If you would like to find out more about Symphony Rats, please click on the options on the right hand side.
The 'Ethics' page briefly outlines my stance on breeding and homing policies.
Select 'Husbandry' for information about how Symphony rats are fed, housed and cared for.
For more information and photos of the varieties we breed for, click on 'Varieties'.
'The Rat Room' contains a tour of where the Symphony rats live; click on a cage to find out more about its inhabitants.
I bought my first pair of rats in 2004, after watching a documentary on television which explained that rats were excellent pets. Spot and Shiloh came to me from a pet shop, before I knew that rat breeders existed. Later I was directed to some rat-related websites by a member of staff who also kept rats, as websites usually have more up-to-date information than books.
Having joined an online forum (Fancy Rats), I discovered more about keeping rats and talked to my local breeders. After Spot died, I bought two more rats from Mary Giles of Zephyr Rats to keep Shiloh company. I immediately saw a difference in these rats from Spot and Shiloh.
They settled in more quickly and were friendlier and healthier throughout their lives.
In 2006 I moved to Reading and started going to rat shows, where I met many other breeders. Having seen the results of careless breeding from unknown lines, I decided that I wanted to breed rats. Breeding to improve their health whilst maintaining a good temperament and type.
I had originally wanted to breed Black eyed Whites because I loved the striking colour, but after hearing about various associated health problems, decided to breed ivory rats instead. Siobhan Learmonth happened to have a beautiful ivory doe, Lilly, who was ready for breeding at the end of the year, but Siobhan did not have the time to use her.
Therefore I was able to borrow Lilly for my very first litter and experience of breeding. I enjoyed raising Lilly's litter and chose to continue breeding and Symphony Rats was born. As well as ivories, my first litter contained Black eyed Himalayans and (unexpectedly) Golden Himalayans. I have continued to breed for both Golden Himalayans and ivories.
The name Symphony was chosen after flicking through the dictionary with my friend! I wanted a rattery name beginning with the letter S as my pets have always been (and will
continue to be) named with 'S names'. It seemed only fitting to choose a rattery name that also began with S. We came across Symphony and as I love music and spend most of my time
in the rat room listening to music it seemed like the perfect option!
Symphony Rattery became a registered stud name in October 2009, when I won both Best in Shows at the NFRS Annual Cup show with Symphony Serbia and Symphony San Marino.
For more information about the NFRS stud scheme, click here.
