All about Rats
Domestic Rats vs. Wild RatsIf you're thinking, "Ewww, rats?gross!" remember that we have domesticated (pet) rats at OMSI. Pet rats are as different from wild rats as pet dogs are from wolves. The domestic rat is a wonderful creature: smart and affectionate. Rats are so smart that they can be trained to respond to their names and perform complicated tasks. Rats as PetsBoth male and female rats make wonderful pets. Females are smaller, softer, and considerably more active than males. People love to watch the antics of female rats. On the other hand, males are normally happier sitting on your lap and having their heads scratched. Rats can even be neutered, like cats or dogs, so that you can keep males and females together. Rats are very social animals, so at OMSI, several rats live together.
The rats at OMSI get fruits and vegetables in the morning, and pellets at night. Rat pellets were designed to feed research animals. The pellets give rats a balanced diet, and they also help wear down the rats' long teeth, which grow their whole lives. Some people have found that rat pellets can cause an animal to dehydrate, so if you use rat pellets it is important to monitor how much water your animals are drinking. Our rats also get a vitamin supplement, which is added to their water. Rat LifespanThe average lifespan of a pet rat is between 2 and 5 years. However, a lifespan of 3 years is fairly typical. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest-lived rat was named Rodney. He lived for 7 years and 4 months.
Kinds of RatsPeople breed rats and bring them to shows, just like pedigreed dogs. Judges choose a winner based on standardized rules. Criteria include the rat's color, pattern, size, its health, and its personality. Show rats come in lots of different varieties. Some have extra-large ears, which are placed on the side of the head. This trait is called "Dumbo ears." Standard rats have short, smooth hair. Rex rats have wavy hair and curled whiskers. Satin rats have longer, silkier fur. Some rats don't have any hair at all! To learn more about different kinds of rats, check out this link to the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association page: http://www.afrma.org/fancyrm.htm. Rat adaptationsRats live all over the world and can adapt to a variety of environments. Some people dislike rats' long tails, but the tails are very important, because they allow rats to be excellent athletes. Using their tails for balance, rats can jump long distances and land on narrow ledges. Rats can balance on ropes, wrapping their tails underneath to help hold them on. Although rats can see, they do not see very well. Instead they rely on their excellent hearing and sense of smell. A rat's whiskers also help it gather information about the world. Rat ReproductionRats grow very quickly. They are born without fur and with their eyes closed, but after a few days they begin to grow hair. At 2 weeks, they open their eyes. The rats can be weaned at 4 to 5 weeks. At 5 weeks (yes, just after weaning), it is important to separate any male babies from their mother and sisters. If the males are left with the others, the rats will mate! Female rats go into heat every 4 or 5 days, starting at about 5 weeks, and rats don't mind mating with their close relatives. When a female rat is about a year and a half old, her cycles will become less regular. Although a rat can become pregnant at this age, it is less likely, and the litters are typically smaller. Rat litters range in size from 6 or 7 babies up to 20. They can have anywhere from 4 to 7 litters a year. This means that if a mother rat had an average of 11 babies per litter, and had 6 litters in a year, she would have 66 babies in one year! That's a lot of rats!
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