What a rat looks like: photos of domestic and wild rodents

Most pet rodent owners are concerned about the proper development of their rat pups. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the stages of development of baby rats, the rules for caring for them, and when they are ready to start interacting with their owners. We will also learn how newborn rats behave and learn how to properly care for them.

In addition, we will answer common questions from owners, such as “when do newborn rodents open their eyes?” and “what should I feed them?” And most importantly, we will learn what needs to be done to ensure that the baby grows up to be a healthy and happy rat.

How many pups are usually in a litter?

Typically, wild rats produce offspring ranging from four to eight pups. However, well-cared for pet rats can have litters that exceed this limit.

Female rats have 12 teats (even more than mice, cats and dogs), so they are capable of raising a large number of newborn rat pups. For this reason, most owners will not have to feed their young.

Differences between old individuals

After six months, difficulties arise in determining the age of the animal during the weighing process. To do this, you need to take into account various external characteristics. You should pay attention to the length of the animal’s tail. If it is equal to the length of the body, then the animal is definitely more than a year old.

In addition, the following signs indicate maturity:

• Dull and sparse fur, sticking out in some places.
• Rough skin on the tail with a large number of keratinized flaking areas.
• A hunched body, indicating the absence of a fatty layer on the back, which is always present in young individuals.
• Long incisors with ground back.

What do newborn rat pups look like?

On the day they are born, newborn rats can easily fit into a teaspoon. Their eyes are completely closed and their ears are flat against their head. The tail of an animal at birth is much shorter relative to body length than that of an adult rodent.

Newborn rats have baby teeth and antennae, but no hair or skin pigment. For this reason, all cubs first have pink bodies. Their skin is so thin and transparent that you can see the shape of their eyeballs through their eyelids. Many owners also note that milk is clearly visible in their tummies after feeding.

Rats - popular Lariskas

Looking at photos of decorative rats, you understand that there is no single standard for determining the “breed”.

The ranking of the most popular of these decorative rodents includes:

• standard - large, smooth-haired animals with a tail equal to the size of the body. Reach up to half a kilogram of weight;
• satin - differ from their counterparts in soft long fur with a good shine;
• Dambo - round large ears and a sharp muzzle, a pear-shaped not very long body and an elongated tail;
• Sphynx - hairless individuals, may be born with age spots, but as adults the skin becomes pink;
• tailless - appeared in 1983 as a result of an unplanned mutation. Their body is shaped like a pear.

Stages of development of baby rats

Before rats can leave their mother, they must develop properly. Cubs usually develop quite quickly physically and mentally. It is very interesting to observe such a transition of a rat from a defenseless animal to a full-fledged adult. Let's look at the development of rats week by week:

• First week

The pigment begins to appear on the skin almost immediately after the animal is born. However, only after five days can peach hairs be seen on the body of a newborn rat.

Until 5 days of age, the rodent practically does not move. He can only raise his head and fall back down onto his stomach if he fails to rise.

Although these newborn rodents lack vision and hearing, they use their whiskers to find their mother's nipple or their siblings.

• Second week

The baby rats begin to develop full-fledged fur. They can also now stand up on their feet. At the end of the second week, baby rats usually take their first steps.

However, another big change awaits them. On the tenth day, the ears stop pressing against the head, and on the twelfth day, the ear canal begins to open.

• Third week

At the beginning of the third week, the rat's weight should exceed 4 times its birth weight. Also, their sense of smell and taste will be almost fully developed by this age. In addition, their eyes should open completely.

• Fourth week

Once the pups reach 4 weeks of age, they become more and more like adults. By the end of this week, their fragile tails will become stronger and more coordinated. The baby rodent hairs will be replaced by thick fur and undercoat.

The little rats are filled with energy and want to explore everything around them. Another important point is that at this age they wean themselves from drinking their mother’s milk. Therefore, the female will spend significantly more time outside the nest.

• Fifth week

At this stage, rats begin to demand solid food. They no longer need milk alone to get energy.

They also begin to spend a lot of time grooming, digging, playing with their siblings, and asserting their independence. By the end of this week, it is important to separate the males from the females as the rats reach sexual maturity. Also, the fifth week is the most important for the development of social skills in the rodent.

• Sixth week

At 6 weeks of age, rats are ready to leave home and go to new owners. They get rid of their childhood habits and no longer need their mother's milk.

Between six and eight years of age, baby rats go through the equivalent of puberty and adolescence. After this period they can be considered adults.

Structure and appearance

In the wild, black rats hunt at night. Therefore, the body structure and appearance of animals are maximally subordinated to the main goal - to survive in any conditions. Rodents have incredibly strong, resilient bodies. They can adapt to changes in their environment.

Domesticated rodents quickly adapt to new conditions and adjust their biorhythms to the regime of their owners. There are several varieties of black rats.

Breed names often duplicate feline or canine species. Domestic animals can differ not only in fur color, but also in body type, eye color, weight, and life expectancy.

The size of dark-colored domestic rodents is much smaller than their gray counterparts. A distinctive feature of black rats is that the tail length (29–30 cm) exceeds the body dimensions (20–22 cm). The weight of large dark-colored individuals sometimes reaches 300 g.

The large black rat's round ears give it the appearance of a large mouse. These smart and curious animals with elongated muzzles have a good memory and cannot be offended.

Pets' eyes can be multi-colored, but most often they are dark. A barely visible tassel at the tip of the tail is the only decoration of these beautiful animals.

Black rodents are reliably protected from temperature fluctuations by a warm coat, which consists of top pile and undercoat. The color intensity of the fur depends on the habitat of the animal. Among southerners, the dark color is significantly diluted with gray shades, while northerners have black fur with a greenish tint.

Why do baby rats cuddle together?

Looking inside a baby rat's nest, you can hardly tell where one baby ends and the next begins. It's a truly fascinating instinct that serves an important purpose. Small rodents do not have fur, so they quickly lose heat. By clinging to each other, they prevent heat loss.

By doing this, newborn rats also expend less energy on maintaining heat. They subsequently invest this energy in the development of the body.

Coat color

There is a wide variety of colors and coat tones for decorative types of rats. Based on this criterion, they are divided into groups.

Homogeneous

With uniform coat color in decorative rats, all hairs should look the same and be the same color.

The following colors are available:

• black;
• white (albinos);
• Russian blue and smoky blue, which differ only in the intensity of the tone;
• brown-gray;
• platinum;
• beige;
• champagne

There are several types of light gray color:

• with a blue tint (Russian silver);
• with a pink tint (dav);
• with a chestnut tint (lilac);

The name of the color is also determined by the color of the eyes. For example, rats with champagne coat colors should have pink eyes. And in white decorative rodents they are red and black.

Ticked

Each fur of such a rat is colored in several colors:

1. Agouti. The basis of the classic color is soft brown hairs with black tips. A silver-gray tone predominates on the belly. Blue agouti is characterized by a combination of brown with silver or cool blue color. The platinum agouti has light gray and beige hairs that are effectively complemented by a blue tint.
2. Amber. An ivory band is visible on the orange and fiery yellow hairs. The undercoat is a delicate cream color, the eyes are pink.
3. Cinnamon. On the back, red-brown hairs with a bright golden edging predominate, and on the belly, gray and silver hairs predominate.
4. Faun. The predominance of coffee-golden color, the silvery tint to which is given by guard hairs. The fur in the belly area is silver-cream in color. Fauns have dark ruby ​​eyes.
5. Topaz. Light coffee hairs are combined with silver ones. In color, these rats resemble fauns, but have a lighter shade of undercoat, due to which the entire color of the coat appears less saturated. Most often, they can only be distinguished by specialists who know what color these two types of rats are.
6. Pearl. The color contains beige, golden and gray shades. The belly is sandy, with a grayish tint.

Silver

A peculiarity of this type of rat is the combination of hairs colored silver and other colors in equal proportions. The fur of such rodents must shine and sparkle.

A silver tint can set off a black, blue or brown tone.

Combined

This type includes rats whose color contains 2 or more shades:

1. Siamese. The rodent's fur is beige in color, which becomes more saturated in the back of the body. The tail is uniformly dark. Brown spots are located on the face, ears and the bottom of the paws.
2. Himalayan. The uniform snow-white coat has dark brown spots. A special feature is the red eyes. Black-eyed Himalayan rats have cream-colored spots.
3. Burmese. The main coat color on the body can vary from sandy to brown, with darker spots on it. The tummy of rodents is distinguished by a gray-white color.
4. Sable. The coffee color is combined with dark brown spots on the limbs.

Rats that combine white and colored parts of their fur in a certain order are called marked. The marking may take the form of a cloak, hood or train.

What do baby rats sound like?

So, we learned that baby rats can hear, but what sounds do they make themselves?

From an early age, rats use ultrasonic vocalizations to signal to their mother that they are cold, lonely or low on milk. These squeak-like sounds are far beyond our audibility. However, an adult rat distinguishes them with ease. This is a fairly important part of the behavior of baby rats.

Keep this in mind if you ever disturb a baby rat's nest. Just because you don't hear their protests doesn't mean they are happy with your behavior. And, if you hear baby rats squeaking, you need to leave.

Younger age

Starting from the fourth day, the development of little rat pups occurs at a rapid pace.

• 4th day the ears open, the pups begin to distinguish sounds and hear rustling sounds;
• 6th body is covered with soft dark fluff;
• On the 8th, teeth emerge, except for the main incisors.

After 10 days of life, the pups become active. They crawl well and master the terrain. If these are pets, they should be handled more often so that the animals grow up tame. However, during the game they should not be left unattended, since coordination of movements is not yet developed, the kids can fall to the floor from a table, any height.

What to feed the baby rats?

Rats need nothing more than their mother's milk to grow until they are 21 days old.

Orphaned rats can be raised on formula after consulting with a veterinarian about the proper diet.

At 21 days they are ready to try their first solid food. They usually start with something soft and light, like yogurt, a ripe banana, or their mother's regular rat pellets. You can soften them for easier consumption by your baby rats.

However, these products do not replace breast milk overnight. They will continue to feed from their mother for several more weeks.

Types of breeding

In domestic rats, two types of crossbreeding are possible: selection of different breeds and purebred breeding.

In turn, purebred crossing is divided into the following types:

• Linear crossing;
• Inbreeding;
• Outcrossing;
• Outbreeding.

Linebreeding

Linebreeding or line breeding of rats involves crossing individuals that have a common ancestor. This method allows you to obtain viable offspring with a good genotype. In this case, homozygosity is preserved, and characteristics that do not satisfy the breeder are leveled out.

Inbreeding

To consolidate important breed qualities, the inbreeding method is chosen. Breeding rats in this way involves studying the gene pool and selecting quality sires among close relatives. With close inbreeding, a decrease in the number of viable offspring is possible - so-called inbreeding depression. To reduce the risk of such a situation, individuals for breeding are selected according to strict criteria.

Outcrossing

Outcrossing is used when it is necessary to increase the number of litters with valuable qualities. Mating uses individuals obtained by linebreeding, but without common ancestors in the fourth or fifth generation. To improve the breed, young animals that are unsuitable for a good genetic line are removed from the litter.

Outbreeding

To improve the quality of the breed and the health of the litter, outbreeding is the best option. With such crossing, individuals of a pure breed are selected, but without common ancestors. The disadvantage of this method of breeding is that there is a risk of unplanned characteristics and with frequent use, after several generations the proportions of the animal change.

Despite the different selection options that can be combined, there is still an unpredictable result. This is manifested in the color and length of the coat, the number of individuals in one litter, eye color, and level of health.

When do rats open their eyes?

Even when the eyelids are closed, the eyes of newborn rats are sensitive to light. If you suddenly let light into their nest, you will notice that they try to isolate themselves from the light as much as possible, depending on their stage of development.

They usually finally open their eyes around the 15th day after birth. Now they can see normally, although it may seem different to us. This is because their vision is much worse than ours. But what’s interesting is that their viewing angle is much wider. It even includes the area above their heads, as well as in front of them and to the sides.

Features of behavior

The character of these animals cannot be called simple. Siamese are characterized by alertness. If the animal has a bad upbringing, then it may attempt to bite its owner. This behavior needs to be stopped and try to find a common language with your pet as quickly as possible. To do this, you can use the following tips:

• from childhood, an animal needs to be picked up, talked to, called by name, so to speak, tamed and established contact;
• aggressive behavior of a rat can be stopped by light blows on the face, shouting or clicking on the nose;
• from the first minutes of communication you need to show that you are in charge.

Socialization of young rats

Rats should always be kept in pairs or large groups throughout their lives. Playing with their littermates is a vital part of baby rats' social development. Lack of company and interaction with other rats is a huge stress for them. This is largely due to the fact that rats kept in isolation as they grow up do not acquire the social skills needed to live peacefully with other rats.

So responsible breeders always make sure that the little rat is in the company of the younger generation. This way, they will grow up to be healthy and sociable individuals. This does affect the behavior of the baby rats as they get older.

Prevention

When a rat has no problems and is not sick, its eyes, nose and mucous membranes are absolutely clean. When there is porphyrin in your pet's nose (for no reason), your pet requires the attention of a specialist. At the veterinary clinic, they will take tests and examine the animal, as a result of which it will be possible to understand whether everything is normal or whether there is a disease. In the latter case, the doctor will prescribe treatment at home or prescribe procedures at a veterinary institution.

To prevent the animal from developing bad symptoms, the owner must follow the following rules:

• the cage with the pet should be located in a quiet, calm place - the animal needs comfort;
• The animal should not be stressed, make noise, shout or wake it up abruptly - this will scare it;
• the rat must be fed healthy and wholesome food;
• You constantly need to monitor your pet, its condition, skin and mucous membranes.

How long should baby rats stay with their mothers?

Usually six weeks. This includes a period of nursing the cubs and their final weaning after approximately 5 weeks (21 days).

Many people ask this question, especially when they find orphan rats. What to do if you find orphan rats? How to feed them? As mentioned earlier, if the mother is unable to nurse, you can feed the rat baby formula. Just be sure to seek help from a veterinarian.

Setting up a house for a rodent

Aquariums are not suitable for this animal due to poor ventilation, and cages for hamsters are not suitable due to their small area. A cage for a pet rat should be special. This is, rather, a two-, or better yet, a three-story house, a kind of cottage with many different exercise equipment.

In addition to its impressive size, a house for a rat must meet the following requirements:

• the cage must be made of durable metal rods, which are spaced at a distance of 10 mm;
• a deep tray is required;
• all exercise equipment should be securely fastened;
• it is necessary to install a drinking bowl with clean water in the house; as a filler it is better to use paper without printing ink, sawdust, wood shavings (layer thickness - at least 5 cm);
• you need a shelter - a secluded place where your pet can rest, hiding from the direct rays of the sun; a children's plastic bucket or clay pot is suitable for arranging such a nest;
• You should clean the cage at least once a week - change the filler completely, clean the tray without using household chemicals with a strong aroma.

How to care for baby rats?

Knowing how to care for baby rats is an important part of rat ownership. There are four main aspects of caring for newborn animals:

• Finding suitable housing
  : If you live in a house, especially if you have other pets, you need to keep your baby rats safe. For them you need to purchase a cage (experts recommend 75 cubic centimeters per rat). The cage should be made of wire with holes of at least half a centimeter between the rods. Don't forget to take care of other things such as litter, tunnels, and a place for the rodent to play.
• Taking care of their health
  : The early days are critical to ensuring your pet's health, so it is recommended that you take your rat to the vet as soon as possible. Once the preliminary visits are completed, it is recommended that you see a specialist every six months.
• Socialization
  : To make your pet comfortable, be sure to find him another rat friend or littermate. For your part, be careful with your rats - handle them carefully and, of course, use positive reinforcement. Treats always work better than punishment.
• Feeding baby rats
  : Baby rats only need milk or formula for early development. Once your rat is weaned, you will need to find the best way to feed it using suitable rat kibble.

Let's now look at the aspects of caring for baby rats in more detail.

Productive offspring all year round

Rats' minks are always clean and well-groomed. Having found shelter, they make additional passages and then deftly navigate through them. They find refuge for themselves:

• Digging a hole yourself;
• Having captured a hole already made by another small animal;
• By occupying a nest made by a bird or animal;
• Using any convenient building structures.

They live not only in families, there are also loners. Rats united in colonies pose a particular danger to people, since this form of organization can exceed the number of more than 1000 individuals. Of course, they also need a very large territory. In addition, they guard it very actively. Colonies are found primarily in large cities. Sometimes their number is equal to the population!

If you study the birth statistics of rats, you may get the impression that they are only busy reproducing. With the exception of northern populations, these animals reproduce throughout the year, but the number of pups born varies for each individual. For example, if this:

• The gray rat, on average, can give birth to up to 9 cubs in one litter, but sometimes their number reaches 20;
• The Australian species is distinguished by a smaller number of births - from 3 to 15;
• The Malayan species produces from 3 to 6 cubs in one litter.

However, rats also have enemies who happily eat them, helping people reduce the spread of dangerous rodents.

Can baby rats drink cow's milk?

No, cow's milk is not recommended for baby rats. It does not contain enough nutrients that are good for your rat. However, infant formula has been used successfully for babies. If a female's milk is not available and you can't find a surrogate rat mom, stick to formula until they reach weaning age.

Please note that after feeding the baby rat, you need to periodically stroke its tummy with a warm, damp cloth. This improves digestion and helps the babies defecate when they are still very young.

Bathing

Despite the widespread belief that pet rats love water, they are far from fond of bathing. Water procedures can be complicated by the animal’s pronounced resistance, but some pets are tolerant of this procedure - it all depends on individual characteristics. You need to bathe an animal in the following cases:

• if the wool has an unpleasant odor;
• if the rodent is unwilling or unable to care for itself;
• when infected with parasites.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy in mice is indicated by the absence of another estrus. An attentive owner will definitely notice changes in the behavior of the rodent while bearing cubs. Some animals become calmer, others, on the contrary, become irritable or even aggressive.

Until almost the middle of pregnancy, it is impossible to determine that the mouse is carrying cubs in the womb. The rodent looks normal except for the fact that its appetite is slightly increased. The mouse walks smoothly and carefully. Motor activity decreases slightly. In the second half of the term, the abdomen increases in size. Shortly before birth, you can feel the fruit inside.

During pregnancy, mice experience toxicosis:

• the female loses her appetite;
• looks lethargic;
• eyelids drooping;
• drool flows from the mouth;
• sometimes there are cramps.

Important! Toxicosis cannot be treated. A mouse that bears offspring needs to be provided with complete rest, since the main cause of this pathology is stress.

How many babies does a mouse carry?

The gestation period in mice lasts 18-24 days. The duration of gestation depends on how many cubs are in the womb. The greater the number of pups, the faster the birth will begin. The length of gestation can also be affected by the conditions under which the rodent is kept.

In a favorable environment and with good nutrition, the mouse waits 20-22 days for the birth of its cubs.

Caring for a pregnant mouse

From the home of the mouse that carries the cubs, everything unnecessary is removed - the wheel, the tunnels. Access to the second level is limited.

About 10-12 days before giving birth, the mouse begins to build a nest. To do this, she will need pieces of fabric, napkins and paper. The rodent carries all this into the house. If until now the animal did not have a private place in the cage, the owner must equip it. It is there that the mouse gives birth to her pups and takes care of them.

The temperature and humidity in the room should remain approximately the same level. Do not disturb the mouse unnecessarily. Even cleaning the cage during pregnancy is done less often than usual. No noise or contact with other animals is allowed.

Despite the fact that the mouse needs rest, motor activity is not limited. The expectant mother is not prohibited from walking outside the cage, but only under the supervision of the owner.

5-6 days before the birth of the cubs, you need to do a general cleaning of the mouse’s home. All equipment and trays are thoroughly washed and disinfected with boiling water. It is better not to touch the nest if the female has already managed to equip it. If the male was still in the cage with the pregnant mouse, he should be removed.

If this is not done, he can impregnate the female within a few hours after birth.

Feeding

In the first half of the gestation period, the mouse's daily food intake is increased by a third, and in the second half, it is doubled. In addition to the grain mixture, the female should receive vegetables, fruits and fresh herbs. Since calcium and protein are needed for the development of cubs, low-fat cottage cheese, eggs and milk are introduced into the diet.

A glucose solution is added to drinking water. There should be a lick stone in the cage, with the help of which the mouse satisfies the increased need for minerals.