What do dumbo rats like

The minimum cage size for any kind of rat, including the dumbo, is 2 cubic feet of space per rat, which is a cage of about 25 inches in length, 12 inches in width, and 14 inches in height. Therefore, you should double the aforementioned size.

Keep in mind that the size mentioned is the absolute minimum cage size — when in doubt, a bigger cage is always better! Dumbo rats, just like any kind of rat, enjoy having a lot of space available to run and play around so a bigger cage means a happier rat. Another important thing to keep in mind when selecting a cage for your dumbo rat is bar spacing. The bar spacing should be around 0. Dumbo rats are super intelligent and because of that, they need a lot of mental stimulation to prevent them from getting bored.

They also have a lot of energy, so will need a decent amount of exercise to stay in shape and release some of that pent-up energy. The best way to stimulate them, both mentally and physically, is by taking them out of their cage and playing with them. When you do take them out of their cage, make sure that you keep an eye on them — rats have a tendency to chew on things and it can happen that they chew on the wrong things such as electrical cords.

You can also build mazes for them, teach them tricks, and some rats can even play fetch. All these things are great ways to bond with your rat and to keep them happy. There are many different types of toys available for pet rats, ranging from exercise wheels, to hammocks, to tunnels. Click here to find my top 7 favorite rat toys. Another important thing to note is that rats are rodents and because of that, their teeth never stop growing. Dumbo rats are around 15 to 22 inches from the tip of their tail to the tip of their nose and weigh around 1.

They grow from baby to adult in 4 to 6 months. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commision. Learn More. Sometimes it seems like scientists can have a mean streak, at least when it comes to naming animals. After all, how else can you explain animals like the spiny lumpsucker, chicken turtle, or the strange-tailed tyrant? You can add the dumbo rat to the list of unfortunately-named creatures.

Their history is a nasty one, however. They were used as targets in blood sports in the 18 th and 19 th centuries, and ironically, being bred for death is a big reason that the species was able to flourish.

Dumbo rats are much cuter than most other types of rats, due to a natural mutation that causes them to have round ears, large heads, small jaws, and wide eyes. These traits combine to give them an innocent appearance. However, many pounds and small animal rescues take in dumbo rats as well, so you may be able to get one for free or for a small adoption fee.

Dumbo rats are friendly and agreeable creatures. These animals are also extremely intelligent, and many people have taught their dumbos to do tricks. Since dumbo rats have been kept as pets for quite some time, many breeders have worked to develop special patterns and markings to make them more attractive to potential owners. The breed has spontaneously developed a few features of its own over the years as well.

There are two primary color types found in dumbo rats: agouti and black. Agouti means they have three different tones on each individual hair, which often combines to give them a gray or brownish coloring. However, agouti dumbos can also be found in cinnamon and fawn.

Black-based colors include beige, blue, chocolate, and straight black. Dumbos can sport a variety of markings, including completely solid and Himalayan, which is a blended shade of white. There are different coat types as well. The main differences lie in the coarseness of the fur, although some varieties have curly hair or silky coats.

After initial suspicion within the UK fancy about other possible effects of the mutation beyond ear position, they have been widely accepted throughout the UK and Europe. A dumbo rat is a variation of the standard top eared Norway rat rattus norvegicus. Dumbos are essentially standard rats who have a genetic mutation dmbo on chromosome 14 , which affects a number of physical characteristics:. Researchers have concluded that the rat dumbo phenotype the way the dumbo rat looks is probably the result of the lack of an enhancer that regulates the Hmx1 gene — a gene that itself regulates the development of craniofacial skull and face structures.

The things that are more likely to affect lifespan are the quality of the breeding line, diet, exercise, feeding ad-lib, some coat deletion genes like blue, the quality of veterinary care and so on. Dumbo rats need to be bred thoughtfully and often crossed back to top eared rats to prevent problems arising from the cumulative effects of the gene. With this caveat, the physical changes that affect dumbo rats are usually minor and not thought to cause unwanted symptoms.

Reduced eye size can be limited by crossing back to top eared rats and selectively breeding from dumbos with good eye size. While some unscrupulous pet shops and breeders may try to sell dumbos as special ultra-exotic rats, they are — in all other ways — the same as top eared rats.

So, whatever you may hear, dumbos are standard rats with changes that only affect their skull and eye development. This means that dumbos have the same average body size, limb and tail length as other rats, as well as the same brain and organ development.

It is perfectly possible to breed lines which produce dumbos that are lean and racy, just as it is possible to breed lines of top eared rats who are chunky and prone to being overweight. So, what should the ideal dumbo rat look like? The dumbo is now a standardized variety, which can be exhibited at rat shows across many countries including the USA and UK. The dumbo is judged as a standard rat with the following differences:. From NFRS standards of excellence — formatting ours.

These claims have no foundation. Dumbo rats are essentially just rats who have their ears on the side of their head, a predisposition to smaller eye-size and somewhat shortened cheek and jaw bones. Despite some early claims of dumbos having more docile temperaments, this does not appear to be a dumbo trait.

Some dumbos are extremely docile and some are active and spirited. The same is true for top eared rats.