Join Us!

Are you a rodent enthusiast? Would you like to be active in a local community of breeders and pet owners? RCPL warmly welcomes anyone who owns or wishes to own rodents. Whether it’s mice, rats, hamsters, or other domestic or exotic rodents — you are welcome! Registration is simple and comes with fun perks and opportunities!

ATTENTION! Due to the nature of our association's activities, we recommend having a Discord account.

Rodent Breeder Registration

1. Fill out the membership declaration for breeders.
2. After initial approval, we’ll contact you to discuss further steps. A board member will visit you to confirm your conditions and knowledge. If a visit is not possible, a video call will be arranged.
3. After successful verification, you will become a registered rodent breeder in RCPL!

Rodent Enthusiast Registration

1. Fill out the membership declaration for enthusiasts.
2. After approval, you will receive a form by email that must be printed, filled out, and sent to the indicated address.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Annual fee for enthusiasts: 100 PLN.

Annual fee for breeders: 200 PLN. Payment every 6 months is possible.

One-time breeder prefix registration fee: 100 PLN.

NOTE! Membership fees are non-refundable. Please make sure you meet all breeder requirements before registering!

Member Benefits:

• Lower costs for attending rodent shows organized by the association.
• Opportunities to connect with other rodent enthusiasts and breeders.
• Easy knowledge-sharing with fellow members.
• Registration with RCPL increases the credibility and reputation of your breeding program — membership confirms ethical practices and good living conditions.
• Access to hidden channels on Discord.
• For enthusiasts: your pets can participate in the "pet" category at rodent shows.

Want to become a breeder but don't know where to start?

If you want to become a breeder but have no experience, we’re happy to help! Within our association, we actively share knowledge on responsible rodent breeding. Just take a few steps:

• Register with RCPL on the "Join Us!" page.
• Contact the appropriate mentor (depending on the species you're interested in) to request training and guidance.
• Try to do some self-learning using international resources (e.g., mouse genetics at hiiret.fi, or rat varieties at ratvarietyguide.weebly.com).
• Prepare a breeder starter kit (mentors will provide a detailed list of what's required).

Once registered, a qualified breeder will become your mentor. During mentorship, we’ll help define your breeding goals, select suitable animals from reputable breeders, and guide you through the entire learning process. You'll learn how to select mice, pair them responsibly, care for mothers with litters, and prepare young for adult life. At a certain point, you’ll face a knowledge test. Passing it, along with gaining experience and your mentor’s approval, are the final steps before becoming an independent breeder.

We provide educational support, access to reliable breeding lines in many color varieties, mentor supervision, and continuous knowledge sharing. You’ll be able to contact us anytime for help or clarification.

PEDIGREES AND ANIMAL SALES

• Breeders must provide an official pedigree (matching the association's template) upon the new owner's request.
• Breeders are free to set the price of their animals.
• Animals must be shipped using ethical and safe transportation methods.
• The association is not responsible for sold animals. However, if there are repeated reports of illness, parasites, or aggression, the situation may be investigated.
• Animals should change home at appropriate age. All information on specific species can be found in this article"ABC Rodowodowych gryzoni"

RODENT WELFARE

Breeders must care for their animals’ welfare and ensure proper breeding conditions:
• Minimum standards (outlined in starter kit guides for each species) must be met for mating, breeding males, pregnancy, raising pups, and quarantine.
• Containers and conditions must follow the guidelines from the "breeder starter kit" article.
• Breeders should be familiar with humane euthanasia methods and be prepared to ensure a dignified, painless death if necessary.
• In large litters, breeders must ensure all young are being fed and intervene when necessary.
• Routine deworming (e.g., once a year) and parasite testing at least twice a year are required.
• Breeders should vet potential homes to ensure their animals will be well cared for.
• RCPL allows breeding only animals from good sources and recommended breeders. Some of them are listed on the recommended breeder map. If in doubt, consult the board before proceeding.

LITTERS

• Females should not have too many litters over their lifetime. The recommended average is 2, with a maximum of 3, depending on the species.
• Litter sizes should be managed. Large litters require close monitoring to prevent starvation.
• Each female should rest for at least one month after weaning a litter.
• Animals should never be paired improperly (e.g., violating species needs) or allowed to fight aggressively.

KNOWLEDGE

• Breeders should have basic knowledge of rodent care and welfare.
• Each breeder should understand genetics, including:
• how specific genes behave,
• the key loci and how they work,
• inheritance patterns and gene dominance.