Dumbo rat - description of the breed, characteristics of rodents, maintenance, nutrition, care    

Cute and funny Dumbo rats. Description of the unique breed, external characteristics. What you need to know about the proper maintenance of a decorative rat. How to feed your pet properly. What products are prohibited? Necessary care procedures.

Pets become true friends for people, an outlet among worries and problems, a source of joy and affection. Now, along with lumps, dogs, parrots and fish, people have decorative rats that surprise and captivate.

They are intelligent, low maintenance, playful and very funny. The Dumbo rat is one of the most popular breeds. Next, we will look at it in more detail, find out how to properly maintain, feed and care for it, and get acquainted with the peculiarities of its behavior and character.

Description

The Dumbo rat has a distinctive feature - large round ears, which give it a special charm. But she is loved by rat breeders not only for her interesting appearance - the namesake of the Disney baby elephant has other advantages. However, Dumbo cannot be called an ideal pet either, so before buying a rat, you need to find out about the peculiarities of its maintenance.

Beginners in rat breeding, first of all, need to understand one thing: all the names of decorative rats (Dumbo, Rex, Sphinx, etc.) indicate variations of the same breed - Rattus Norwegicus dom (decorative rat). One litter can contain pups of different variations.

Belonging to a particular variety is determined by the structure of the animal’s body, the characteristics of its appearance and the quality of its fur. Dumbo rats can have characteristics of other breeds and are called Dumbo Rex, Dumbo Sphinx or Dumbo Husky.

Dumbo has a pear-shaped body, the maximum size of which reaches 20 cm in length, with short, dense fur. The ears of these rats are located lower than those of their relatives.

Habitat and characteristics of the breed

Rodents of this breed are not found in the wild; they are bred specifically for decorative purposes. The name of the animal was given by a Disney elephant calf, which differs from other representatives of its species by its large ears.

The characteristic features of the Dumbo rat are:

• Large, compared to the size of the rest of the body, low-set, rounded ears
• Pear-shaped short body
• Pointed muzzle
• A long tail

The size of the dumbo rat is practically no different from the size of its relatives; weight – up to 400 grams, length – up to 20 cm. Of course, there are larger individuals, but they are quite rare.

• The larger the ears of a rodent, the more valuable a representative of the breed it is.
• The homeland of dumbos is California, and they were brought to Russia in the early 2000s. from England.
• The gene responsible for the shape of rodent ears is recessive. This means that rats with large round ears can give birth to quite normal offspring. And he, in turn, has little rats that meet most Dumbo standards.

Differences from wild rats

While ornamental rats are very similar to their wild relatives, there are significant differences between them. The most noticeable difference is the appearance. Random mutations (mostly in color) can occur in the wild, but are rare.

Decorative rats are calmer and less aggressive towards humans due to breeding and, as a result, the constant selection of producers with the desired set of behavioral qualities. However, ornamental rats, like any other domestic animals, can become wild and over several generations produced in natural conditions, their behavior and attitude towards humans can become indistinguishable from initially wild rats. This phenomenon is regularly encountered by rat lovers who are engaged in catching colonies or families of decorative rats that find themselves on the street.

Decorative rats have greater body weight and fertility. They are less afraid of new products, they have a calmer reaction to light and sound, and neophobia is less developed. Wild rats are mainly nocturnal, sometimes going out during the day in search of food. In domesticated rats this is not so pronounced. In a fight, wild rats produce sharper screams than domestic ones. In addition, a wild rat that loses a “battle” almost always runs away from the winning one, while domesticated rats can behave differently after a fight.

Domesticated rats live longer than wild ones. This is because kitty rats are protected from predators and always have access to food, water, shelter and veterinary care. Their average lifespan is approximately 2–3 years, unlike wild ones, which on average live less than 1 year. Wild rats have larger brains, hearts, livers, kidneys and adrenal glands. However, decorative rats, like wild ones, are susceptible to many different diseases, among which a special place is occupied by the respiratory syndrome of mouse-like rodents (respiratory diseases of various etiologies), as well as various neoplasms (tumors of the mammary glands, brain, etc.).

Colors

The color of animals of this breed variety, as well as the length and quality of the coat within the species, can vary greatly. Most often there are individuals with short, velvety, straight hair in gray, white, black and chocolate colors. Rare colors of dumbo rats are Siamese, amber, topaz, and mosaic (tricolor).

Amazingly beautiful Dumbo rat of blue mink color. You can find it only from large breeders at a price that is quite high for decorative rats.

Scientists, by crossing rodents of the Dambo breed variety with decorative rats of other breeds, managed to obtain new subspecies that deserve the attention of amateur rat breeders.

Dumbo rats have the following subspecies:

• Cat claw attachments
• Dog
• Long-eared cats
• Cat meowing
• Alexandrian parrot
• Why does a cat need a mustache?

• Sphynx - can be white, blue, chocolate and black. Their body is completely devoid of vegetation. There is some hair on the back, paws and head. There are either no mustaches at all, or they are very small and curled upward. Suitable for people with allergies;
• rex - on the contrary, has thick, wavy and fairly stiff hair;
• Husky is a chameleon rat. Only it has the amazing ability to “bloom” - to change color with age. Babies are born of a standard color - black, gray, red, etc., but with age, their fur is diluted with white hairs - so that, born black, a rat pup, having matured, turns into a snow-white miracle. Their ideal color is “salt and pepper.”

Rats are very similar to people - they can dive and swim, are subject to stress and psychological shocks, dream, are afraid of tickling and can laugh, albeit in the ultrasonic range.

Experienced rat breeders know how long domestic Dumbo rats live. And you won’t be able to please beginners with the length of your pet’s life – you need to immediately get used to the idea that your pet will stay with you for about 2-4 years. Thanks to good care and nutrition, many manage to extend their life by a year and a half, but no more.

Appearance of a rex rat

Rex rats were bred on the basis of the Standard breed, their main parameters coincide with this designation, with the exception of the composition and quality of the fur.

The body length of the imago sometimes reaches 27 cm.

Important: The main difference between a Rex and a standard rat is that there is less hair in the coat structure.

Curly rats have a dense coat with evenly distributed curls. They have almost no fluff on their bellies. The fur has a low hair content, so their coat is not as shiny as a standard rat's.

The vibrissae are strongly curled, but have a shorter length compared to the vibrissae of other ornamental rodents. The curly fur of a rat is a little thicker, but not very coarse.

Wavy rexes have fewer curls than curly rexes, but their fur is dense and soft, and appears slightly ruffled from the side. Their dense undercoat has a uniform hairline. They can be slightly longer than curly rats and have a wavy shape. Sometimes there are people with vibrissae that curl at the ends.

These animals are especially charming due to their thin tentacles, which are located just above the eyes.

A purebred rex rat has the following characteristics:

• Thick and curly coat with bouncy curls;
• wide, slightly blunt muzzle;
• large, widely spaced ears;
• The bushy tail is also a characteristic of the breed.

Rat fur has a plush softness. Children are born curly if both parents have the curly hair gene. Rex puppies always have a somewhat disheveled appearance - over time, their undercoat begins to fall out and hairless spots form, but these are quickly replaced by new hair.

Interesting! There are mongrels of this breed. Red and black or red and ruby ​​color combinations are not considered a defect. They can occur in animals with any marking.

Description of character

Rats are intellectuals with a soul and are very attached to their owner. They need communication and attention, otherwise they will wither away. The character of domestic rats of the Dumbo breed is calmer and more reserved than the rest. They are not that active. Very sociable, freedom-loving and cheerful. Experts advise taking rat pups not from pet stores, but from breeders, when they are very young, then the pets grow up to be affectionate and trusting little animals. Dambiks are very clean. If their house is dirty, they take care of cleaning themselves.

Interesting facts about Dumbo:

• This species has very unusual ears, in fact, because of this, the rats got their name - in honor of the elephant of the same name from the cartoon;
• Dumbo rats were bred in California laboratories in 1991; they were brought to Russia in the 2000s from England;
• Dam rats grow to 15-20 centimeters, males weigh 250-500 grams, and females 200-400 grams;
• Scientists still do not know why such a mutation occurred and lop-eared rats appeared. The big-eared gene is recessive, so not all Dumbo babies will have big ears;
• Domestic rats are sweet, trusting and cunning creatures: they easily find hidden food and easily navigate in space.

Pros and Cons of Keeping Dumbo as a Pet

The decorative rat is one of those pets that does not require large expenses for its maintenance. Rats are curious and everyone wants to try their teeth. In addition, they require constant attention as they can fall and get hurt.

What attracts these animals is their developed intellectual abilities and lack of aggression towards humans and other animals.

The advantages of choosing Dumbo the rat as a pet include:

• cleanliness of the animal;
• omnivorous;
• low maintenance costs;
• ease of care.

But there are also disadvantages:

• the property of an animal to leave marks wherever it is;
• tendency to chew on any objects;
• expensive treatment;
• people with a keen sense of smell notice a specific smell that comes from domestic rats;
• for your pet to feel well, you need to devote a lot of time to it;
• walking is required;
• relatively short lifespan.

Games and training

Once tamed, rats become obedient and therefore easy to train. Animals love to play with balls, climb tunnels and climb up a person’s body onto a person’s shoulders. To train rodents, you must adhere to the following principles:

1. Do not continue classes for more than half an hour.
2. Feeding should be done 8-10 hours before training. An empty stomach will help your pet learn the trick faster.
3. The rodent must fully master the previous skill before moving on to the next activity.

Dumbo can be taught to find one item from a bunch of others, get hidden objects and treats, and stand on his hind legs.

Care and maintenance

This type of rodent was bred artificially, so it can only exist next to humans. And, naturally, it requires attention and knowledge on how to care for the rat Dumbo. The baby needs to immediately create suitable living conditions. The room where the little tenant will live should be bright and sunny. A cage for a decorative rodent should be placed at a height of 1-1.5 m from the floor, away from windows, radiators, stoves, and strong noise.

It should be made of metal rods (so as not to be chewed through like plastic ones) and with a deep tray. Size – quite large (minimum 40 x 30 x 50 cm). It is not recommended to use an aquarium for these purposes - it will be difficult to restore order there, plus there is no necessary ventilation. A mandatory accessory of the cage is the “house”. The pet will rest there. And all kinds of stairs and tunnels intended for entertainment are desirable, but not required. A ball drinker (not a bowl) and a fixed feeder are also necessary.

It is better to use corn, pressed sawdust (not very large in size), and paper as filler. Do not use cat litter, newspapers, or pine sawdust. You need to do “general cleaning” in the cage once a week, or more often. And the water needs to be changed every day. The temperature in the room where everyone's favorite lives should not exceed 30 degrees, but also not fall below 20 °C.

A cage for a decorative rat should not be in a draft or in direct sunlight - this has a detrimental effect on rodents.

What affects life expectancy

Dumbo rats are unpretentious, so they have managed to adapt to living conditions in many countries. At minimal cost, owners get a cute pet with an easy-going character and extraordinary intelligence.

Conditions of detention

Rats feel great in small cages (60x40x60cm) with metal bars. The cage must have:

• deep plastic tray;
• solid bottom;
• wide doors;
• shelves;
• stairs;
• ropes.

The Dumbo family is very friendly, so several rodents can easily fit into the cage. Together they feel completely comfortable: they do the cleaning and brush out the fur.

A small house inside the cage will add comfort to the Dumbo rats. Babies love to retire and take a nap in silence. Adult pets will appreciate a warm hammock; they will be happy to spend their leisure time there.

Wood or corn filler will help eliminate the specific odor from the rat family. Sometimes owners try to lay napkins or toilet paper on the bottom, but this option is not suitable for rats. Regular cleaning will also help keep the cage clean. Twice a week it is necessary to remove leftover food and used filler, change the water in the drinking bowl, and carry out disinfection.

Dumbos at home should live in a warm room where there are no drafts and moisture. Rats are very sensitive to sharp sounds, blinding light, and overheating. They get tired of people's annoying attention.

Diet

Dumbo rats, unlike rodents that live in the wild, are very sensitive to the consumption of low-quality food. Poor nutrition can easily provoke gastrointestinal disorders and allergies, so owners will have to create a diet according to certain rules.

The rat's menu must include:

It is strictly forbidden to give Dumbo rats fatty and fried food from the master's table, alcohol, sausage, sprouted potatoes, green bananas. The quality of the food should not be in doubt, otherwise the pet will become ill.

Young rats are fed 3–4 times a day. Adult pets need only two meals a day.

It is important to remove uneaten food debris so that the rodent does not eat spoiled pieces.

Hygiene

Dumbo rats are real clean people. They clean their fur and wash themselves, so you don’t have to bathe them often. Water procedures will be required if the pet gets very dirty. Rats, unlike other pets, love to swim. They can splash around in warm water for a long time.

Bathing is carried out with special shampoos in a warm room without drafts. It is necessary to ensure that water does not get into your pet’s ears, which can lead to hearing loss. After bathing, the rat is wrapped in a warm towel and dried well. If the room is cold, it is better to dry the fur with a warm stream from a hairdryer.

One of the dangers of swimming is hypothermia. A frozen rat can easily catch a cold. Therefore, in the cold season, the doors and windows in the room are tightly closed, and a heater is placed near the cage.

Entertainment

Caring for and maintaining Dumbo rats means not only food and a cozy home, but also a kind of gym. In the absence of the owner, the animals entertain themselves by climbing ropes and rope ladders, and passing through tunnels. Some craftsmen make toys for pets on their own.

Feeding

These pets are quite unpretentious in their choice of food, but are not omnivorous, like ordinary ones. Decorative rats are very gentle creatures, often having problems with the intestines and allergies.

Its menu should include:

• grain base - it is better to purchase a special mixture for rodents in pet stores. It should make up 60% of the total diet. You can also feed with unprocessed pumpkin, flax or sunflower seeds;
• proteins - occasionally (1-2 times a week) give a little meat (raw or boiled), chicken, yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs will benefit your pet;
• herbs - parsley, cilantro, dandelion, dill, plantain, radish tops;
• vegetables and fruits (preferably boiled) - apples, bananas, carrots, white cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkin, eggplant, potatoes. Citrus fruits must be treated selectively - they can cause allergies in your pet;
• delicacies - grain sticks, nuts, dates, berries, dried fruits, raisins, crackers (unsalted only), unsweetened cookies, boiled pasta, boiled shrimp and seafood.

It is necessary to give fish oil and specialized vitamins. Animals are fed 2 times a day: morning and evening. The exception is pregnant rats - they are fed 4-5 times a day. If you adhere to the basic requirements for what to feed your rat Dumbo, he will be healthy and cheerful.

If your pet refuses to eat for 1-2 days, you should immediately show him to a veterinarian!

Prohibited Products

If the owner is interested in his pet living as long and healthy as possible, the following products should be avoided:

• chocolate and products containing it;
• other sweets;
• sausage and frankfurters;
• canned food for people;
• raw beans and other legumes;
• cheeses (especially blue and salted);
• soda;
• sprouted potatoes;
• Brussels sprouts and red cabbage;
• green bananas;
• spinach;
• beet;
• fatty and salty foods.

Knowledge of what can and cannot be given to decorative rats will help you correctly formulate the rodent’s menu and avoid unnecessary worries and health problems.

What to feed a dumbo rat

Dumbo rat with eyes of different colors
Dumbo rats eat almost any food, but, unlike their wild relatives, domestic rodents are prone to allergies and digestive system disorders, so it is advisable to adhere to generally accepted feeding standards for decorative rats when feeding your pet. The diet of dambiks includes:

• dry grain food with the addition of sunflower pumpkin and flax seeds;
• proteins and sources of calcium - boiled and raw chicken and fish, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir;
• greens – wheat sprouts, oats, parsley, dandelion leaves, dill;
• vegetables, fruits, berries, dried fruits.

Prohibited for consumption: sweets, alcohol, cheeses, sausages, spinach, white cabbage, green bananas, sprouted potatoes, spicy fried meat.

Bathing rats

Perhaps, rats can be divided into two “camps” - some are wary of bathing, and you will have serious problems when trying to bathe your pet, while others will happily climb up to perform bathing procedures.

Rats are very clean and you shouldn’t have a need for a “routine” bathing as such, and you shouldn’t bathe rats unnecessarily .

However, there are times when bathing is necessary:

• The rat got very dirty with something that it absolutely cannot eat (while walking around the house, rats can accidentally knock over something).
• The rat emits an unpleasant odor and has an unkempt fur or tail (if you have not had the opportunity to change the cage substrate for a long time, for example, or if the rat does not take care of itself);
• If you need to detect and remove parasites;
• Older rats need to be bathed as they find it difficult to groom themselves.

Features of home maintenance

The rat needs a big house where it can run freely without limiting its play time. Due to the high sociability of this species, it is recommended to have several individuals at the same time.

If only one curled up rat can be kept, its cage should contain:

• Swing;
• house;
• climb;
• various entertainments.

Animals are omnivores, but for good health it is necessary to supplement the diet: ready-made industrial feed, vitamins and cereals.

The Rhesus rat's cage should be equipped with entertainment devices.

These animals are easy to care for: just change the food regularly and clean the cage daily. Twice a month their “apartment” must be disinfected. Experts recommend feeding in uneven portions, leaving a large portion for the evening.

Clean water should be available at all times, and then the playful pet will entertain the owner with fun games every day.

How to bathe a pet rat?

There are some rules that you need to know in order to buy a rat correctly, but each owner will figure out the nuances himself. During the first baths, it would be useful to have a second person present as additional insurance in case the animal gets scared.

• The room must be securely fenced off from drafts - rats catch colds quite easily.
• The water should be warm, but not hot.
• It is necessary to bathe the rat in a container with a small amount of water, especially if it is afraid to bathe. Ideally, the rat can stand in the water.

To wash, use a special shampoo for rats - this will not cause an allergic reaction and will make your pet’s fur smooth and shiny, and the special shampoo is easier to wash off.

Be sure to read the instructions - some shampoos require first diluting with water.

Be careful not to get the shampoo in the rat's eyes. Also, during bathing, it is necessary to ensure that water does not get into the animal’s ears; this is fraught with complications, including deafness.

Rats' skin is very delicate; for heavily soiled areas, you can use a very soft sponge, but it is preferable to use your hands. Massage the rat's fur as carefully as possible so as not to touch it with your nails.

After bathing, carefully dry the rat with a towel and then leave it to dry, preferably wrapped in another dry towel.

If you have several pets, the first time after returning from swimming, carefully monitor their behavior - when bathing rats, their natural smell is “washed away”, and relatives may not recognize their companion at first.

Remember that bathing rats is unacceptable if they have wounds or scratches on their bodies, or if the rat is sneezing or showing other signs of illness.

If only the tail or paws, for example, or a small area of ​​fur are dirty, you can get by with “local” cleaning instead of a full bath.

Diseases and treatment

It’s hard not to notice if your pet is unwell. A healthy rat has shiny fur, clear and clean eyes, and the animal is playful and active. If deviations in health status are observed, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

The most common diseases of decorative rats:

1. Mycoplasmosis . Infection occurs through airborne droplets and progresses to pneumonia. Deadly dangerous.
2. Abscesses . Associated with injury to the animal. An opening and disinfection of the inflammation site is required.
3. Development of benign and malignant tumors.
4. Parasitic lesions. Rats are not dewormed. Treatment is carried out only if the disease is detected.

Main differences between the species

Rats are classified into separate breeds based on the presence of certain criteria characteristic only for a particular species. The main distinguishing features are:

1. Body type. The classic option is considered standard. Representatives of this species are distinguished by their average body size - up to 25 cm from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, rounded, high-set ears, and large eyes. In general, pets look proportional and graceful. Boys are larger than girls. The next type is dumbo. The main distinguishing feature is small round ears set on the sides of the head. Pointed ears are also considered a variant of the norm, but only slightly. Another body type is tailless. The name speaks for itself; the animals do not have a tail.
2. Coat type. Standard – medium-length shiny coat evenly covering the body. Only the toes and tail are covered with barely noticeable fluff. Curly – pets are distinguished by curled mustaches and a curly coat, slightly straighter on the stomach. Wavy – thick coat with developed undercoat. The fur of both sexes is soft to the touch. Vibrises are distinguished by barely curled tips. Downy – the rat’s body is evenly covered with dense short fluff, reminiscent of corduroy to the touch. The fur on the face may be slightly longer. The Sphynx has no fur at all. A minimum amount of hair is allowed on the muzzle and in the groin area. Long-haired - the animal is covered with thick, long hairs that are soft to the touch.
3. Color. Among decorative rats you can find a pet of a wide variety of colors - plain, targeted, combined, silver, even tricolor.

Different breeds of rats differ not only in appearance, but also in character and temperament. Some breeds lead a sedate lifestyle. Others, on the contrary, prefer active recreation.

Vaccination

Decorative rats do not need vaccination. No drugs have been developed for them to help prevent the development of diseases in these animals.

Selection and accessories for your pet

An animal's cell must contain several elements:

• drinking bowl;
• feeder;
• nest (place to sleep);
• a mineral stone on which the animal will grind its teeth.

To prevent the animal from getting bored, toys are placed in the house. Rats are very fond of such a device as a hammock. It can be made from a piece of durable fabric or purchased ready-made at a pet store.

Most preferred toys:

• ladders, including rope ones;
• tunnels;
• labyrinths.

Types of decorative rats

There are several varieties of the Dumbo breed:

Siamese

The color of the Siamese is similar to that of the cat breed of the same name: white or light beige fur and a small brown spot on the face.

The color of the husky is similar to the color of the coat of the dog breed of the same name: white coat with dark spots on the body and head.

The Rex's long curly coat, hairs and whiskers are slightly curled.

Sphinx

There is no wool. The skin is thin, soft and warm. The main advantage of the species is its inability to cause allergies.

A cage with metal bars is needed so that the animal cannot chew them. It must be installed in a place that is not in a draft, in direct sun, near a radiator or heater. The cage size for 1-2 rats is at least 60x40x30 cm.

The room temperature should not fall below +20 degrees, otherwise there is a high probability of your pet catching a cold.

The cage contains attributes for entertainment and sleep: a house, a wheel, pipes, ladders.

Large sawdust or dry granules are suitable as filler.

You cannot put newspaper paper in a cage.

When wet, it emits toxic substances contained in printing ink, which causes great damage to the health of the animal.

The filler is changed every 2-3 days. Once every 15-17 days, all elements of the house are treated with a disinfectant.

Dry air can harm your pet's health, so the humidity in the room should be 50-55%.

Dumbos are friendly and easy to get along with if treated affectionately. It is forbidden to talk loudly near the animal, shout at it, hit it, push it hard, sharply grab it or pick it up.

When the cage is heavily soiled, Dumbo rats can squeak loudly; when there is a lack of food, they can rattle the feeder or stand on their hind legs next to it.

To grind down teeth, rats are provided with wooden sticks made from hardwood.

Dumbos are distinguished by their friendliness and easy-going nature, so they easily get along with other animals. The main problem becomes the character of the rat's neighbor.

These animals do not like to sit in a cage all the time, so they need to be walked around the house. The owner needs to be careful: there is a risk of not noticing the pet and stepping on it. In addition, your pet may chew on wires.

Bathing is often prohibited, only in cases of extreme necessity. These animals are susceptible to colds. In case of local contamination, you can remove the dirt with a damp cloth.

Reproduction

How to determine gender?

Males can be distinguished from females by their enlarged testicles, which are clearly visible already at the age of 2–3 weeks. In female decorative rats, the rudiments of nipples are observed during this period of life.

Mating

Sexual maturity occurs early - at the age of 5–6 weeks. But individuals from 8 to 10 weeks are recommended for mating. In order to get offspring, it is enough to leave the male and female in the same cage for a couple of days. But you need to understand that fertilization is possible only if the female is in heat. It occurs regularly at intervals of 4–7 days.

Pregnancy

From the moment of fertilization to the birth of rat pups, no more than 23 days pass. On average, birth occurs between 21 and 23 days. The female's pregnancy becomes noticeable starting from the second week after fertilization. The animal’s physique plays a big role in the appearance of the first signs. If the female is thin, the rounded tummy will be noticeable faster than in a fat and large rat.

A litter can contain from 8 to 15 pups. During pregnancy, the female needs increased and nutritious nutrition. Bloody discharge and the female's desire for privacy will indicate the approaching birth . Often the dumbo rat begins to prepare its nest: it cleans and arranges it. Childbirth lasts no more than 3 hours.

How to care for newborn rat pups

The female Dumbo takes good care of her offspring.

During this period, the owner must follow several rules:

• do not pick up baby rats;
• take care of the cleanliness of the cell;
• provide the mother with good nutrition.

Rats can be handled once they are 14–15 days old.

Breeding

If you are planning breeding, you need to combine only the brightest representatives of a given breed so that the characteristics are passed on to the offspring. At the age of 7 months, puberty begins.

The gestation period is 1 month, one litter can have up to 15 cubs. The female gives birth on her own and does not require human assistance. The cubs are born blind and without fur, they are absolutely helpless.

For the first 2 weeks, a person is prohibited from touching the babies and disturbing the peace in the nest. The cage must be kept clean and the female must be provided with adequate nutrition. The cubs develop quickly, gain weight and have fur. By day 10 they can already see and hear. At 21 days they can be switched to dry food. At the age of 45 days it can already be given to other owners.

Choosing a name for Dumbo the rat?

The owners are trying to give the young, smart baby Dumbo a deep and meaningful nickname in the hope that the animal's name can influence the character and intelligence of the funny animal. Sometimes it can be difficult to immediately name a pet with a suitable name that emphasizes its individuality and expresses the love of its owner.

It is advisable to take a few days to take a closer look at the habits and character traits of the new family member; most likely, he himself will tell the owner what to call him. The furry baby's nickname can be tied to the color of the rodent's coat and funny ears, human associations from the pet's appearance and funny faces, favorite book and cartoon characters or pop stars. The rodent's nickname should be simple and easy to pronounce in a diminutive form. It is believed that females respond better to nicknames that begin with the letters K, M and D. Males are more fond of names with the letters S, K, M and D, long-eared pets are more willing to get used to nicknames with the letters T, N, L, M, K , S, Sh and R.

The name for a Dumbo rat girl can be: Knopa, Scully, Masya, Dana, Molly, Ksyusha, Marta, Alice, Dasha, Klava, Matilda, Gina, Darcy, Alpha, Kayla, Linda.

The name for a dumbo boy rat can be: Kuzya, Tyson, Tim, Rocky, Simson, Garik, Steve, Venya, Bucks, Rocky, Dick.

It doesn’t matter what the owner calls the smart-eared baby. In any case, the baby rat Dumbo will sincerely adore and faithfully wait for his beloved owner, giving him his incredible tenderness and selfless love.

Video

What do you call a Dumbo rat?

To choose a name for your pet, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. You don't need to give Dumbo the first thing that comes to mind. At first, you need to observe the animal and note its characteristic features.
2. The name must be special and important to the owner.
3. You can name multiple pets from the same category.
4. Cartoons, TV series or children's fairy tales will help you suggest a suitable nickname.

Rats adapt more easily to names starting with D, M or K. For males, nicknames containing the letters S, D, M, K are suitable, while for females - R, L, K, M, N, S, T, Sh.

Suitable names for female rats:

• Alice;
• Klava;
• Matilda;
• Molly;
• Button;
• Gina.

Male rats can be called:

• Tyson;
• Rocky;
• Splinter;
• Harry;
• Steve;
• Tim;
• Zaks.