RatsRats

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Broad headBroad head Very social animals, usually can be Very social animals, usually can be

put with a group if cage is big put with a group if cage is big enoughenough

Hairless tailHairless tail More scales on tail then miceMore scales on tail then mice Weigh 8oz – 16oz (1pound)Weigh 8oz – 16oz (1pound)

Differences between Mice & Differences between Mice & RatsRats

http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatsMice.htm

VarietiesVarieties

Rat VarietiesRat Varieties:: SelfSelf – Entire body is one color – Entire body is one color HoodedHooded – Head and shoulders have color – Head and shoulders have color

with a line down the back of the bodywith a line down the back of the body BarebackBareback – Head and shoulders have – Head and shoulders have

color. There is NO line down the body.color. There is NO line down the body. CappedCapped – Color on the head only. – Color on the head only. HairlessHairless – No hair – No hair http://www.afrma.org/fancyrm.htm http://www.afrma.org/fancyrm.htm

HousingHousing

Cages and equipment used for other Cages and equipment used for other types of small animalstypes of small animals

Large glass tanksLarge glass tanks Wood ShavingsWood Shavings Nesting materialNesting material

FeedingFeeding

Commercial feed from pet storeCommercial feed from pet store Eat almost anything in the wildEat almost anything in the wild Treats:Treats:

– FruitsFruits– vegetablesvegetables

HandlingHandling

Pick up by base of tailPick up by base of tail Tame rats can be picked up by Tame rats can be picked up by

“cupping” in the hands if they are “cupping” in the hands if they are handled from when they are young.handled from when they are young.

www.youtube.com/watch?www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwtJAbik2c v=kVwtJAbik2c

HealthHealth

RespiratoryRespiratory Parasites:Parasites:

Mites, liceMites, lice

Malocclusion: overgrown incisorsMalocclusion: overgrown incisors

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Become sexually mature at 6weeksBecome sexually mature at 6weeks Wean babies at 4 weeksWean babies at 4 weeks Gestation – 21-24daysGestation – 21-24days Litter size – 9-11Litter size – 9-11 Lifespan 3-4 years Lifespan 3-4 years Sex by Anogenital distanceSex by Anogenital distance http://www.afrma.org/sexing101.htm http://www.afrma.org/sexing101.htm

VarieitiesVarieities

http://www.furryfriendsrus.com/http://www.furryfriendsrus.com/Mice.htm Mice.htm

http://www.thefunmouse.com/http://www.thefunmouse.com/varieties/index.cfmvarieties/index.cfm