The pet classes (Adult Owned, Junior Owned and Breeder Owned) are split into bucks and does, giving six classes in total, and there are three challenge classes:
Best Adult Owned
Best Junior Owned
Best Breeder Owned.
The winners of these challenge classes then compete against each other to establish the overall Best Pet.
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Pet rats are not judged on appearance and neutered rats are allowed
Temperament is the main judging criteria for pets. They should be tame and easy to get out of the tank, they should then be happy to interact with the judge and be inquisitive
Rats should also be in good condition, with a shiny coat and bright eyes. There should be no bites or scabs and the rat should be clean and not overweight.
Although pets don't have to be shown in a standard show tank, these can usually be hired from the show secretary if you book them early. If they are not available, choose a small, easy cage that the judge can easily get the rats out of.