All About Dumbo Rats

The greatest need for a living friend is experienced by the smallest family members who, when dealing with animals, learn to care, compassion and love. Cats, dogs, fish and parrots are the classic inhabitants of apartments, which need increased attention from the owners. The alternative to these animals can be fun and playful rats of a dumbo. Cute and affectionate animals do not require a lot of attention, and the boundless joy of communicating with a comedic animal will fill the heart of not only children, but also their parents.

The dumbo rat is a small decorative animal that has disproportionately large, low-set ears.

Representatives of this breed differ from ordinary rats in the shape of their ears, which is of two types:

• in the form of a plate;
• in the form of a bud.

European buyers prefer animals with ears in the form of buds. The maximum size of a well-fed pet’s body is 20 cm, and the weight of an adult can reach 400 g. Boys are much larger than girls. Animals have a round head with an elongated pointed muzzle. Eyeballs are round. Some representatives of this breed have a thick fleshy tail, and for some this part of the body is completely absent.

Animals have a short period of life, which does not exceed 5 years. Life expectancy is 3 years.

Like any pet, a decorative pet has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Of the positive aspects, it is necessary to highlight the following:

• susceptibility to training;
• high intellectual level;
• unpretentiousness in food;
• nickname response;
• the presence of a good-natured and affectionate character;
• sociability;
• credulity;
• lack of need for spacious premises;
• cleanliness;
• creating a minimum amount of noise;
• a small amount of maintenance costs;
• ease of care.

The animal has a unique ability to adapt to the mood of its owner, giving the person exactly those emotions that he needs. The main disadvantages of a funny animal are:

• non-fulfillment of commands without dainty;
• falling into depression with prolonged being alone;
• incompatibility with predatory pets;
• territory label;
• damage to all available interior items;
• the high cost of medications for treatment;
• the presence of a specific smell;
• need for a daily walk;
• high price;
• short period of life;
• conservation of wildness in the absence of contact with people.

The result of lengthy breeding work was the emergence of several subspecies of dambo rats, which differ in color and wool. Eared animals can be both shaggy and bald, as well as be black, white, gray and red. Depending on taste preferences, it is necessary to purchase the appropriate breed.

Representatives of the Rex breed have curly dense hair that evenly covers the entire body, and the pet becomes soft and plush. Comical and funny look newborn babies with protruding fur. In some individuals, you can even see a curly mustache.

The breed of dumbo sphinx is characterized by a complete lack of hair. On a soft velvety body, which can be pink, white, blue or black, you can see small skin folds. The length of the mustache can be either large or small, and for some pets they are completely absent.

To preserve the genetic features, specialists do not recommend crossing the breed with other representatives of the dumbo. To prevent aggression from rats with hair, naked pets should be placed in a separate cage. This breed is chosen by people who are allergic to wool.

The unique representatives of this subspecies have a soft cream coat color, against which brown muzzle and legs look spectacular.

Husky breed puppies at birth have a standard color scheme, against which only a few months later white hairs can appear.

Manx rats are tailless representatives of the species. This feature was provoked by a mutation of genes and caused negative reviews from experts.

The absence of a tail has a negative effect on the skeleton and the period of the animal’s life, which does not exceed 12 months.

Blue mink is a unique subspecies that has gray wool with a blue tint. Amazing coloring significantly increases the cost of baby rats in the market.

Funny animals easily come in contact with people and quickly give in to training. Before learning tricks the animal must be carefully accustomed to the hands. Keep the pet in the palm of your hand and stroke at least 2 hours a day.

Trainers recommend calling an animal by name to your favorite treats.

An important point in training is the study of the rat to return to its place in the cage and independently leave it when the owner calls. After a short tactile and emotional contact, the animals begin to trust their master.

Some individuals may even select a given item, stand on their hind legs and remove shiny items from the boxes.

To maintain health and activity, the acquired pet needs to create the most convenient conditions for life and reproduction, as well as organize a balanced nutritious diet at home. Animals must be properly and promptly fed and regularly looked after.

Experts recommend protecting the animal from strong streams of cold air, which can provoke colds.

The cage should be at least 1.5 m above the floor and protected from bright light and heating devices. Failure to comply with the rules of maintenance and care can cause the development of various diseases. Signs of a healthy pet:

• shiny coat;
• clean eyeballs;
• lack of pus in the eyes;
• high level of mobility and activity.

Among the most dangerous diseases, veterinarians distinguish several.

• Mycoplasmosis - A dangerous disease that is transmitted through the air and can lead to death.
• Abscess - The inflammatory process after mechanical damage. For its treatment, it is necessary to clean and rinse the affected area.
• Helminthiasis - damage to the body by various parasites.
• Malignant and benign tumors.

At the first signs of the disease, you must urgently seek help from a doctor and not use alternative methods of treatment.

To keep the rat dumbo rats, experts recommend purchasing large multi-tiered cages, all of which are made of metal. Elements of wood and plastic will be completely destroyed by the rodent in the near future. The minimum height of the permanent home should be 50 cm, and the length should be about 60 cm.

When choosing a cage, special attention should be paid to the distance between the rods, which should not exceed 20 mm, as well as a flat floor, a high pallet, wide doors and shelves. Mandatory elements of the home are a house and a hammock.

A place to sleep should correspond to the size of the animal, be cozy and comfortable. Production Material - durable plasticwhich does not absorb odors and is easy to clean. A hanging hammock can be a pet's favorite place where he can warm himself and hide. Due to the quick contamination of this accessory, the product needs regular cleaning and washing.

The dining area should be equipped with bowls for food, as well as a drinking bowl. Feeding animals is better to pour in ceramic dishes, which is silent.

Keeping several animals together provides for the purchase of a large capacity for food. For drinking, you need to use special drinkers that are fixed on the bars of the cage.

Entertaining elements are indispensable details of each cage for animals. In the period when the owner can not devote time to the pet, the rat must move independently and entertain itself. In specialized stores you can buy rope ropes, stairs and special tunnels for rodents. If there is material, you can make toys yourself at home.

Some owners put rodents in transparent aquariums. Glass housing is not suitable for rodent life and has several disadvantages:

• low level of ventilation;
• accumulation of unpleasant odors and fecal gases;
• the need for regular disinfection;
• difficulty in cleaning;
• the likelihood of the animals leaving the house independently during the ventilation of the aquarium;

The basic pet diet should consist of ready-made cereal and nut mixtures, which can be purchased in specialized stores.

Animals love to enjoy fresh peaches, apples, bananas, cherries and cherries. Very rarely, pets can be pampered with kefir, milk and a small slice of orange. Sprouted wheat, oats and soybeans, as well as green leaves of parsley, dill and dandelions, can serve as a useful top dressing.

It is strictly forbidden to feed rodents with dried fruits that contain a large amount of sugar, as well as fatty, salty, spicy and fried foods from a person's table. These products can provoke an upset digestive system, as well as the death of a pet. The list of prohibited products:

• meat and fish products;
• alcoholic and carbonated drinks;
• sweet pastries and sweets;
• hard cheese;
• White cabbage;
• radish, horseradish, turnip;
• boiled and raw potatoes;
• beans and peas;
• artichoke;
• all kinds of mushrooms.

Young animals need two meals a day, and the frequency of feeding adults should reach up to 4 times a day.

A prerequisite for the full growth and development of animals is the availability of fresh clean water. During an independent walk around the apartment, the animal can be poisoned by the juice of Kalanchoe, geranium, ivy, hydrangea and cyclamen.

Dumbo rats are treated with clean animals that carefully monitor their hair. The animal needs a weekly change of the litter layer in the cage. To simplify the cleaning process, you can install a special tray in the corner of the cage, where the animal will be happy to go to the toilet.

All food containers should be washed daily and filled with clean water and fresh food.

As bedding material, you can use granular mixtures or coarse-grained sawdust that will not get into the nose and eyes of the animal. It is strictly forbidden to use newspaper sheets, which, when wet, emit harmful and toxic substances. Specialists recommend bathing rodents 2 times a year in warm water with a special shampoo. This manipulation will remove the odor from the pet.

To reduce stress, bathing should be carried out in the form of a game, and then the animal will be happy to wash.

After bathing, carefully trim the long nail plates with special nippers.

For breeding, breeders recommend using only the brightest representatives of this breed, who will be able to pass on hereditary traits to their offspring. Sexual maturity in rats occurs at the age of 7 months. The period of gestation does not exceed 1 month. The number of pups in one litter reaches 15 pieces. The female does not need outside help during childbirth.

Newborn animals are completely naked, blind and helpless.

The main task of the owners is to maintain cleanliness in the cage and balanced feeding of the female. Toddlers quickly gain weight and become covered with hair, and after 10 days, the cubs already see and hear well. After 21 days, the offspring can be transferred to dry food, and at the age of 45 days, the babies are given to other families.

Funny and affectionate animal has gained wide popularity among lovers of domestic rats. Owners of these animals note their kind, playful and affectionate nature, and their intellectual abilities amaze all members of the family. Many parents have eared pets at the request of children who can play with their pets for hours and train them at the same time.

Among the negative sides of the dumbo rat, owners note the constant desire of animals to mark their territory, try all the surrounding objects on the tooth and become depressed when they are alone for a long time.

See below for details on keeping dumbo rats in the house.