Our Rats
Every rattery begins somewhere, and ours began with a pair who quickly proved themselves exceptional. Aries and Pocket were the cornerstone of Pocket Pines. Chosen for their steady temperaments, strong health, and the surprising quality of the offspring they produced together.
Aries, our gentle and enduring buck, brought remarkable longevity, resilience, and calm confidence to the line. Pocket, our determined and devoted doe, has not only passed on her elegant type and soft coat but also grown into an affectionate, attentive mother whose influence shines in her daughters.
Their pairing laid the groundwork for what Pocket Pines is all about: thoughtful genetics, loving care, and the joy of producing rats that are better than the generation before them.
The Original PineSoul Line
WHAT WE WORK WITH
DWS or "High White"
DWS rats are known for their distinctive white belly markings and bold facial blazes. While visually striking, they carry a unique genetic profile that we handle with care. At Pocket Pines, DWS rats are bred selectively and ethically, with close observation for health and temperament. Our goal is to preserve the beauty of this gene while eliminating associated risks like megacolon through mindful refinement.
Dilute
Dilute refers to a number of genes which work to lighten the color of the coat on an animal. Our primary focus at Pocket Pines is the mink gene, which created a warm smokey color. However we do also work with blue and red eyed dilutes in some of our lines. All of our colors are black based as I do not yet work with agouti in the rattery.
Rexoid Coat
Rats with rexoid coats have curly fur and whiskers, with rex being tighter and more textured, and velveteen being softer and more plush. Both types add a whimsical charm to any litter! Like all of our rats they are bred to maintain coat quality without compromising on health or temperament.
Pearl Merle
Pearl is a dominant coloring gene first displayed by Aries, our foundational buck. It lightens the fur, creating a heathered appearance in a 'dark phase' pearl and in a 'light phase' pearl the rat will appear an even ivory color. Merle is a recessive spotting gene which creates darker patches. Both genes only express on rats with two copies of the mink gene.
Our current goal with this branch of the line is to separate out the DWS gene and breed to a nice even self or berkshire which showcases the gene best. We also want to continue to focus on the rats that show a more intense phenotype of the pearl and merle, although temperament will continue to come first.
Their bright and striking coloring is matched with equally eager and outgoing personalities