Man has long shown concern for his smaller brothers. Recently, it has become fashionable to keep a four-legged friend or a winged pet in your home or apartment. This is exactly what a person cut off from nature lacks. Communication with pets brings a lot of pleasure, and children get involved in caring for them. Pets, in turn, respond to such care by becoming attached to their owner and family members.
Many keep decorative rats, which are considered quite intelligent and affectionate pets. Before you bring this charming rodent into your home, it is better to learn more about these animals, especially in terms of care and maintenance. It is believed that the level of intelligence of this rodent is not inferior to many species of dogs or cats.
Why have a rat at home?
Keeping and caring for a pet rodent does not require any special effort or expenditure of time and money. These small animals are easy to train. Like domestic cats or dogs, they happily greet their owner. They trust their owner completely, as well as the rest of the family, including children.
It should be noted that these animals themselves choose their favorites among the family. Most likely, those who pay the most attention to animals become such favorites. The more often someone picks them up, the faster the animal gets used to it and considers it its owner. At the same time, the animals give all their love and affection, paying tribute to the same love and affection that a person surrounds their pets with.
What to do if there are rats
Rats in the house or on the property are pests. They spoil human supplies and harm plantings, bulbs and young trees. They scare livestock and even easily steal eggs.
It is also worth noting that rats are carriers of many diseases in humans and animals. You can read more details at the link.
There are a number of steps that will help avoid the appearance of rats and drive them out of the area:
- Keep storage areas for vegetables and cereals and livestock areas clean.
- Remove accumulations of debris from areas, thickets and reins.
- Get pets that repel rats with their smell: cats and dogs.
- Check for the presence of rats, mice and moles.
- If the area is in a risk zone, install repellers in advance.
Using the links to articles on the portal, you can get acquainted with all the possibilities for exterminating rats on the site and for prevention.
How to get rid of rats in a barn
Rats in the barn scare the animals and steal eggs. You need to get rid of them quickly, but at the same time take care of the safety of other residents.
How to get rid of rats on your property
Rats on the site spoil crops, bulbs, roots and gnaw the bark or shoots of young trees. They must be removed quickly, without delay.
A little history
Cute, affectionate and tame decorative rats are descended from ordinary wild gray rats, which cause a feeling of disgust in humans, as well as a certain fear. This is not at all surprising, since wild rats have gained notoriety not only for their behavior, but also for their ability to spread various viruses and infections.
The Chinese and Indians first became aware of wild rats several thousand years ago. In the 16th century, as maritime trade developed, rats spread throughout the world, moving from continent to continent. In the 19th century in England, these rodents began to be used in battles against dogs, after catching them. During the same period, some hobbyists began breeding rats, especially tame, white ones. Such tame rodents were shown at exhibitions; in addition, white rats took part in circus performances. Some pet lovers started keeping rodents in their homes because they did not pose any danger to humans.
Some of the individuals were used as experimental animals in various laboratories, which is still practiced today, and some of them moved into the homes of scientists. Scientists saw in rats animals that are quite intelligent and attached to humans. Thanks to the crossing of laboratory rats with wild animals, new species and breeds of domestic decorative rodents have appeared, which can still be found among various breeders.
Taming and training
Usually domestic rats are friendly by nature, but if your pet doesn’t want to come into your arms right away, don’t be upset and be patient – very soon he will become tame.
To start, try giving treats by hand. Once the rodent gets used to your smell and understands that you do not pose a threat, he will begin to eat from your hand without fear. Then start stroking the animal a little while feeding. And only then (if there is no negative reaction from the decorative rat) try to pick it up.
When training, also reward your pet rat with treats. This way you can teach him to respond to a nickname (call him and give him a treat, then try to increase the distance) or to stand on his hind legs (hold the treats higher and say the command).
Never scold or hit a rodent!
Rat as a pet: advantages
Many people prefer pet rats as this is an ideal option. Despite the fact that for many people the mere mention of rats causes an ambiguous reaction, when they pick up this cute creature they instantly change their attitude. This is not at all surprising, since decorative and domestic rats are two very different things. As a result of training, these animals are able to master various tricks that make both children and adults admire them.
Caring for a pet is quite simple, since it requires a spacious cage, litter, water and cheap food. If you think of a domestic rat as a dirty and infectious rodent, then this is a huge mistake, since the decorative rodent is considered a very clean animal. If you clean the animal’s cage in a timely manner, then there can be no talk of any smell. The rat itself chooses one of the corners to relieve itself. If for some reason a bowl of food ends up near this place, then the rat drags it with its teeth to a clean place, away from this corner.
This rodent's need for communication is quite high. One should take into account the fact that each animal is an individual, with its own needs and character. It is very important to understand this in time. The domestic rat quickly remembers voices and smells, responding to its name. If you have training skills, you can train your rat to fetch small objects.
This cheerful living creature often plays for hours with children and adults, which lifts the spirits of all family members, forgetting about pressing problems. They feel great in human hands and squeak with pleasure when their belly, back and ears are stroked. These are animals that easily relieve the stress of any person who feels some kind of oppression from work or other everyday worries. Keeping such animals at home gives a person extremely positive emotions, the level of which determines a person’s psycho-emotional state.
Decorative Rat - All about the type of rodent | Type of rodent – Decorative Rat
Diseases
It is worth immediately noting that the life expectancy of rats is short - about two years. Under good living conditions, they can live for 4 years. Interesting fact: the maximum age of a rat that has been officially recorded is 7 years. If you keep more than one rat, then quite often fights will arise, which will lead to injuries. They need to be treated.
Sphinx and Dumbo rats are quite susceptible to various diseases, because this is a product of gene mutations, which later negatively affect their health. As a rule, old age for them begins at the age of two years.
Healthy rats are moderately active and inquisitive. They sniff their owner or his hands. If the rodent is too lethargic or, on the contrary, too active, then this indicates that it has health problems
When purchasing a baby rat, you should pay attention to the following points:
- scratches, wounds or sores on the paws and tail; later they can cause other more serious diseases;
- bald spots;
- suppuration on the body;
- frequent sneezing;
- a wet area around the anus is a clear sign of an intestinal disorder;
- any suspicious discharge from the eyes, ears and even nose.
Domestic rats differ from their wild relatives in much poorer health. The former are prone to gaining excess weight and various cancers. To prevent these diseases, it is necessary to carefully monitor your pet’s diet. Separately, it is worth highlighting ticks, lice and other parasites that live on animals covered with hair. To get rid of them, it is necessary to detect the disease in time and treat the animals with special preparations.
Types of decorative rats with photos
There are several breed types of decorative rats, which people take great pleasure in keeping in their homes, to the delight of their relatives.
Standard
The most common breed of decorative rats, which is the ancestor of other varieties. It is distinguished by a compacted and elongated body, smooth coat, wide ears and a long tail covered with sparse hairs.
Dumbo
It has a cute and unique appearance. Due to the presence of relatively large and protruding ears, the rodent's muzzle has a very funny appearance. The little rat got its name because of these protruding ears, which are very similar to the ears of the eponymous baby elephant Dumbo, invented by Disney directors.
Rex
An equally popular variety of domestic rodent. A characteristic feature of the animal is that this rat has wavy fur. Because of this feature, the animal looks more like a living plush toy.
Sphinx
The breed can truly be considered unique, since the animal has no fur, with the exception of rare hairs covering the upper part of the body. Rodents have folded skin of a pale pink hue, which gives the animal some tenderness, although this breed is more for lovers and not everyone is ready to keep this animal at home. On the other hand, this is an excellent option for those who suffer from allergies.
Satin
This breed is very popular among owners in European countries. It is distinguished by a unique, shiny, satin-like coat. This uniqueness is the determining factor that contributes to the great demand for the animal.
Tailless
This rodent lacks a tail, which is how the rodent got its name. The animal has a pear-shaped body. With all this, these factors do not negatively affect the popularity of this breed.
Types of decorative rats | Pet rats
By coat color
Decorative rats are also conventionally divided into several groups according to the type and color of their coat.
Homogeneous (Self)
Rodents of this species have absolutely the same coloring throughout their entire body. Rats are black, white, blue (color with a silver tint. Russian blue and smoky blue are also found. They are very similar in color, the former have a dark color and a light belly, and the latter have a more pronounced blue tint.
Rats in gray-brown tones with a silver-bluish tint with cherry eyes are called mink. There is also an American mink species, these animals have a darker eye shade.
Light gray color with a cool blue tint. The eyes are black or dark red. This is a platinum shade.
Blue, platinum rat
The beige color of the rats resembles coffee with milk. And completely white animals with red eyes are usually called albinos.
Very beautiful coloring of rats - champagne. This species of animal has a light, slightly pinkish color. The eyes are pink.
Russian silver is an interesting light gray color with a blue tint. This variety is characterized by fuzzy ripples of color.
The main color of the “dav” species is pale gray with a pinkish tint. It has a characteristic light ripple. Rat "Lilak" - light ash color, slightly mixed with chestnut color. Eyes black or dark cherry.
Officially unrecognized colors of domestic rats:
- Chocolate;
- Russian beige;
- Caramel.
Ticked colors
They are distinguished by uneven coloring of the hairs, that is, there are places on them that may have pigments of different colors.
Agouti
This coloring is characterized by a beautiful chestnut color. Some hairs are black. Short and medium hairs have bands. They must be free of orange and yellow, and it is better if they are of the lightest shades.
The base color consists of a dark gray or light brown tint. The ends of the hairs are black and the belly is silver-gray.
Rat – Agouti
There is also a blue agouti - the belt of hairs can be red and brown, and the belly is light gray-blue with inclusions of silver hairs.
Incredibly beautiful shade of platinum agouti. This bright color is combined using two colors: light gray and beige with a cool blue tint. Each hair has a light blue base with a beige edge. The belly is light silver.
Amber (Amber)
Rich color of yellow and orange shades. Each hair has an ivory border. The guard hairs have a silvery tint. The undercoat is cream and the belly is light. The eyes are pink.
Amber color
Cinnamon
Rodents are colored in red-brown tones with inclusions of darker guard hairs, which have bright golden and red edgings. The belly is gray with silver, and the eyes are black or cherry.
Faun
These rodents have a beautiful coffee color with a golden tint with the inclusion of silvery guard hairs. There is a not very expressive golden-red pattern. The belly is cream and silver, and the eyes are the color of dark ruby.
Breed – Fawn
Topaz
This color is similar to the Fawn color, however, it is not as rich and has a lighter undercoat.
Pearl
This species has a light, silvery tint. Eyes black or dark ruby. There are also 2 subspecies: Pearl cinnamon and Pearl blue. The first color consists of three colors: beige, golden and light gray.
Overall, it is golden with a silvery tint. Eyes black or dark ruby. The second color is light with beige and gray shades. Each hair is silver-gray in color. The belly is grayish-beige, and the eyes are black or dark cherry.
Pearl rat
Silver colors
The uniqueness of this color lies in the variation of silver and colored hairs in the same number. It should be obvious and designed to create the impression of brilliance and sparkle. If there are inclusions of white hairs, then the color is no longer recognized as silver.
- Silver-black. The color of such rodents is deep black with uniform inclusions of silver hairs. The eyes are black.
- Silver blue. The color is gray with a blue tint. Individual hairs are silvery-white. The undercoat is light gray with a blue tint.
- Silver mink. Deep brown color with a gray tint. Has the same amount of silver and brown hairs.
Combined colors
This category includes the colors of rats, consisting of a combination of several colors.
Siamese
The animal has a beige color that darkens in the back of the body, moving from the lower back to the tail, and also from the belly to the upper back. The tail is dark at the base along its entire length. The rodent has brown spots on its ears, legs up to the elbows and on its face.
Siamese rat
Additionally there are:
- Siamese with black eyes. The color is standard for this species, the eyes are dark.
- Siamese blue. It has a cream color with a silver tint that darkens on the back of the body.
- Siamese Russian Blue. The color is beige, gradually darkening in the back of the body. There are dark brownish spots.
Himalayan
Snow-white color, which is uniform throughout the body. There are dark brown spots. The eyes are red. The paws are slightly colored. The Black-eyed Himalayan is a white rodent with cream spots.
Burmese
Has an even brown color. Wheaten Burmese - the animal has a sandy color with spots of slightly darker tones. The hairs have a yellowish band and a light silver-gray belly.
Breed – Burmiz
Sable
Coffee coloring with dark spots on the paws.
Physiological characteristics of the domestic rat
On average, decorative rats live within 2 years, but in conditions of proper maintenance and care - about 4 years. Caring for a rat is so simple that a primary school student can cope with such a task, which contributes to the emergence of two friends for life.
In the wild, rats are nocturnal and rest during the day. When at home, rodents try to adapt to human routines and are more awake during the day than at night.
General characteristics
Rodents belong to the class of mammals and in nature can live in the most unexpected places. Some live underground, not seeing sunlight, others are found in dry grass or trees. There are species adapted to exist in water or even in the desert. Some rodents may be active only during the day or exclusively at night, or lead a mixed lifestyle. Some species of these animals fall into deep winter hibernation.
The animals received the name of their order due to the special structure of their jaws. Rodents do not have fangs, but they have 2 pairs of incisors, which do not have roots and grow throughout their lives. The teeth are very sharp, but hard only on the outside. This feature allows them to sharpen themselves as they are constantly in use. A powerful muscular system allows animals to chew and gnaw food without contact of the incisors with each other.
Representatives of the rodent order can be of very different sizes. The mouse mouse, for example, has a body length of only 5 cm, while the capybara can grow up to 130 cm with a body weight of about 60 kg. Due to this difference in weight, the structures of their bodies are slightly different. Animals have a variety of coats: in some it is thick and short, in others it is sparse, in the form of bristles or needles. The color can be one color or several shades.
In nature, these animals are practically omnivores, but they prefer various seeds, fruits, roots and even small invertebrate animals. Water is necessary for the life processes of rodents. However, some species, accustomed to an arid climate, have learned to be content with the liquid obtained from food.
These small animals are very prolific. Some species are ready to breed at the age of 3 months. They are capable of having offspring up to 14 times a year; in the litter of some varieties there can be up to 22 cubs. The reproduction of domesticated rodents can and should be controlled.
As pets, they are very clean, easy to keep and transport. Large individuals can eventually follow simple commands and respond to their name. The lifespan of rodents varies from 1.5 years for small animals to 7 years for larger animals.
Group and single keeping of decorative rats
Since rats are social animals, they can be kept either alone or in groups. But this does not mean at all that there will be no problems even with group keeping. At the initial stage, it is better to get one rodent, since keeping several animals involves some nuances. As a rule, in any flock, even a small one, there will be conflicting individuals, so civil strife is guaranteed. If there are fights, then there will be injuries that the owner will have to heal. It is better to place the fighter in a separate cage in a timely manner.
When purchasing an animal, a pet store may advise you to purchase a couple of animals of the same age. They motivate this by the fact that rodents get bored in the absence of their owner. If they are kept in the same cage, then numerous offspring may soon appear or the female will die from early mating.
Being in the natural environment, rats form same-sex packs and animals that have reached sexual maturity mate only for reproduction. In other words, females mate only when they are completely ready for the process. If the owner does not intend to practice breeding these animals, then it is better to have a couple of same-sex animals.
Regardless of whether there is one rat or two, caring for them is no different, you just need to be prepared for the fact that two males will sort things out with each other from time to time. All individuals become equally attached to their owner and can compete for his attention and affection. If the owner and family members are not at home, then the animals play with each other. Therefore, the development of two pets is more optimal and they feel happier and more emotionally stable.
When keeping one animal, you should remember that you will have to devote more time to the animal so that the animal does not feel lonely. Therefore, the owner is simply obliged to take the rodent with him whenever possible, whether at home or going outside. If this is not possible or you don’t really want to do this, it is better to get a couple of same-sex rodents, then they will always have someone to play with.
The bigger, the better
For 7 years now, there have been rats in Elena Moroshchuk’s house. And the owner is only happy about this, and she herself is looking for new members for the growing tailed flock. About a dozen rats live in a spacious cage that looks more like an animal skyscraper, equipped with hammocks, ladders, shelves and separate houses where these cautious animals like to hide. When asked why rats appealed to her, Elena answers simply: “When I saw the rats in the store, they... saw me. These animals look consciously. People are not just moving objects for them, but an object of interest. Rats strive for contact with humans, they are smart, attached to their owner, they distinguish between family members - this is what won them over. I read what is required for maintenance, prepared and bought my first little rat.”
Elena bought her first rat at a pet store 7 years ago. Now the flock numbers 10 individuals. Photo: Victoria POLYAKOVA
Rats are social animals. Under natural conditions, they live in large flocks with a rather complex hierarchy. Alone, without communication with their relatives, they feel bad, begin to get sick, and may even die. Therefore, the first little rat was immediately followed by a second, and after a short time Elena bought a third.
“Rats have an urgent need to communicate with their own kind. They cannot be kept alone; this must be taken into account immediately when choosing this animal as a pet. There must be at least two rats, and preferably three, because one, for example, is sleeping, and the second wants to play. Rats are kept only in same-sex packs because they reproduce quickly. You can keep a mixed-sex flock, provided that the females or males are sterile. For example, I have a women’s team,” says Elena.
This “collective” has a rather complex hierarchy. There is the main rat, who has earned authority through fights, and everyone else obeys her. For example, in Elena’s flock, until recently the alpha female was the most violent rat, but now her daughter has taken the lead. “A monarchy has been established,” jokes Elena.
It’s better to buy a small rat, but you can’t immediately add it to the pack. Acquaintance with other rats is carried out gradually on neutral territory, on general walks. It is more difficult to place an adult rat, because it has already developed its character, and it will enter the pack with a claim to leadership and territory. In this case, a rat war cannot be avoided.
Cell selection
In order for your pet to feel great, you need to purchase a spacious cage with a set of all the necessary accessories and balanced food. You should always remember that the cage for a fluffy rat plays a very important role, since he spends most of his life in it. Therefore, when choosing a cage, you should be guided by the following requirements.
Cage dimensions
It is not recommended to keep your pet in a cramped cage, as the animal likes to move a lot. As a rule, the optimal cage dimensions are within the following limits: cage width – 40 cm, cage length – 60 cm and cage height – also 60 cm. For such an animal, this space is absolutely enough. The distance between the cage bars should be no more than 1.2 cm.
bottom of the cage
For such rodents, a solid floor is more suitable, since a lattice floor leads to injuries to the rodents’ limbs.
Cage tray
The starting material for the pallet is durable plastic. The pallet should have high sides to prevent the filler from spilling out. The pallet should not be made of wood, since wood will absorb urine, which will cause an unpleasant odor in the home.
Cage design
The best option is a collapsible cage with large doors to make it convenient to clean, wash, feed and hang various elements. The cage must have shelves for animals to rest.
Cage coating
As a rule, cage rods are coated with enamel, zinc or powder paint, which is not critical. The main thing is that the coating is of high quality, without chips or rust.
Arrangement of a cage for a decorative rat
A cage for a pet will be very comfortable and cozy if it contains a set of various accessories that provide feeding, odor absorption, play, and relaxation. Therefore, when purchasing a cage, you should immediately purchase elements for its arrangement.
Filler
Basically, rat breeders use corn litter, although it is relatively expensive. It is not recommended to use sawdust as it can cause allergic reactions in rodents. Another option is a filler made from paper napkins or toilet paper. The option is quite cheap, but requires frequent replacement. In this case, you cannot use newspapers and magazines, since your pet can be poisoned by printing ink.
Food bowls
There are hanging bowls that are attached to the bars of the cage. Dry food is poured into them, but for liquid food it is better to purchase heavy ceramic bowls so that the rodent cannot move them.
Drinking bowl
The cage is equipped with a nipple drinker that is safe to use.
Availability of a house
Rodents very often rest, hiding in a small house. The bottom of the house can be covered with a piece of soft material. Such a house can simply be placed at the bottom of the cage or hung up.
Hammock
The pet loves to sleep or just relax in a hammock. It can be hung as high as possible in the cage. You can either buy this accessory at a pet store or make it yourself, if you have something. The hammock needs to be removed and washed often, and after a while it can simply be replaced.
Toilet
As a rule, the animal itself chooses a place in the cage for the toilet, after which a tray or container with high sides is installed in this place. It is advisable to have a filler that will absorb unpleasant odors.
Other accessories
If the cage is spacious enough, then it is permissible to place additional accessories in it in the form of stairs, tunnels, bridges, toys and other elements. House rats simply love to climb on such surfaces.
Decorative rats - care and maintenance | Pet rats - how to care for them?
Not a toy
Three rats seemed not enough. Soon Elena wanted to dilute the tailed group with interesting varieties - the lop-eared rat, the Siamese... One had to be brought from afar - from the Russian city of Vladimir. In Belarus, only one nursery and the Rat Lovers Club are involved in rat breeding. Responsible breeders take care of their rats and, no matter who they give them away to, carefully select owners. You need to fill out a questionnaire that asks in detail what conditions the rat will be kept in, whether you know how to properly care for it, and only if the answers satisfy the breeder, will he sell you the little rat.
Rats get along well with children. In the photo are Elena’s nephews – Radion, Vladimir, Mark. Photo: from the personal archive of Elena MOROSHCHUK
“This is primarily due to the fact that many perceive a rat as a pet that is easy to keep, and if you don’t like something, release it outside or into the basement, for example. For example, now the Year of the Rat is coming and on the forum of rat lovers, random people all want to buy a light rat. It’s clear that it’s a gift for someone. Breeders deliberately do not sell rats before the holidays, because most of them are doomed to death - a domestic rat will not survive on the street or in the basement, says Elena. – These animals need to be owned consciously. You cannot shift the maintenance responsibilities to a child who today wants a rat, but tomorrow he is tired of it. In addition, rats often get sick. Who will take them to the vet? You need to think about this in advance.”
If you treat the issue of keeping rats with all responsibility, these pets will win your heart: they are friendly with children and pets (even with cats, provided they grew up together), they love to be held and play (run after a string or a ball, for example) . Rats communicate with each other using ultrasound; mutual grooming plays a large role in communication - mutual biting and combing
The owner also gets part of this care - the rats will “kiss” him and lick his hands, fighting with each other for the owner’s attention
Feeding rats
Domestic rodents are absolutely unpretentious in food, although each rodent has its own gastronomic preferences. It is very important that the diet is balanced, otherwise problems with the digestive system may occur, which can lead to obesity. Therefore, the diet of rats should consist of the following foods:
Cereals
For feeding, both dry cereals and boiled porridges based on buckwheat, corn, barley, rice and wheat are used.
Seeds and nuts
Rodents will eat flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, nuts, and various greens with appetite. Sprouted millet, oats and wheat can be used as vitamin supplements.
Dairy products
Pets will be very happy to eat kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, yogurt, which are rich in calcium and bacteria for the normal functioning of the digestive tract.
Protein and meat
Food sources such as boiled eggs, meat, fish, liver, kidneys and heart will serve as a source of protein food.
Vegetables
How could we live without vegetables and fruits, a source of fiber, vitamins and microelements, which have a positive effect on the functioning of all internal organs.
Clean drinking water and treats
Treats for domestic rats include apple slices, carrots, watermelon, puffed rice, corn, strawberries, and grapes.
It is strictly not recommended to give pets:
- Chocolate.
- Alcohol.
- Shashlik.
- Fried, and especially spicy meat.
- Sweet products.
- Raw cabbage, potatoes, beans, spinach and green bananas.
How to play and train a decorative rat
Everyone knows that domestic rats have a fairly high level of intelligence. For the normal functioning of the animal, it is necessary to find time for communication and long walks. The domestic rat is happy to make contact with humans. During the walking process, it is very important to provide the animal with physical activity, spending time with energetic and fun games.
Pets will easily chase after some object on a string, climb in the sleeves and bosom of the owner, play with boxes in the drawer, taking them out of it, etc. All this should happen accompanied by laughter, encouragement, and petting. This must be done constantly so that the pet rat does not lose the habit of its owner, without ceasing to trust him, like the rest of the family.
These animals can be easily taught to perform simple tricks, but this must be done regularly, otherwise a positive effect is unlikely to be achieved. You need to be persistent and after each successfully performed trick the animal should receive a treat. Under no circumstances should you raise your voice, much less beat an animal.
10 RULES FOR DEALING WITH RATS! DECORATIVE RATS: MAINTENANCE AND CARE!
Difference between rats and mice
Rats and mice are representatives of the same suborder, but they differ significantly in appearance and behavior.
The body of a mouse is small, up to 20 cm, weighing up to 50 grams, rats are twice as large, they are dense and muscular, weighing up to 900 grams.
Pronounced distinctive shapes of the head and eyes, in mice it is triangular and slightly flattened with large eyes, in rats the muzzle is elongated with small eyes.
A strong body and powerful toes allow rats to jump high up to 1 meter; mice cannot do such tricks.
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Mice are cowardly animals and are afraid to appear in front of people, but this does not bother rats; they can defend themselves. There are many cases where they attacked a person.
Rats are omnivores, eating meat and plant foods. On the contrary, mice have a greater preference for cereals and seeds.
Rat care
Caring for a pet rat is not difficult and comes down to caring for the animal and its health, which is impossible without a clean home for the animal, without a balanced diet and the availability of clean water to drink. In addition, the rat owner needs to know:
- The cage with the animal should be placed in a dry, warm place, and the cage should not be exposed to direct sunlight or drafts.
- The cage requires daily cleaning, removing food debris and litter, as well as washing the feeder and drinking bowl.
- A couple of times a week it is necessary to disinfect the cage using disinfectant solutions.
- From time to time you should trim the animal's claws using nail scissors or clippers.
Care and maintenance at home
Caring for tame animals is not difficult.
They take up very little space, and caring for dambos does not require any expense. To ensure a comfortable existence for pets, you should take into account some features of the life of eared babies. Dumbo rats are inquisitive and intelligent. They are superior in intelligence to hamsters and guinea pigs. They waddle like penguins. Their physique does not allow them to run fast, but the animals take walks and mark their territory.
Owners need to take into account that while traveling around the house, rodents will taste everything they come across on the way. Walks must be supervised; animals spend most of their time in cage houses.
Housing for one pet can measure 60 cm in width, length and height. An open aquarium is not suitable, as animals can get out of it. High jumping half a meter is not a record for them. A wire cage with a plastic tray and shelves will be especially cozy if you put a house in it for a relaxing holiday.
Rodents love to be alone and feel protected. The bottom is covered with wood filler; sometimes napkins are spread underneath for ease of cleaning. It is preferable to use shavings, not sawdust, which enter the animal's respiratory tract.
Hanging cups and nipple drinkers must be installed at a sufficient level taking into account the size of the pet. Dry and liquid food are placed in different bowls. A separate corner is allocated for a tray with filler. They won’t let your pet get bored and provide daily loads of stairs, a hammock, and a tunnel.
It is recommended to install the cage with your pet on a small hill up to 1 m from the floor. It is better to choose a place away from bright light and radiation sources
It is important to provide protection from drafts, loud sounds, overheating or hypothermia
The temperature comfortable for pets should be about 20°C, air humidity 50% or more. On hot days, spraying the home or a container of water near the cage helps combat dryness, which is harmful to the breathing of rat pups.
To ensure full life support for pets, several rat pups are bred. Same-sex individuals will not be bored; opposite-sex individuals will bear offspring.
The cage is cleaned as needed, 1-2 times a week. The appearance of an unpleasant odor is a signal to disinfect the home. Removing food residues and replacing litter will help maintain the sanitary condition of the home, which affects the pet’s well-being.
Dumbo rats carry out hygienic procedures independently - they wash themselves and clean their fur. Help is required in regularly shortening growing claws. It is recommended to occasionally bathe pets in heated water. For the fur you need a special shampoo from the pet store.
The Dumbo rat does not like the intrusive attention of household members; communication with other pets should be limited. At the same time, it is a social animal, capable of appreciating communication with humans, becoming attached to its owner, and showing boundless trust in those who show it care and affection.
Training in the form of a game brings joy to the animal, which can learn to find a treat, overcome barriers, and fetch objects. Weasel makes the little rat a loyal and affectionate companion.
Reproduction of decorative rats
Not everyone is ready for rats to breed at home, since this is quite a crucial moment. First, you will have to take care of the pregnant woman, and then of the lactating female and her brood. Secondly, the offspring must be distributed, and this is not so easy, since they may not be small in number.
For the mating process, the healthiest and most well-fed individuals should be selected. If the female mates for the first time, then her age should be within 5-8 months. As for males, they can mate at any age if they are ready for it. To get healthy offspring, future parents are kept on a vitamin diet for a week. After mating, a pregnancy period begins, which lasts about 3 weeks.
A pregnant female begins to behave more calmly and becomes selective in food. Already in the third week, her appearance changes dramatically, as a clearly convex and round belly becomes noticeable. Before the birth process, the female or male is separated. At the same time, there should be nothing superfluous in the cage, except for the nesting house and pieces of napkins for arranging the nest.
As a rule, offspring are born at night in the amount of 9 to 12 cubs. They have no hair at all, they are blind and deaf. During this period, the female must receive highly nutritious food with a high content of protein and calcium so that the female has enough milk, otherwise she will not be able to feed her offspring. Newborn rat pups grow very quickly and already on the 4th day they begin to hear, and on the 12th day they begin to see. After a couple of weeks, they already participate in various games along with their parents, moving in a flock around the house or apartment.
Decorative rats feel great as pets. They have so much affection and tenderness towards their owner that any cat can envy. When it comes to affection and devotion, not every dog is capable of this. In addition, a domestic rat does not meow or bark when needed and when not needed. Any person who has at least once held this small bundle of love, affection and devotion in his hands will want to have such an animal at home.
Rodent breeding
Puberty in a domestic decorative rat occurs at the age of 5-7 weeks. However, she cannot be mated at this time. Early pregnancy is harmful to the health of the rodent. The optimal age for the first crossing is 5-9 months. Fertilization is possible only during estrus, which occurs every 4-5 days and lasts for 12 hours. To get offspring, you need to keep the female together with the male, but before giving birth it is better to separate him.
Pregnancy in a domestic decorative rat lasts 21-23 days. There are 12-14 cubs in a litter. Although a rat has only 12 teats, it can feed even 22 pups. About 2-3 days before giving birth, the expectant mother begins to build a nest. She carries paper and pieces of fabric there. A pregnant rat's figure changes. It looks thick and resembles a pear. Your pet moves less and eats more. By the end of the term, a large belly is already clearly visible.
During pregnancy, it is very important to monitor the diet of your pet rat. She needs protein foods and vitamins. Childbirth in rats is easy and quick. The cubs stay with their mother until they are 4 weeks old, after which they need to be housed. You should not touch the little rats in the nest until they begin to emerge from it on their own.
Interesting fact. If a pet rat has not been fertilized before 9 months, then its ability to reproduce decreases. Overweight ornamental rodents also have problems with reproduction.
