-approved shows in order to better select rats of correct type (conformation) as well as top temperament. Sweet Genes aims to produce a quality "whole rat," which means excellence in all aspects.

Babies are lovingly handled from birth and carefully socialized. When you take home a Sweet Genes rat, you'll see why "Only the sweetest pet rats come from Sweet Genes!

-- Debbie Fratini, owner