The name: 'Coastboat' comes from a long standing joke between my friend Emma and I - we met (through Fancy Rats) shortly after we each started keeping rats in January 2006, and over the next few years did a lot of rescuing and rehoming, usually together. We kidded that we counted as an emergency service, and since we are near the sea here, and there is already the Lifeguard, the Lifeboat, and the Coastguard, we decided to be the Coastboat.

The aforementioned Emma Liddell sadly moved out of the area some time ago and is now known as the 'Plymouth branch' - effusive thanks are due to her for all her ongoing help, her emotional support and general awesomeness!

Homing policies:

1. I only home to over 18s. That's not to say anyone under that age cannot enjoy sharing the joy of rats as pets, but I do ask that anyone under that age gets their parents to contact us and arrange things, including signing a pet owner's contract to take full responsibility, including financial, for their care.
2. I do not home kittens singly, they are reserved in pairs and in some cases trios, unless they are to be homed with same aged rats from elsewhere (e.g. as company for a lone baby). Rats are highly social creatures and must have same sex company to thrive. Older rats ('retired' breeding does, or those kept for breeding but not bred from) are sometimes rehomed singly, but it depends on their relationships with their cagemates; we won't split a bonded pair.
3. Are you able to keep in regular touch with me throughout the duration of the rats' lives?  It is imperative that I keep as thorough records as possible on my rats' health and temperament throughout their lives to ensure I continue to breed responsibly, and therefore I ask for updates at least every six months, more frequently if issues arise. If you don't wish to keep in touch, please go elsewhere.
4. Prices are: £25 per pair of same sex rats (or in the case of those going singly, £15). This is not refundable.
5. Our rats are homed on a pet only contract unless previously discussed and arranged with me.  No rescues will be homed out for breeding, these are pets only.  I only breed from known lines, never from rescue or petshop rats.   
6. I accept returns of rats with no questions asked; if at any point in the rats' lives you decide cannot keep them, I will always take them back and would expect you to contact us to arrange this.
7. Transportation can sometimes be arranged, through another breeder/rat owner or friends. Sometimes I can deliver rats to shows that we are attending. I prefer to meet new owners, but under certain circumstances this can be waived; please ask for further information.

Other things to bear in mind:

* Varieties: While I know what I'm expecting and can usually take a good guess at what a litter will contain, nature's a tricky thing and can (and usually does) surprise us all the time. In short, I will always do my best, but I can't make rats to order, or guarantee that there will be a particular number of varieties or sexes in a litter. If you're set on one or two particular varieties that is absolutely fine, but you will nearly always have a longer wait.

* Availability of rats: When we have kittens available, I work down the waiting list, offering kittens to those at the top first and giving a time limit for responses before moving on to the next person. Please tell me if you would rather be telephoned than emailed. Sometimes people have changed their minds, found rats elsewhere, or prefer to wait for particular varieties, so even if you have asked at the last minute, I may be able to offer you rats, but please bear in mind that there is usually a wait - if you cannot wait, I am always happy to refer you to another breeder, or a rescue. In return, please be courteous and let me know if you go elsewhere.

I look forward to meeting new owners and homing babies to fantastic new homes!  I am also on hand as much as I possibly can be to answer any questions for potential new owners.  Please feel free to contact me for a chat.

Ethics and Aims:

All of our rats are treated as pets and part of the family, and as such, I do not reduce litter size by culling and I only breed from rats with known family histories.

I hope in the future to gain my stud name with the NFRS, and therefore I do show my rats when I can. I began breeding because I believe that rats are wonderful animals, and I want to be part of 'bettering' them in regards to health and longevity.

However, I'm doing this not just because I want to improve rats as a species, but because I feel so strongly that there should be an ethical alternative to petshops that is more long-term, and perhaps more 'first-time-owner-friendly', than rescuing. Providing happy, healthy pets is the priority for me.

Acknowledgements: Thanks are due to Estelle Sandford of Alpha Centauri Stud, Lisa Grove of Halcyon Stud, Doug Connor of Tenebrae Stud, Lisa Clarke of Swiftvalley Stud, Julie Oliver of Valhalla Stud, Tina Williams of Hellstorm Stud and Sarah Stevens of Milo Stud for all their help and advice, not to mention providing me with some lovely starter rats. Much gratitude is also due to Jayne Warren of Warren's Ark Rats, for all her encouragement and support.