These rodents are primarily omnivores and feed on mealworms, vegetables, and seeds. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This decline may be due to competition with other rodents, like the black rat. If you want to create a new group of rats, you can take your adult male, and two or three of his daughters to start a new colony, while leaving a young male offspring in the original colony to take over his spot. Black striped sunflower seeds are incredibly high in fat and should be given sparingly. They make excellent feeder animals, where the few limitations are outweighed by the benefits in regards to space, odor, and production reliability. For more relatable content, check out these Virginia opossum facts and langur monkey facts for kids. The tumors can be seen in the vaginal region as a clustered mass, along the tail as bumps, on the back and hind quarters as warty black growths, or on the face of the animal. No abstract available. rat/mouse (Praomys/Mastomys natalensis), and other exotics such as short-tailed opossums, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs. Thats two times your moving the same group, and I always want to minimize stress on the breeding groups. This makes sense, as we could consider Alberta to be Rattus free, not Mastomys free. They are widely used in the scientific community to study diseases that are also common to man, like degenerative joint disease, renal disease and carcinoid tumors of the stomach. When I started working with these ASF rats, I actually found their odor quite nauseating and overpowering. Thats a wonderful theory! Secondly, these rats are primarily raised to be sold as food for reptile owners. These little guys are also. Fingers Crossed Lol. Menopause: Approx 12-15 mo. The females will attack to protect their young. Will decrease with age. Just make you have at least two. African soft fur rats are omnivores and feed on mealworms, wax worms, vegetables, and seeds. Male mice cannot be kept together. I've noticed with my collection that the more I interact with them, the less they are leaping and bounding from me when I pull their tub out for cleaning. Elegant RUSSIAN fur coat, timeless style, extremely cozy, wonderful fit and comfy to wear, HIGH . My rats often are pregnant before the others are weened. African soft fur rats are classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN). Adults are usually fed to ball pythons and other reptiles as they are a source of good quality meat. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Watch a Gargantuan Komodo Dragon Effortlessly Swallow a Wild Boar, Watch A Lioness Save Her Zookeeper When The Male Lion Attacks Him Point-Blank, Watch This Huge Komodo Dragon Flex Its Power and Swallow a Shark Whole. This results in a new litter every 3 to 4 weeks. Praomys Natalensis African Soft Furred Rats are quickly becoming a favorite as feeders for small to medium sized snakes, birds of prey, and carnivorous lizards and amphibians. African Soft-fur Care (910) 547-6249Call or Text Home About Us Rats Rat Care Guide Our Girls Our Boys Nursery Past Litters 2022 Past Litters 2021 Past Litters 2020 Planned Litters Rat Colors & Markings Safe/Unsafe Foods Mice Mice Care Guide Mouse Varieties Available Mice Past Litters Safe/Unsafe Foods Exotics Syrian Hamsters African Soft-furs African soft-furred rats live together in groups and they are seldom seen alone. Some people have had some success keeping related males together, but this should only be attempted, if at all, by experienced mice keepers. These seed mixes contain alfalfa pellets. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Please do your research before investing in a colony African Soft Furs are also known as: - Natal Multimammate Mouse - Natal Multimammate Rat - Common African Rat Fun Fact: Female rats can get pregnant again 3 HOURS after laying their litter! They have two rounded ears on either side of their face. Read Full Affiliate Disclaimer here. Ive had one female that, Tan C H; Tachezy R; Van Ranst M; Chan S Y; Bernard H U; Burk R D, The Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus: nucleotide sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic relationship of a rodent papillomavirus involved in tumorigenesis of cutaneous epithelia, http://www.biomedexperts.com/Abstracnship_of_a_rod, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1266439, http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/41/2/315, K.Wayss, E.Amtmann, G.Frstenberger, G.Sauer and M.Volm, http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-p2&size=largest, http://www.springerlink.com/content/lg3430177178j132/, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j84058/abstract, http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjdr/abstract.00002300-2, http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjdr/ab195628!8091!-1, http://www.springerlink.com/content/pw8826314054212w/, http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/88/10/2670, Iris Helfrich, Min Chen, Rainer Schmidt, Gerhard Frstenberger, Annette Kopp-Schneider, David Trick, Hermann-Josef Grne, Harald zur Hausen, and Frank Rsl, Robert K. Jackson (have to scroll down to Mastomys), http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjourn1Unusual.shtm, KlausWayss, DenisReyes-Mayes and ManfredVolm, http://www.springerlink.com/content/w5222w4581321370/, Anton J. Bilchika, Ola Nilssona, Irvin M. Modlin, Karl A. Zuckera and Thomas E. Adrian, http://www.sciencedirect.com/sciencef533d0be858763, http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art?artid=2042366, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jTRY=1&SRETRY=0, Black Pastel Orange Dream Spider Yellowbelly, http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jean.wright93/mm/mm.htm, http://www.freewebs.com/abcexotics/multimammatemice.htm, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2366624/, http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM-Neue.Gruppe.jpg, http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM-Rubyeyed.jpg, http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM_Weisse.jpg. The rats chewed off the paint on a few of them, and in those tubs the wire of the wheel rusted pretty easily and one of them developed sores on the bottom of his paws. Rump near tail may also have spots and a more defined head stripe. Mazuri Mouse Breeder; Kent Rodent Diet; Rodent bedding. This is not an option, however, for pet owners who have no desire to breed. They will also make use of fruits and vegetables, timothy hay, dog treats, and whole grain products, although the latter should be given as a simple treat and not a steadfast source of food. And sometimes, not at all. I've a new pet but want to make sure I get them a companion that's the same sex so I don't have an unexpected litter. This is not healthy for ALL small pets! When young, the animals appear almost black, but as they age, the yellow banding will show up more prominently, especially on the sides of the animal. They keep producing and 1 male and 3 females will always have 2-4 litters in the cage at one time. I first thought she was a young Cinnamon, but she looks more and more like a Ruby Eyed? This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 09:36. Also, ensure you buy an aquarium with a lid made of wire mesh or vents to allow enough ventilation to flow through the area. Breeding them as pets is a rare occurrence, although they are capable of being tamed through training. Six different genetic groups can be distinguished in different regions: one in western Africa, one in central Africa, one in southern Africa and three in eastern Africa. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B. http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/88/10/2670, Iris Helfrich, Min Chen, Rainer Schmidt, Gerhard Frstenberger, Annette Kopp-Schneider, David Trick, Hermann-Josef Grne, Harald zur Hausen, and Frank Rsl Age, disease, production issues; regardless the reason, it is sometimes necessary to break up groups and start over. The tumors can be seen in the vaginal region as a clustered mass, along the tail as bumps, on the back and hind quarters as warty black growths, or on the face of the animal. That was about a pint of food in the rack for him. They use them like its their reason for living. This does not mean that a female will get pregnant immediately and have her first litter at 12 weeks of age. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. I give them old toilet paper and paper towel rolls. This is a normal room temperature. Common Name: African Soft Furs, Natal Rats, Multimammate Rat, (Mice is an outdated term) Hence, make sure you bring at least two African soft fur rats home. They came to Canada in 1775 on the East coast and made their way westward. They are known to be very bouncy at times, and can even jump out of snake tubs if you do not close them in time. Predators of African soft fur rats include reptiles like python. Larger than a normal mouse but a lot smaller than normal rats. Just as a note of warning, you should not give these pets carbonated, caffeinated, or alcoholic beverages or foods. So far, it would seem that the tumors develop after 9 -12months of age, although not all will get this condition. You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable African soft-furred rat coloring pages. Inbreeding can be done too, and may be easier in some cases. Once females have been bred and are in an established colony group, you cannot add any new animals without it being attacked and often times killed by the original animals. I had the opportunity to buy a group of these amazing little rats back in the end of March 08. Keep the sessions short and positive, and slowly work up to longer sessions. The best way I can describe them is the Pink Eyed Dilute on an agouti striped hair. Each female has a litter every 4-5 weeks, and if you have 2 or 3 females, thats the very real possibility of having 32-54 rats born every 4-5 weeks, that need to be grown up for a little over a month just to reach a common feeding size. Luckily, Fancy Mice and African Soft-furs, despite being different species and not all that closely related, have similar care requirements that allow them to be housed together. Rat Care Guide; Our Girls; Our Boys; Nursery; Past Litters 2022; Past Litters 2021; Past Litters 2020; Planned Litters; Rat Colors & Markings; Safe/Unsafe Foods; Mice. What temperature is suitable for African soft fur rats? In the wild, these rodents fetch food and other requirements by themselves. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If they think they are in danger, they scramble everywhere! They need access to water and food all the time in captivity. Ive decided I should probably put in a little note about cleaning the ASF tubs when there are pinks and pups, I often forget that people are new to breeding rats when they read this page, so I should try to cover all aspects. The African soft fur rat is capable of being raised as a pet and being tamed as well. These soft fur rats are primarily omnivores and feed on mealworms and vegetables, seeds, and other food. Clothes Glenn Heights 990 $. They can live with mice. [email protected] Dr, Lafayette Springs, MS 38655, Oxfordpets participates in the Amazon Associates program, and get commission for sales referrals. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. One of the commonest African rodents, this is an ideal species for the tyro breeder, being undemanding, easy to keep and (a definite plus for those keeping it in a bedroom) odor-free. A: Stress. Feeders or not, they deserve respect. The only hazard with having a female heavy group is the possibility that the older pups will push the pinks down to the bottom of the pile removing them from nutrition and subjecting them to possible suffocation or crushing. tumors known as keratoacanthomas and squamous carcinomas, are associated with a papillomavirus (. Litter Size: 3-17; average is 9-12 per litter. Chemical carcinogenesis by the two-stage protocol in the skin of Mastomys natalensis (Muridae) using topical initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and topical promotion with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate They need a company to be happy. He had chewed up all of his food into little crumbles, and didnt eat any of it. I had become quiet attached to them, they however hate me. Animal model: carcinoids and adenocarcinoma of the glandular stomach of Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis. Their face is relatively small compared to their body with a small nose and two eyes. The pregnancy will last for approx 21 days. In the wild, they fetch food by themselves. Icant stress it enough! Praomys Natalensis, Praomys (Mastomys) Natalensis, Mastomys Natalensis, Natal Rats, African Soft Furred rat, African Soft-Furred Rat, Multimammate Mice, ASFs, ASF rats. I have gone through quite a few wheels for these buggers, and the only ones we have available in local pet shops are the powder coated (painted) metal wire wheels. Live feeder rats. Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days. Many times, females will not have their first litter until 3-4 months of age. Yours seem to have a mix of panda and head spots. Very well done. of age. Using the box cutter, cut out the inside. First and foremost, it is extremely EASY to get overrun by an ASF colony! This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for, African Soft Furred Rat Interesting Facts, free printable African soft-furred rat coloring pages, Fun Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Facts For Kids. they do not smell bad almost at all.. compare then to a rat or a mouse.. these are so much cleaner.. Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days Persistence of Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus in multiple organs identifies novel targets for infection I hope this helps! right is a Amber, left in the back is a cinnamon, but before her on the left, is a young one. They love to be around other rats and mice. Q: Why do I keep finding half eaten' babies? Are African Soft Fur Rats Legal In Alberta? Clean out that soiled tub, washing is always a superb idea for cleanliness, and repeat steps 1 4 with the rest. However, they are not exactly rats or mice. Fancy mice can be highly territorial when living with others. Multimammate Mice - Soft Furred African Rats. Mice are naturally social creatures. I have also offered a small portion of seeds and Timothy hay once a week, I have given treats like hard dog biscuits, and offered wood blocks. If you keep these animals as pets, they need food and water at all times. If you dont want to provide wheels to your rats, then I highly recommend you never introduce them. African soft fur rats make good pets. This gene seems to quite variable in strength, as some have very little of a head spot or stripe, while other animals can have a very strong and wide head stripe. The white spotting can leave a small cape near the base of the neck covering the shoulder blades or can be as little as to touch just the base of the tail with some spots of white. The Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus: nucleotide sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic relationship of a rodent papillomavirus involved in tumorigenesis of cutaneous epithelia The African soft-furred rat is a rat that belongs to the class Mammalia, family Muridae, and genus Mastomys. M. myboys2 . African soft furred rats are an easy species to breed, with many benefits for breeders. , For more reading on keeping ASFs as pets, please visit the following link. 1976 Mar;23(2):143-50. By this time, the female that gave birth to the weaners will very likely already have given birth to her next litter, or will very soon and be HUGE. They are also prone to stomach cancer, which is one of the main reasons these animals are used in research. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. CrouchingToaster 3 yr. ago This animal is a light brown color on an agouti hair. Although they have nothing to do with the rat genus. Aside from just being bred as food for reptiles, these rats have also been used in lab experiments, including stomach cancers, spontaneous tumors, and diseases like Lassa fever. I'm a freelance writer with more than eight years of content creation experience. They resemble mice, however they are rats. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. This back to back breeding does not seem inherently detrimental to the females health or future litter sizes. http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/88/10/2670, Iris Helfrich, Min Chen, Rainer Schmidt, Gerhard Frstenberger, Annette Kopp-Schneider, David Trick, Hermann-Josef Grne, Harald zur Hausen, and Frank Rsl The pros include unobstructed viewing for your fur ball. Yes! We speculated that the stress of being removed from his breeding group was overwhelming for him, and he had to release the stress some way. we took them home to try to nurse them, but all but 1 of them didnt make it thru the night. http://asfrats.info/viewforum.php?f=8& (No longer available), Or you can visit the ASFs breeders and information exchange forum For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j84058/abstract When bathed, they lose some natural oils from their body that save them from external infections. Some people call Ambers Albinos, and some people call the white spotted Pieds. Yes, African Soft Fur Rats are legal in Alberta, because they are a different genus and subfamily as typical rats that Alberta actively keeps out of the Province. This is most common in southern and western states of the US. I raise the african rats and sell them as pets, I have had no problems with them being nasty or aggresive or nervous. As the name suggests, these rats are native to Africa. If I were to stick my head over their tub, I can definitely smell them. Thank you for the information! Alberta is very particular about keeping rats like the Norway Rat outside the provincial borders, and that includes keeping pet rats, as pets often escape into the wild. They will nip you if you are not quick enough. Increased Incidence of Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Mastomys natalensis Papillomavirus E6 Transgenic Mice during Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis thank you for ur time, and i hope someone has some advice. On sale below $1390! One guy told me some of his rats have 15-20 babies. http://www.freewebs.com/abcexotics/multimammatemice.htm, Batwrangler.net (a small listing of personal blogs, a great source of technical information) I have confirmed in a few different litters that the Ruby Eyed is a different gene than the Cinnamon. The best way to solve this is to introduce African soft fur rats of the opposite gender. Introduce the new breeding group to each other. They are known to be very bouncy at times, and can even jump out of snake tubs if you do not close them in time. The gestation period is not more than two days. Young African soft fur rats need to be kept close to their parents. Whether thats chewing shavings, shelling seeds, gnawing whatever they can get their teeth on, these little guys have motor mouths that need to be busy almost all the time! At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. The young pups or kittens are completely dependent on their parents in the initial few months and need their care. They ovulate every 4 days. Save Share. Therefore, you can go for a bigger cage to provide good space for moving around. Images: 6. African soft fur rats breed extremely fast, and female rats (or does, as they are also known) can produce a litter every three to four weeks. An African soft-furred rat lifespan is estimated to be around three years. My next trip to CO lets see about getting some from you.i have never really seen live asfs for sale but have seen maybe 2 sites that sell them frozen. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. The interactions go like this: My girls squeak and go hide in a corner trying to avoid him. HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SPONTANEOUS RENAL LESIONS OF PRAOMYS (MASTOMYS) NATALENSIS I can always tell the difference in the litters as to what is albino het and normal. African Soft Fur Rats First and foremost, it is extremely EASY to get overrun by an ASF colony! From then on I let them do their own thing and understood that my little family of ASFs were growing up and didnt care much for me trying to hold them. Come join the discussion about breeds, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! They are also bred in captivity where they are usually raised in cages or an aquarium. I just counted 840 in my garage. In the wild, they fetch food by themselves. Is an African soft fur rat a rat or a mouse? No abstract available. The African soft fur rat belongs to the kingdom Animalia and order Rodentia. The African soft-furred rat is commonly raised by reptile hobbyists since these rats are food for their pet snakes. It is recommended that a male mouse be housed with no fewer than two female ASF. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. I love African Soft furs for two reasons: You can house ASFs in a cage, aquarium, or chew proof bins. However, the wire cage must be large with multiple levels for the pack or colony to move around. She is one of my new breeding groups, the other breeding group will be Platinums with dark and with light colored ears. They can be fed any vegetables, including carrots or beans. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w5222w4581321370/, Anton J. Bilchika, Ola Nilssona, Irvin M. Modlin, Karl A. Zuckera and Thomas E. Adrian Average Lifespan: 2-3 years in captivity German. This is the wild type color and pattern. You can make it as you want. I don't suppose anyone has some clear photos showing the difference between males/females at the hopper stage? many people have been using an unmedicated hog feed in their colonies. Two unrelated males can fight to the death if left together in a group with a small number of females. Weve put a lot of work into each piece, and want to remind everyone that if you like what we do here, please make a link back to this page, rather than infringing on copyrights. Hello all I have a Male Fancy Mouse and I was considering getting a pair of soft fur ladies for Him but He seems pretty happy and I dont want to Risk Him getting hurt. (Updated 2/17/09). They get sexual maturity between 2-3 months. The Cinnamons being het for Ruby Eyed. There are a few breeders that have managed to breed rats that are tamer, but they are . http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/78/9/4797, Robert K. Jackson (have to scroll down to Mastomys) It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The confusion with the names, as far as I can see, is outline from this article Because of controversies many years ago, Mastomys was never phylogenetically classified as a genus, but remains a subgenus, designated Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis. found here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6197364. ASFs love wheels. http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjdr/abstract.00002300-2 African soft fur rats are classified as a Least Concern species by the IUCN (International Union For Conservation Of Nature). Other objects you can give them for entertainment include paper towel tubes, hammocks bought from a pet store, or cardboard boxes. Regardless of how many animals you need to feed weekly, I will recommend that most people start out with a group of one just weaned male and two females (1.2). After the female has given birth, she will go into heat a few hours later and will be impregnated again. Handling ASFs daily will sustain a good relationship between you and your rats. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water. In the wild, they coexist with other species. . If you're wanting to do a trail mix of unsalted nuts go to your nearest grocery store and pick out unsalted nuts in the bulk department. Induction of epidermal tumor growth in the skin of Mastomys natalensis by transfer of virus-containing tumor tissue from a squamous cell carcinoma African soft fur rats often live in the open Savannah, fields, and marshes. You can make it big, with stairs, burrows, dens, etc. Cohabiting with fancy mice Fancy mice can be highly territorial when living with others. You can go for multi-level, all-metal pet cages. Significance of gastric endocrine tumor and age-related gut peptide alterations in Mastomys You'll want to keep them active with something to chew on. They have been introduced into North America recently, but they are not endemic. Alberta is well known as a rat free place, but the African Soft Fur Rat is something different. OR, you could create a new group from the animals you already own. African Soft-furred Information and Exchange (No longer available), If you would like to find ASFs near your area, this webpage has a small current listing of ASF breeders. The panda pattern in the hets and ruby eyes seems to be cleaner than nons. In my house, the ASF cleaning takes the longest, and here is the reason why, ASF hoppers bolt around the cage avoiding being caught by me. Lives for up to three years. het and normal. If they are removed before they are weaned fully, it may cause physical stress to the baby and stunt its growth. The heads usually have a characteristic Eye brows pattern, and some symmetrical spots or stripes on the cheeks or side of the face. No, they have little to no smell. They aren't docile, loving, social creatures like our rats. G. Want to make this as hassle free as possible? Irecommend these rats to anyone that doesnt have the space or time to devote for large Norway rats, but still wants a steady supply of feeder animals they can depend on. since hes male (we've checked), i'm worried about finding him some friends. The animals appear a dark gray color when young, and lightening to a dark brown color as an adult, with a cool blue belly. A: When she is producing single digit litters, Q: How can you tell if an ASF is old? They continued to go on with their lives. You can house ASFs in a cage, aquarium, or chew proof bins. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Its quite unlike domestic rats. The Truth about Breeding ASF Rats (African Soft Furs) - YouTube 0:00 12:53 The Truth about Breeding ASF Rats (African Soft Furs) Zen Orc 3.53K subscribers Subscribe 5.2K views 3 years ago I. African soft fur rats are popularly known as 'miracle food' which help to grow healthier reptiles. They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. Common Name: African Soft Furs, Natal Rats, Multimammate Rat, (Mice is an outdated term) Average Lifespan: 2-3 years in captivity. But if that's ok with you, go ahead and adopt them. Thank you for reading! Ill try to match this to some fancy rat terms, but I do like the word Pied and cant think of anything similar from the rat fancy world. It was disturbing to see the alarming rate that the tumors grew, she had just reached approximately 8-9 months of age when these tumors/warts developed. Typically, their undersides are lighter in color than their backs. ive heard it might be very difficult to introduce male asf rats that arent related. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. I suggest buying a very young animal from a breeder who knows that their animals are not as likely to bite as other breeders colonies, and when you get these animals, get the same sex so you never breed them. Rabbits (S, M, L) We stock the following supplies: Rodent food. So you might be wondering why Alberta would stress so much about being rat free, then be ok with African Soft Fur Rats. A: They get changed weekly. The hopper and water bottle is low enough to the ground to allow young pups to reach, but they do not have easy access to chew any of the top of the enclosure. Animal model: carcinoids and adenocarcinoma of the glandular stomach of Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis. He is basicallyGandalf. In Alabama, you cannot possess any member of Cervidae (deer). If you are going to consider giving them wheels, avoid any powder coated (painted) wheels, but go for nickel, chrome, or plastic wheels that have a lot of clearance on the sides to keep little tails and legs from being broken. The oldest rat in the world was Rodney, a domesticated rat, who was seven years and four months old before he passed away. They have very poor muscle control; however they can crawl/drag/roll around the cage although it is very sad to watch. They are largely silent beings compared to various other animals. They never attempted to bite me (in the first few weeks), but they did pee on me quite a bit while I handled them. I cant say if the same is true for Europe, since in Europe most Fancy Rat breeders really try for companion animals and work towards a less bite prone, nervous animal. German. Still trying to figure out my rats, I tried keeping females . Iam writing this small section to direct you to my Humane Euthanasia article that outlines the socially and humanely acceptable methods for euthanizing your rats. http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM_Weisse.jpg. Gestation: 21-23 days Q: What is a good ratio to start breeding? What they lack in tolerance for humans, they make up for in high production rate and large litter size. Cohabiting Mice & African-Soft Furs Happy Companions For most small companion animals, cohabiting different species is definitely a no. I believe its their way of dealing with the stress. They thrive in polygamous colonies, most often consisting of one male and three to five females. If you keep them all together with a pinch or two of the old bedding, they are more likely to stay put.