Rodents at home: how many years can they live?

To what age do they grow?

Rats grow and develop quickly. This process occurs most actively from birth to 6 months:

1. On days 3–4, the ears open.
2. Teething begins on days 9–10.
3. Eyes open after 2 weeks.
4. By day 16, the fur already completely covers the body.
5. Molars erupt in 35–40 days.
6. At 3 weeks of age, puppies are already eating from the feeder.
7. On the 25th day, the babies are separated from their mother.

In addition, the growth of puppies does not stop, but becomes less noticeable. At the age of one year, animals become fully formed. During this period, their weight is 300–600 g: females grow twice as large as males.

Types of wild mice

Shrew or shrew mouse

This species lives in Africa, Australia, South America and Russia. The shrew feels great in places with high humidity and tall grass. It cannot live more than 10 hours without food, so the shrew's menu is very varied. In addition to the usual food for mice, it eats small frogs, lizards and the young of other rodents.

The shrew has two main types of color: gray and dirty red. The body length is 6-10 cm, the tail length is usually one and a half times longer. The shrew has a rather long nose called the proboscis, which gives the species its name. The lifespan of shrews is 18 months.

Japanese mouse

An island species of mouse that lives in the Southern Kuril Islands and the islands of Japan. The color of the animal has different shades of red brick, the length of the body (about 12 cm) is almost identical to the length of the tail (about 10 cm).

This species of mouse lives in mixed forests with dense undergrowth, as well as in meadows and fields. As winter approaches, rodents move closer to human habitation. The diet of mice consists of cereals, grass, seeds of coniferous and broad-leaved trees. Life expectancy is up to 30 months.

Gerbil mouse

The habitat of these rodents is the steppes in Eastern Europe, the deserts of Africa and Asia. Gerbils are more active during daylight hours; in winter they become lethargic, but do not hibernate.

These animals are quite large, they can reach 20 cm in length and weigh about 0.25 kg. The rodent's tail is covered with thick hair; its length can be twice as long as the animal's body. The fur on the back is dark brown in color, and on the chest it is a lighter shade. Gerbils live for about 2 children.

Wood mouse

This rodent lives in the deciduous forests of Siberia, Western Asia and Altai. The animal has a distinctive feature - a yellow spot on its chest. The rest of the fur is gray-brown in color.

They dig holes or occupy empty ones. The wood mouse also settles in niches of dead trees, stumps, roots and under stones. The body length of a mouse is 12 cm, the tail is 7-10 cm. The life expectancy of a rodent is 18-25 months.

Little mouse

The maximum body length of a rodent is 7 cm, and the tail is 5 cm, hence the name of this species. The fur has a red color, which appears only after the first molt. Until this moment, the animal’s skin is brown.

The mouse lives in forests, steppes, fields and meadows, and instead of burrows, it weaves nests from dry grass and plant stems. The rodent feeds on plant foods and small invertebrates. Lives for about 2 years. The baby mouse easily adapts to a new environment, so it is easy to tame.

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grass mouse

Grass mice love high humidity, so they live in floodplains and tropical rainforests in Southeast Africa. A fairly large species of rodent, the length of the body and tail can be 30 cm. The fur is gray-brown in color. Unlike most of its relatives, this species prefers to lead a diurnal lifestyle. Life expectancy is 2-3 years.

White mouse

Another name for this rodent is the house mouse, as it lives in human habitation. Rodents live in large flocks in barns, storerooms and other living spaces, creating long burrows with a large number of passages. The body length is 8-10 cm, the tail length is 4-7 cm.

The color of the skin depends on the subspecies of the rodent, but the shade of the back will always be darker than on the stomach and chest. The animal's habitat is quite extensive; the white mouse can be found in human homes on almost all continents. Life expectancy is 2-3 years.

What factors does it depend on?

Experienced breeders know how long rats will live at home - this largely depends on the pedigree of the animals. In other words, the lifespan of a house mouse is directly related to genetics.

If parents are sick, they will not have healthy children. Weak children are also born from close relatives. These children live short lives and often get sick. Only healthy animals with the desired coat pattern and color are selected for crossing.

Accordingly, in order for pet rats to please their owners for a long time, it is advisable to purchase them in kindergartens, where specialists monitor the reproduction and treatment of their charges.

In addition to the child’s pedigree, future nursery owners will be told how to care for them, what they can and should be fed, what vaccinations they received and what needs to be done.

A healthy and rich diet for your pet will also ensure a long and happy life. Human food and junk food can cause illness and premature death in an animal.

Do not spoil your pet with chips, sweets and other similar treats.

The living conditions of pets are very important, so it is necessary to provide rats with everything they need.

The impact of nutrition on health

The rat's diet must be balanced and extremely healthy. The food you eat yourself may not be suitable for your pet. This is especially true for fried, spicy, fatty, and sweet foods. Do not give domestic rodents anything that they would never obtain in the wild.

Any deviation from the normal diet entails liver problems, obesity of internal organs, kidney dysfunction and rapid weight gain. Accordingly, the already short lifespan of domestic rats is halved.

Did you know? Rat teeth are so strong that they easily crush concrete and certain metal alloys. Their teeth grow without slowing down throughout their lives, so rats are forced to constantly grind them down on something.

What can you feed rats:

1. Nuts and grains. Nuts contain the protein rodents need, although you should limit yourself to walnuts and give them one a day. Cereals are a reliable source of carbohydrates, and sprouted grains contain important vitamin E, which strengthens the immunity of warm-blooded creatures. Any grains other than wheat are suitable for rats - buckwheat, rice, rye, oats.
2. Vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs. They form the basis of the diet of rodents - you can feed them with the products that are grown in your region. No tropical fruits or imported arugula. It is better to give vegetables boiled, and large seeds will have to be removed from fruits and berries first. In winter, diversify your pet's diet with fresh frozen berries, having previously defrosted them. In the summer, you can use dandelion leaves and stems as greenery; your pet will eat them with pleasure.
3. Dried fruits. The rat will eat everything - prunes, dried apricots, dried pears and apples. Dried berries will also benefit her.
4. Meat and fish.
   There is an opinion that rats should not be given meat products. This is not true - rodents eat meat, but rarely, so you can feed them boiled (in no case fried or raw) fish and meat on weekends. Feeding eggs should be the same - hard-boiled, in small portions once a week. You cannot feed a rat milk, but fermented milk cheese will improve its intestinal microflora and provide it with the necessary calcium.
5. Mineral supplements. This includes chalk, calcined tablets, and ordinary charcoal. Make sure that your pet’s diet is balanced in vitamins - buy him vitamin complexes for rodents.

What not to give to rats:

Raw foods. This includes all vegetables except carrots, and meat, raw and fried.

Pay special attention to fatty meats such as pork. It cannot be fed even boiled.

Milk and carbonated drinks

Milk can cause volvulus in your pet, and carbonated drinks are not even beneficial for humans.

Vegetables and fruits are green. Exclude apples, cucumbers, sweet peppers, zucchini, and unripe bananas from your pet’s diet.

Sweet, spicy, salty. What is acceptable for humans is prohibited for rodents. From too active food, they develop problems with the gastrointestinal tract and exhibit allergic reactions.

Important! The immunity of ornamental rodents, originally bred for laboratory tests, is much weaker than that of their gray wild relatives, who do not mind drafts, sunlight and stale scraps. You need to be prepared for the fact that your pet will reach the peak of its development by one and a half years, and will die of old age at two and a half years, if it does not become a victim of some infectious disease before this time.

How to extend the life of a pet?

The lifespan of a decorative rat largely depends on nutrition. The following expert tips will help you create the right diet for your pet:

1. It is unacceptable to feed rats in large portions - this can lead to obesity and rapid death of the animal.
2. Food for pet mice should be rich in antioxidants: the presence of free radicals in the body contributes to the development of diseases and accelerates the aging process.
3. When purchasing food, you should only choose food that is specifically made for mice.

Another important factor is care and attention. Rats do not like high temperatures or cold, so it is necessary to install a house for them in a warm, dry room, without drafts, but away from radiators or heating devices. The house itself should be large enough to allow its occupant enough space to move around.

If the TV is often on in the room or people listen to music, it is better to move the rat house to another warm but quiet room. Rats do not like the frequent presence of strangers or animals.

Communication is no less important for mice: in nature, rodents live in groups, so they have difficulty withstanding loneliness. It is better to buy not just one pet, but two or three, so that they can communicate not only with people, but also with their fellow creatures.

Harm to humans

Many people are wary of rats. And for good reason, because they can cause a lot of harm and trouble.

Wild rats

Gray rat: dangerous neighbor.

Rats cause great harm when they get into food storage areas. They can damage various structures, devices, and insulation of electrical cables. They sneak into houses and live in trash cans.

Animals are carriers of various dangerous infectious diseases, such as plague, rabies and several types of encephalitis.

Often wild species of rats come to vegetable gardens and garden plots in search of food. They spoil people's supplies and make their own from grains and root crops. In times of hunger, they eat the bark and roots of trees.

Decorative rats

Decorative rat.

We must remember that rats are rodents, and if an animal living in an apartment is allowed to roam indoors, it can damage the cable, chew documents, and damage furniture. Even during a walk, it is important to monitor the rodent so that it does not cause harm.

Rats can mark their territory with their scent; it is also worth walking them under supervision so that there are no surprises.

We recommend reading: interesting facts about rats. You definitely didn’t know that.

How long do rats live at home?

The lifespan of a house mouse can exceed 2.5 or even 3 years. Very rarely, animals of this species live up to 4 years. It is interesting to note that with the same care and maintenance, the average life expectancy of males is longer than that of females.

A record of a long-lived rat that lived for 7 years and 3 months was entered into the World Book of Records. But these centenarians are the exception to the rule. In fact, a two-year-old mouse is no longer a lady of “Balzac age,” which is noticeable in its appearance, state of health and activity. At 3 years old, a house mouse is considered a decrepit old woman.

Causes of premature death of animals

Walking outside the cage is deadly for a pet rodent. The animal tries everything that it has access to – outside the cage it can be wires and other dangerous objects. On such a walk, the rodent risks getting:

• electric shock;
• poisoning with something (for example, detergents), etc.

In addition, small pets often suffer serious injuries and even die due to the carelessness of their owners. Owners of rodents often step on the animals, crush them with furniture, etc. Rats move faster than their owners assume, so the latter simply do not have time to notice where the animal has moved. Because of this, accidents occur, often resulting in death for rodents.

Often, animals sneak onto the balcony unnoticed by their owner, from where, due to their semi-blindness, they fall down and, alas, die. The rat's climbing of the curtains and subsequent fall also ends tragically.

Among other things, rats often die from the paws, or rather teeth, of other pets - cats and dogs. These animals are natural hunters, so they perceive rodents as prey. It is also worth noting that a particularly impressionable animal can die from fright - a small rat’s heart cannot stand it.

Tame rats are pampered creatures. Once on the street, they will not survive. To protect your little pet from death, injury and stress, you should keep him in a cage and let him out for a walk only under supervision and only in a pre-prepared, fenced area.

How do the life spans of different breeds of rats differ?

The lifespan of rats is 1.5–3 years. A more accurate indicator depends on the breed:

1. Sphinxes. Hairless rats are much weaker than their furry counterparts. This is due to the lack of not only hair, but also the thymus gland, which is responsible for the production of immunity. Hairless pet rats live for about 6–12 months.
2. Albinos. White rats live as long as their relatives of other colors: the life expectancy of rodents does not depend on the color of their fur. If the mouse was purchased from a reputable breeder and was properly cared for, the animal can live for about 3 years.
3. Dumbo. Animals of this breed live much longer than their hairless relatives, but almost as long as albinos - about 3 years.

The indicated life expectancy of rats of all breeds is possible provided that their parents were not close relatives.

Peculiarities

The domestication of tailed animals began at the beginning of the last century. Decorative rats have a keen intelligence, have excellent memory and are highly trainable. In this regard, the popularity of rodents as pets is increasing every year. Even those who do not have warm feelings for rats watch with interest the antics of the eared animals.

The domestic rat is a compact pet. Adults weigh from 300 to 600 grams depending on gender. Boys grow up to be almost twice as big as girls. Most breeds have a slightly elongated muzzle, ears set high and with rounded tips. The body is covered with fur, its thickness and length depends on the specific breed. The tail is most often bare or covered with a small amount of hair. It is noteworthy that in some individuals it is warm to the touch, while in others it is cold.

What you need to know to properly keep rats at home.

How to determine the age of a rat?

People usually project the age of animals as human. To calculate the age of rats by human standards, the number of months they have lived must be multiplied by 2.5, and the resulting figure should be counted as years. Thus, animals aged 6 months are approximately 15–16 years old by human standards. A one-year-old animal is 30 “persons”, a two-year-old animal is 60, and so on

Veterinarians and experienced breeders are well aware of how to visualize the age of a mouse. First of all, this is weight:

1. Two-day-old animals weigh about 150–220 g.
2. After a day, their weight increases to 210–310 g.
3. Four-day-old females weigh about 230 g, and males weigh about 280 g.
4. At 5 days of age, males weigh 450–500 g, and females weigh 280–300 g.

Elderly people are different:

1. Fat distribution: Old men have no fat on their backs, so their spine is clearly visible.
2. Appearance of fur: in young rats it is shiny and thick.
3. By the size of the incisors: the longer they are, the older the animal.
4. Due to the appearance of the tail, the skin on it in middle-aged rats becomes rougher and rougher, and begins to flake off.
5. Along the length of the tail. After 6 months, the rats' tail begins to actively grow - previously it was shorter than the body.

What else does care involve?

The rat requires constant attention from humans. It is necessary to remove hidden or uneaten food every day, wash the drinking bowl, feeder, change the tray, and remove damaged bedding. The animal must be kept clean. Once a week, thoroughly clean the cage and disinfect it. With proper care, you will not notice any unpleasant odor.

As we have already noted, rats need to exercise a lot, so if possible, let your pet go for walks. However, no matter how smart and tame he is, carefully monitor his movements around the house. After all, rats are big fans of tasting everything, and this can be valuable things, wires, etc.

Rodent anatomy

The animals have a stocky build and an oval body shape. The size of an adult individual can be 8–30 cm in length. Body weight is 37–420 g. Some individuals weigh more than 500 g.

Many people wonder how many fingers rats have. The animals' front paws resemble human hands, but each has 4 fingers. The fifth (large) has a reduced shape, looks like a short stump with a blunt end. There are 5 toes on the hind legs.

How many teeth do rats have? There are a total of 4 incisors and 12 molars. The former are constantly growing, so animals have to regularly grind them down on various objects and materials.

If the rodent does not do this, the incisors will soon grow, preventing the mouth from closing normally. This causes severe discomfort, so when keeping pets at home, it is necessary to give wooden blocks and branches to your pets. Then the animal will be healthy and calm.

The structure of the rat has its own distinctive features:

• normal body temperature: +37.5ºС - +38.3ºС;
• heart rate per minute: 300 – 500;
• number of breaths per minute: 85 – 100;
• with a weight of 400 g, the animal’s brain is 2 g;
• puberty occurs after 8 weeks of age;
• pregnancy lasts up to 24 days.

Physiology is designed so that rats can survive in a variety of conditions:

1. eyes. They allow you to see well around you, but not those objects that are very close. Animals have difficulty viewing stationary objects.
2. Ears. Rodents have excellent hearing. The ears can move in different directions, independently of each other.
3. Nose. Compared to humans, rats perceive a wider range of aromas. This allows her to identify strangers by smell and recognize the marks of other animals.
4. Taste buds. They detect the quality of food even if there is a subtle aftertaste.
5. Vibrissae. Helps with orientation in the dark.

The animals have a well-developed sense of heights, so they can calmly rest even on tight ropes.