All exhibitors are to assume liability and responsibility to research the many zoonotic and other diseases that rodents may carry and pass on to humans or other rodents. You are showing at your own risk.

Any new animals you bring into your rattery/mousery must go through a minimum 12-week quarantine period before being entered in a show. [Effective September 15, 2018]

Breeders should be testing new stock brought in as some diseases have no symptoms.

Animals are NOT to be handled at the shows other than by the owner, health checkers, and judges.

RATS

VARIETIES: Standard (STD), Rex, Tailless, Hairless, Satin, Dumbo, Bristle Coat.
All rat varieties will be judged together in one AOV class except when there are 5 or more entered in any one Variety, then we will break it out into its own class. Enter Multi-Varieties (i.e. Satin Rex, Dumbo Tailless, Hairless Dumbo, etc.) in the “Multi-Variety” (MV) class. [Modified March 7, 2015]

SECTIONS: Self, AOC, AOCP, Silvered, Marked, Odd-eye.

COLORS: Self: Beige, Black, Blue, Blue-Beige, Champagne, Chocolate, Cocoa, Lilac, Mink, P.E. Platinum, Platinum, Powder Blue, Russian Blue, Russian Dove, Sky Blue, B.E. White, P.E. White.

AOC: Agouti, Blue Agouti, Chinchilla, Cinnamon, Cinnamon Pearl, Fawn, Lynx, Pearl, Russian Blue Agouti.

AOCP: B.E. Siamese, Blue Point Siamese, Burmese, Himalayan, Russian Blue Agouti Burmese, Russian Blue Point Siamese, Seal Point Siamese, Merle.

Silvered: Amber, Silver Black, Silver Blue, Silver Chocolate, Silver Fawn, Silver Lilac, Silver Mink.

Marked: English Irish, Irish, Down Under, Berkshire, Essex, Variegated, Blaze, Dalmatian, Hooded, Bareback, Capped, Masked.

Odd-eye: Any recognized color.

MICE

VARIETIES: Standard (STD), Satin (S), Long Hair (LH), Long Hair Satin (LHS), Frizzie (FR), Frizzie Satin (FRS), Hairless (HR), Frizzled (FRZ).
If, at any show there are 5 or less combined entries in the Long Hair and Long Hair Satin classes, they will be combined into one class; 5 or less combined entries in the Frizzie and Frizzie Satin, will also be combined into one class. Satin, Long Hair, Long Hair Satin, Frizzie, Frizzie Satin, Hairless, and Frizzled mice will be judged together in one AOV class except when there are 5 or more entered in any one Variety, then we will break it out into its own class.

SECTIONS: Self, Tan and Fox, Marked, AOC, AOCP.

COLORS: Self: Beige, Black, Blue, Champagne, Chocolate, Coffee, Cream, Dove, Fawn, Gold, Ivory, Lilac, Orange, Red, Silver, White.

Tan and Fox: Any recognized color. (Self or AOC)

Marked: Banded, Broken, Broken Merle, Dutch, Even, Hereford, Rump White, Spotted Tan, Variegated.

AOC: Agouti, Argente, Blue Agouti, Chinchilla, Cinnamon, Pearl, Silver Black, Silver Blue, Silver Chocolate, Silver Grey.

AOCP: Blue Point Himalayan, Blue Point Siamese, Blue Siamese Sable, Brindle, Himalayan, Merle, Reverse Siamese, Roan, Seal Point Siamese, Siamese Sable, Splashed.

In any Variety, if 5 or less are exhibited, all Sections will be judged together in one class and no Section ribbons/prize cards will be awarded in this case.

EVALUATIONS: Can be done any time by appointment. This is for animals that you would like to breed but may not be show quality (i.e. nicked ears, missing tail tip, etc.) and you need an expert opinion.

• Fee is $2 members/$3 non-members per animal.
• You will get a judging card filled out for each animal.
• There will be no awards given.
• Age to be 5 weeks and over on mice and 6 weeks and over on rats. Please keep in mind that kittens change and should be evaluated later.
• You will need to print out the EVAL form (member or non-member first pages with the back side last page–use just one sheet of paper; now interactive so can fill out before printing) and list the animals to be critiqued, fill out the top part of a judging card with the name/id and color/section/variety for each animal, and bring them with you. You will also need to submit the Exhibitor/Sellers Form prior to/with entry. (use as many pages/forms as needed) (PDF; form interactive so you can fill in then send as an e-mail attachment in the PDF – pic of envelope on top Send file as email attachment, or save the PDF file after you’ve filled in all the information and go to your e-mail and attach that saved file to an e-mail and send to us; if your Internet browser does not use Acrobat to view PDFs, download Adobe Acrobat to your computer, open the form in your browser and save the form, then open the form in Acrobat on your computer and fill out and send using the above instructions) [Added October 14, 2017]
• Evaluation critiques required on all breeding animals to apply for Registered Rattery/Mousery.
• For more information or to make an appointment, contact showsec@afrma.org. [Effective April 21, 2001; changed ages April 25, 2009; modified March 7, 2015, to having EVAL Day several times a year; added Exhibitor/Sellers Form October 14, 2017; changed to appointment only September 15, 2018]

KITTEN RAT WEIGHT GUIDELINES AT 6 WEEKS: males to be 8 oz/approximately(~)236 g, females 6 oz/~177 g; 4 month females 11 oz/~311 g.

NON-REGULAR Classes to be offered at each show for rats and mice unless otherwise stated. One ribbon/prize card will be given for the best of each class. “Non-Regular” Class winners do not compete for Best of Section, Best of Variety, or Best in Show.

• Pet (Youth 17 & under, Adult 18 & over). Late entries not accepted. Fill your information in using the PET CLASS Entry Blank. [Amended age September 27, 2014]
• Imported (Jan. Show only): for imported pure show lines of rats and mice. They will be judged according to their respective color and Variety. The rats and mice entered in the Imported class must be purebred show lines able to trace their lines directly to the animals imported from their country of origin (direct offspring — pedigrees required to show they are pure imported lines). Animals that are crosses are not eligible to compete in the Imported class but may compete in the regular classes as long as they conform to a recognized color and Variety. This way we are able to keep the imported lines pure; may also be shown in the Regular classes at each show; fill out entry blank and choose Import in NON-REG column. [Name change from English class to Imported December 10, 2022]
• Unstandardized: (UNSTD) Accepted Proposed animals—Rats: Silver Russian Dove, D’Argent; Mice: none. See the Standards book for details on entering this class. Notify the Show Sec. prior to presentation at a show. The Best Unstandardized award will be given to the animal best representing its new feature. Unstandardized animals must be shown in the Unstandardized class first/concurrently before being able to be shown in the Unstandardized Breeder classes. Choose UNSTD in the NON-REG column. [Amended June 30, 2012]
• Unstandardized Breeder: Unstandardized may be shown in the following classes only. One Best Unstandardized Breeder Class ribbon/prize card will be given to the animal best representing its category from the classes below. [Effective June 30, 2012]
  1. Unstandardized Kitten: The same as Non-Regular Kitten but for Unstandardized kittens. They will be judged according to their proposed color/Variety. Rats to be no younger than 6 weeks and no older than 9 weeks; Mice to be no younger than 5 weeks and no older than 7 weeks. Include the birthdate.
  2. Unstandardized Brood Doe: The same as Non-Regular Brood Doe but for Unstandardized adult show-quality* female rats and mice. The rat or mouse is judged on her conformation first, color and markings second, and in the judge’s opinion on how well she may pass on her qualities to her offspring.
  3. Unstandardized Progeny (one category consisting of Produce of Dam and Get of Sire): The same as Non-Regular Progeny but for Unstandardized progeny, will be held for 2–4 animals age 5 weeks or older on mice, 6 weeks or older on rats, must be Accepted Proposed Unstandardized show-quality* animals, and produced from the same Unstandardized Dam or same Unstandardized Sire not necessarily from the same litter. The Dam or Sire must be shown with the offspring but will not be judged with the offspring and the entry will be the Dam or the Sire. All animals to make up ONE entry on the Entry Blank and pay $2/$3. More than one exhibitor may supply the animals for each entry.
  4. Unstandardized Stud Buck: The same as Non-Regular Stud Buck but for Unstandardized adult show-quality* male rats and mice. The rat or mouse is judged on his conformation first, color and markings second, and in the judge’s opinion on how well he may pass on his qualities to his offspring.
• Kitten: All kittens will be judged according to their respective color and Variety. Rats to be no younger than 6 weeks and no older than 9 weeks; Mice to be no younger than 5 weeks and no older than 7 weeks, choose KIT in NON-REG column, and include the birth date. [changed ages 4-25-09]
• American Mouse: The mice will be judged to the same Standard as the English show mouse with the exception of type. Choose AMER in the NON-REG column.
• Breeder’s Group: This class to consist of 4 animals all owned and bred by the exhibitor. They should all be reasonably closely related and are judged on uniformity overall. All animals to make up ONE entry on the Entry Blank and pay $2/$3. Choose GROUP in the NON-REG column.
• Brood Doe: For adult female show-quality* rats and mice. The rat or mouse is judged on her conformation first, color and markings second, and in the judge’s opinion on how well she may pass on her qualities to her offspring. Choose BROOD in the NON-REG column.
• Most Matched Pair (MMP): The two may be the same sex or different sex. They are judged on how closely the two animals match each other in color, markings, and type. Both animals to make up ONE entry on the Entry Blank and pay $2/$3. Choose MMP in the NON-REG column. List color/variety with class.
• Progeny (Get of Sire, Produce of Dam): One Produce of Dam and one Get of Sire class will be held for 2–4 animals age 5 weeks or older on mice, 6 weeks or older on rats, must be show quality*, and produced from the same Dam or same Sire not necessarily from the same litter. The Dam or Sire must be shown with the offspring but will not be judged with the offspring and the ribbon/prize card will go to the Best Dam and the Best Sire. Enter the parent animal on your entry. All animals to make up ONE entry on the Entry Blank and pay $2/$3. More than one exhibitor may supply the animals for each entry. Choose GOS or POD in the NON-REG column.
• Stud Buck: For adult male show-quality* rats and mice. The rat or mouse is judged on his conformation first, color and markings second, and in the judge’s opinion on how well he may pass on his qualities to his offspring. Choose STUD in the NON-REG column.
• Youth (17 & under): Kids age 17 and under with show-quality* animals judged according to the Standards to compete against each other. One Best Youth ribbon/prize card will be given for the Best Youth Rat and one for the Best Youth Mouse. Choose YOUTH in the NON-REG column. [Amended age December 6, 2014]

*Non-Regular show-quality=Standardized colors with no eliminations or disqualifications; Unstandardized show-quality=Accepted Proposed Standards with no eliminations or disqualifications