Rats

Characteristics Broad head Very social animals, usually can be put with a group if cage is big enough Hairless tail More scales on tail then mice Weigh 8oz – 16oz (1pound)

Differences between Mice & Rats http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatsMice.htm

Varieties Rat Varieties: Self – Entire body is one color Hooded – Head and shoulders have color with a line down the back of the body Bareback – Head and shoulders have color. There is NO line down the body. Capped – Color on the head only. Hairless – No hair http://www.afrma.org/fancyrm.htm

Housing Cages and equipment used for other types of small animals Large glass tanks Wood Shavings Nesting material

Feeding Commercial feed from pet store Eat almost anything in the wild Treats: Fruits vegetables

Handling Pick up by base of tail Tame rats can be picked up by “cupping” in the hands if they are handled from when they are young. Restraint – hand over back Pointer and middle finger Around neck www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwtJAbik2c

Health Respiratory Parasites: Mites, lice Malocclusion: overgrown incisors Tumors Degloved tail from not picking up correctly

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

Rat Sexing and Restraint

Varieities http://www.furryfriendsrus.com/Mice.htm http://www.thefunmouse.com/varieties/index.cfm