AFRMA - Rat & Mouse Information - Index page

The AFRMA Rat and Mouse Information Pages
Breeding & Showing
Rat reading book

Here is where you will find information on the care of Rats and Mice. We have taken this information from our newsletters and flyers.

Showing

See also Shows & More

Breeding – General

Purchase the AFRMA Breeding Rats & Mice Book
Breeding Rats & Mice: Care and Guidelines - general information on breeding rats and mice, by Karen Robbins (PDF format; taken from the AFRMA Breeding Rats & Mice Book)
Breeders’ Pet Selling Guidelines
AFRMA Official Rat Standard - a pictorial of the basic standard for rats
Rat Type Issues - Judging 101 - a pictorial of the type issues of rats
AFRMA Official Mouse Standard - a pictorial of the basic standard for mice

Type

Inbreed/Outcross

Inbreeding and the Rat Fancy - by John Wells
Inbreeding - by Nichole Royer
Inbreeding - by Nichole Royer
Breeding-Beyond the Basics: Outcrossing, Line Breeding, Inbreeding - by Nichole Royer & Karen Robbins
Principles of Selective Inbreeding - by W.A. Watmough (an archived version of Practical Inbreeding 1969—missing some of the pedigrees in Chapter 4)

Record Keeping

Record Keeping - by Karen Hauser
Record Keeping - by Karen Robbins, Helen Pembrook, Nichole Royer, & Geri Hauser
Mouse Keeping: Record Keeping in the Mousery - by Virginia Pochmann
Calendar Cards: Instant Rat (or mouse) Records
Pedigree PDF forms - 4 Generation Pedigree form, 5 Generation Pedigree form, or new 4 Generation Pedigree form with litter info sections (to list what was in each litter for each ancestor). For 3-hole-punch binder. You have the option of printing either the “Record Back” or “Litter Record Back” on the backside of the Pedigree form depending on what you would like the form to be used for — an individual record form for one animal or a record form for one litter.
Record Back PDF - Record form to be printed on the back of the Pedigree
Litter Record Back PDF - Litter Record form to be printed on the back of the Pedigree
Record Sheet PDF - This is to be printed alone. Has all the features of the Pedigree/Record Form but all condensed on one side of the page. For 3-hole-punch binder.
Record Sheet with litter info sections PDF - This is to be printed alone. Has all the features of the Pedigree/Record Form but with litter info sections (to list what was in each litter for each ancestor) and all condensed on one side of the page. For 3-hole-punch binder.
Litter Record PDF - Litter Record sheet to be printed alone. For 3-hole-punch binder
NR Litter Record front PDF - Another version of a Litter Record sheet (front page). For 3-hole-punch binder.
NR Litter Record back PDF - Another version of a Litter Record sheet (back page)
All Litters Record landscape PDF - A form where you can keep track of all your litters born (landscape form). For 3-hole-punch binder.
All Litters Record portrait PDF - A form where you can keep track of all your litters born (portrait form). For 3-hole-punch binder.
All Litters Record portrait PDF1 - A form where you can keep track of all your litters born (portrait form). This one has an added Litters section where you can list what was in the litter plus a section for remarks. For 3-hole-punch binder.
Birth Certificate PDF - AFRMA Birth Certificates. Two designs on two different backgrounds; 2 on a page. Print on heavy paper or card stock (we print on 67# white cover stock).
Sales Contract PDF - AFRMA Sales Contract Form. Back side has pedigree form.
Stud Service Contract 1 PDF - A Stud Service Contract with bottom cut-off that the breeder keeps for their records. Back side has pedigree form and space for litter information.
Stud Service Contract 2 PDF - A Stud Service Contract (full size) you would photo copy to keep copy for breeder. Back side has pedigree form and space for litter information.

Breeding Tidbits

Mouse Multiplication Mania
Pheromones and Mouse Behavior - by Ivan Golakoff
Culling - by Nichole Royer
Culling: Mice - by Carrie Ramson & Saga Baern, Finland
Mouse Culling - by Virginia Pochmann
When And Why To Cull - by Karen Robbins
Small vs. Large Litters - by Nikki Kimura
“How can I tell if my female is pregnant?” - by Carol Lawton
2 Fathers Sire 1 Litter??? - by Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M.
Baby Mouse Development from Birth to 5 weeks - a daily pictorial by Karen Robbins
Baby Rat Development from Birth to 6 weeks - a daily pictorial by Karen Robbins
Rat Babies - 1 day old - Picture guide of a litter of 1-day-old rat babies by Karen Robbins
Sexing 101 - Picture guide to sexing rats & mice from newborn to adult. Available as posters to purchase.
A Litter Bit of Fun - by Sheryl Leisure
Large Litter of Rat Babies - by Helen Pembrook
Casual Breeding Wanted - by Karen Robbins
Kids Looking for Advice on Breeding - by Karen Robbins
Caring for Rat & Mouse Orphans - by Karen Robbins

Breeding – Colors/Genetics

RATS

Rat Genetics

Rat Colors: Self

Breeding Self Rats by Lisa Irvine (on the N.F.R.S. web site)
The Black Rat - by Nichole Royer
The Blue Rat - by Nichole Royer

Tinker: AFRMA’s First Blue Rat - by Sheryl Leisure
A Litter Bit of Fun - by Sheryl Leisure (the first litter of Tinker)
Trouble With Blues

Rat Colors: AOC

Rat Colors: AOCP

Rat Colors: Marked

Rat Coats

MICE

Mouse Genetics

Mouse Colors: Self

Lilac U.S. vs. Dove U.K. - by Virginia Pochmann
The Red Mouse - by Minna Piippo

Mouse Colors: Marked

Working With Banded Mice - by Dave Bumford
Banded Mice - by Satu Karhumaa
Dutch Mouse Info - by Sarah Yeomans

Mouse Colors: AOC

Argente Creme Mice - by Karen Robbins
Pearl Mice - by Karen Robbins (PDF)
Pearl Mice - various ages and colors - by Karen Robbins

Mouse Colors: AOCP

Mouse Colors: Coats

Breeding Tidbits: Colors/Genetics

Breeding & Stuff

General

Pregnant

Babies

Orphans

Colors & Coats

Rats

Mice

Shows & More

See also Showing

Misc. Pics

RATS

MICE

Updated July 14, 2026