Rats

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

Differences between Mice & Rats

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

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

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

Handling Pick up by base of tail 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. Tame rats can be picked up by “cupping” in the hands if they are handled from when they are young

Health Respiratory Respiratory Parasites: Parasites: Mites, lice Malocclusion: overgrown incisors

Characteristics Become sexually mature at 6weeks Become sexually mature at 6weeks Wean babies at 4 weeks Wean babies at 4 weeks Gestation – 21-24days Gestation – 21-24days Litter size – 9-11 Litter size – 9-11 Lifespan 3-4 years Lifespan 3-4 years Sex by Anogenital distance Sex by Anogenital distance

Varieities dex.cfm dex.cfm dex.cfm dex.cfm