How to make out reputable breeders

All for the customer. You have the right to get healthy pets from a reputable breeder. So don't take the first opportunity to buy. Ask before you make your decision because not everybody who breeds a species keeps his/her animals in a right way. Think about the following topics when you want to know wether the offer is reputable or not.

Try to have a look at the keeping. If it is not possible because you are too far away ask for pictures, messures of the enclosures and the number of individuals living in it. Or maybe a friend can have a look and tell you. If the breeder don't want to give you an insight of his/her breeding conditions don't buy any animals there.
When you are on location or write mails mind the following topics:

• Is the enclosure big enough (see demands of the species)?
• Is ist clean?
• Do the mice get the right food (see nutrition of the species)?
• Do the animals look healthy?

Look for advice from the breeder before you decide to buy his/her mice or not. Catch up on the species on information pages and in discussion boards before. Then you will recognize if the breeder tells you wrong. In this case shouldn't buy mice from this person.
Mind that the breeder not only gives basic informations and tells you the advantages of the species but also informs you of disadvantages and problems you may get faced with. There are some with every species and you should know them before. So get suspiciously if you are told that keeping this species is free from problems and disadvantages.
Have the mice shown if you visit the breeder. How does the breeder present them? Is he/she rude in handling them? Does he/she bother nocturnal species during daytime? Does he/she flush the mice for you? These are signs that you should buy elsewhere.
Is he/she careful, clever and calm while dealing with the mice, does he/she regret not being able to show nocturnal species during the day, you might have found the right breeder.

In some stores and on markets and fairs many different and sometimes even rare species are offered. Resist the temptation to buy animals immidiately but try to find contact to breeders and proof them later on soundly on the topics above. For laymen it is usually difficult to find out wether the breeder is reputable or not right in the moment they meet him/her. A breeder who is interested in the welfare of his/her mice after they are sold is up to sell you later on some rodents.
Simultaneously you have a chance to think about wether buying the mice or not. Impulse buyings can turn bad for mice and keeper!

Ask wether the breeder also sells other species. It shouldn't be more than two, three or four. If you are on location also have a look at the other species which are breeded. Don't buy mice from a breeder who offers many different species!