What are fancy rats and why do they make such great companions? What sets fancy rats apart is the fact that they have been bred over many generations for their good looks and pleasant natures. This has resulted in beautiful animals who truly enjoy contact with people.
They seldom bite and are less likely to carry diseases that can be transmitted to people than are many other species of pets.
Breeders have developed a dizzying array of fancy rat varieties. Each of these seven varieties is grouped into six Sections by color and body markings. There are 40 distinct colors recognized among these Sections. Suffice to say that almost any combination of coat type, coat color, ear set, and presence or absence of a tail that you can dream up is probably available from a fancy rat breeder somewhere.
If you are looking for a very specific type of fancy rat, say a Sable Burmese Dumbo or an Agouti Rex, you will need to go through a breeder. But you have other options if you are simply in the market for a new fuzzy friend. Rats are quite easy to care for, particularly if you have a good understanding of their basic needs and provide for them right from the start.
Therefore, if you are new to rat ownership, you should plan on purchasing or adopting at least two rats at the same time; this will have an effect on how you set up your rat habitat. One of the biggest mistakes that new owners make is purchasing a cage that is too small. At a minimum, cages for healthy adult rats should provide two cubic feet of space per rat, have multiple levels, and be very easy to access and clean. Cages that allow air to flow freely between wire bars are far superior to aquariums or other habitats with solid sides.
They are the same size and come in all the same colors as other rats. Their major difference is their big, round ears. Other rats have ears that are small and have more of an oval shape and they sit higher up on a rat's head. The dumbo's ears sit on the lower side of the rat's head and stick out to the side like their namesake, Dumbo the Elephant. Dumbo rats also have a slightly bigger head and slightly smaller jaw than other rats.
The recessive genes that produce their ears and other features are the result of a natural mutation. Another difference that has been noted between dumbo rats and other fancy rats is their temperament. Dumbos are known for being calm, gentle and very affectionate. They are extremely intelligent and can be taught a wide variety of behaviors and tricks. They are also social animals and need time out of their cage every day.
This can be spent doing supervised exploration as well as snuggling with you. Rats are generally easy to care for, provided you have a suitable environment set up for them. They also are a terrific pet if you don't have a lot of room and are popular with apartment and condo dwellers.
The minimum cage size for a pair of rats is 24" x 12" x 12" and it should have more than one level for the rats to move about the cage. Wire cages are better than tanks, but make sure that the cage does not have a wire floor which can harm a rat's feet. Since rats are highly social, it's recommended to have at least two so they can keep each other company. You can keep a dumbo rat with another dumbo, preferably one of the same sex, or with any type of rat since they're all the same species.
The cage should have some type of bedding, such as paper, recycled newspaper or aspen shavings. Avoid using wood or pine shavings as these can cause health problems.
You should also have an area for the rats to hide when they need some peace and quiet. Rats should be fed a pellet diet made specifically for rats. You can supplement their pellets with small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, bland cooked chicken and scrambled or hard-boiled eggs.
There are also treat sticks you can purchase for your rat to be given in moderation. Your rats should also always have access to a water bottle with fresh, clean water. Rats love to play and providing them with a variety of toys can keep them healthy and active.
The rats will also need lots of appropriate items to chew on like wood blocks and toys. They also love shredding cardboard and paper. Play should also include time with you and many rat owners enjoy clicker training their rats. You should obviously keep them away from your cat, and dogs are hit-and-miss, with some ignoring them and others wanting to eat them. For best results, you should just keep your dumbo with other rats. These are specially designed to have all the vitamins and nutrients that your rat needs to be healthy.
Beyond that, you can give them fresh fruits and veggies, but be careful not to overdo it on sugar-rich fruits. You can give them grains like bread and cereal occasionally, but limit it to once a week or so. Feeding them the same things consistently is recommended to avoid gastrointestinal problems assuming their regular diet has everything they need, of course. Be careful not to overfeed them, as obesity and diabetes run rampant in the species. This means giving them plenty of attention, affection, and stimulation and providing them with other rats to play and socialize with.
Remember that the dumbo gene is a recessive one, though. If you do decide on a dumbo rat and are in need of a name, check out our full list of over awesome rat names! Quincy never intended to be a cat person. When his wife brought home a kitten one day, he told her she had one week to find it a new home. That week turned into 10 years his wife moves very slowly , and that kitten turned into three they got two more, the kitten didn't self-replicate. After a decade of sharing his home with the dogs and three cats, one horrifying realization finally set in: oh God, he's a cat person now too, isn't he???
Skip to content. Sep 16 There are other standard marking types as well, including:. Hooded : A colored saddle running from the head down the spine to the tail Berkshire : Colored top, white belly Blazed : Colored head or body with white fur on the face Capped : White with colored fur on the head alone Variegated : Any sort of mismatched pattern Irish or English Irish : Equilateral triangle of white running down the chest or between the front legs.
Quincy Miller. Related Posts.
0コメント