Types of fancy rats

There are many "types" of fancy rats - different colours, different coat types, even rats with different ears, no hair, or tailless rats. Because our laws do not allow rats to be brought into Australia, some of these types are found only overseas. Australia has developed a unique type of fancy rat, known as the "Downunder" rat. Although we cannot import rats, we can export them, so Downunder rats are now found throughout the world, including the USA, UK and parts of Europe.

Currently, breeders across Australia are working to introduce new colours and coat types. the Downunder rat has only been around for a few years. Blazed, blue and blue agouti rats did not exist in Australia until early this year when they were discovered in Queensland. Dalmation and rexed rats are still "in the pipeline". Dumbo rats (rats with large ears, set low on the head) come from mutations, and will probably never turn up in Australia unless the import laws are changed. Other colours such as Chocolate, Siamese, Himalayan, Platinum, Chocolate, Husky and Pearl are all available in other countries, but not in Australia. While most Australian breeders would love to breed these colours, there are devastating diseases in the UK and USA that may be introduced if these new colours were ever to come to Australia.

Below is a list of the colours and coat types found in Australia at the moment. Some of these colours are shown in the photographs at left - they are highlighted in yellow.