Dumbo rat. Description, features, types, care and price of the Dumbo rat

Sphynxes are considered intellectuals among decorative rats, and their level of mental development is only slightly less than human. Therefore, it is not surprising that their popularity is rapidly growing, especially since they are also hypoallergenic.

Before getting such a difficult pet, it is important to learn how to properly care for a hairless Sphynx rat, what to feed it and how to protect it from diseases.

Description of the animal

Sphynx rats have velvety skin that is incredibly pleasant to the touch. They are so warm and cozy that you don’t want to let them go back into your home.

Appearance

Graceful sphinxes often grow up to 25 cm, the average weight of an adult rat is from 350 to 720 g. The ideal color of the breed is considered to be pink, without foreign inclusions. Currently, animals of smoky, black, chocolate, and cream colors are bred.

The whiskers of hairless rodents are slightly curled, so they seem somewhat shorter in length than those of other decorative rats. The absence of whiskers is considered a deviation from the breed standard.

Sphynx rats have large, low-set ears. Some varieties of the breed resemble subspecies of the Dumbo.

Important! Hairless rats have no eyelashes at all, so the eyes are the “Achilles heel” of these animals. Contamination of the cornea often causes inflammation, which can develop into an abscess if treatment is not started in time.

Among the breed varieties of sphinxes, there are 3 groups: standard, rex and double-rex. Rats of the first group are sometimes called porcupines for their long whiskers and sparse patches of fur on their bodies.

Rexes have sparse wavy fur on their paws, head and groin areas. Their whiskers are slightly curled. Double Rexes are distinguished by sparse hair. The color of rats is most often gray.

The presence of hairs on the body of sphinxes is due to the genetics of the breed; not every representative of it receives the hairless gene. Depending on this, animals are divided into the following subspecies: hairless, naked, fluffy, balding, naked, cropped. Belonging to a subspecies can only be determined after the rat reaches the age of 1.5 months.

Character and habits

Sphinxes amazingly combine exotic appearance with a kind character, accuracy and intelligence. They are covered from head to toe with folds, but this only adds to the animals’ charm.

The absence of fur on rats relieves their owners from allergic reactions. Sphinxes are unusually clean and do not smell at all. The characteristic unpleasant odor appears only if the owner does not clean the pet’s toilet in time.

The Sphynx rat is in dire need of communication with a person, but the contact should be unobtrusive. These rodents quickly become attached to the owner and love to rest calmly in his arms or on his shoulder.

Health and life expectancy

Lack of fur is the reason why Sphynx rats are prone to colds. They should be protected from hypothermia. The bright sun is also harmful to fragile animals. They feel comfortable only in shaded and warm rooms.

The health of hairless pets requires constant monitoring, because animals get sick much more often than their furry counterparts. The most common ailments of hairless rats:

• kidney inflammation;
• diabetes;
• ARVI;
• cystitis;
• dermatitis;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• benign and malignant tumors.

If the diet chosen by the owner is not suitable for the animal, an allergic reaction may begin. The same thing happens with toilet filler that contains pine components.

Sphynx rats rarely live past 3 years. Most animals die by the age of two.

Important! The eyes of sphinxes are often contaminated with dust particles and debris. It is necessary to clean them in a timely manner, and in case of inflammation, you should immediately show the animal to a veterinarian.

Appearance

Dumbo differs from an ordinary rat in his ears - they are low-set and quite large. Moreover, the larger the ears, the more valuable the representative of the breed.

There are two types of auricles:

1. The saucer shape is flat and round.
2. Bud shape - they have sharp tips and are slightly curled inward, which is why they resemble small flower buds.

Reference! Dumbo with bud-shaped ears are very popular in European countries.

Pros and cons of the breed

A distinctive feature of sphinxes is the ability to recognize the owner’s mood by voice. When communicating with your pet, you need to monitor your intonation and timbre so as not to scare the animal.

Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of sphinxes

Interesting! Among the purebred sphinxes there are individuals with multi-colored eyes. But most often the color of the pupils of animals is black, red or pink. Occasionally you come across sphinxes with khaki eyes.

Price

You need to purchase a purebred rat from trusted breeders so as not to be deceived by scammers. The Dumbo rat in the photo in the online store may be purebred, but the purchased specimen may turn out to be an ordinary decorative animal.

A guarantee of thoroughbredness can only be obtained in a specialized nursery. The price depends on many factors: rarity of the species, conditions of detention, purchase price, etc.

Specimens that appear due to a genetic failure become unique. In nature, such individuals do not survive, for example, albino rats. The cost of such animals is above average.

The price for one dumbo rat varies from 200 to 3000 rubles. Buying any pet is not just fun, but also a responsibility for a small eared miracle that brings the joy of communication.

Care and maintenance

Hairless rats do not cause trouble for owners if they do not violate the basic principle of keeping such animals - they clean the cage on time. Animals are quite sensitive to room temperature. +20°С–30°С is the best option.

Important! Decorative sphinxes should be protected from injury. The skin of hairless rats is unusually delicate, and even minor scars remain on the animal for the rest of its life.

Cage and filler

A hairless rat needs a fairly spacious home. It is better if the animal's cage is made of plastic. In addition, you will need to buy a drinking bowl, a feeder, as well as special devices for moving the animal between levels, the so-called sports equipment. It is better to choose natural filler.

Hairless rats are very mobile, and keeping them at home requires some restrictions on movement. Therefore, zoologists advise placing several hanging toys, ladders, rings, and also a small hammock in the cage. This equipment is necessary to maintain good physical shape of the animal.

One of the most important conditions for the comfort of a domestic sphinx rat is the presence of a special house inside the cage where the animal can retire. As a last resort, you can make a nest in a secluded corner from scraps and paper napkins. A caring owner should provide the pet with “building material” - small twigs.

Important! There should be no sharp objects, glass, or metal (non-insulated) rods inside the cage of a bald rat.

Hygiene

Zoologists recommend buying several hairless pets of the same sex at once so that the animals do not get bored. But in this case, you will have to care for all the rats, because every animal needs regular hygiene.

To make your pets feel comfortable and not get sick, you need to:

• trim sharp claws with nail scissors (as they grow);
• wipe the delicate skin of the rats with a special cloth;
• lubricate animal skin with moisturizer if signs of dryness appear;
• systematically bathe sphinxes (once every 2 months).

Hairless rats love to swim and frolic in the water. Some breeders add 2-3 drops of natural vegetable oil to warm water for bathing animals so that their skin does not lose elasticity and is saturated with tocopherols.

Taming

Some owners of hairless rats keep the animals in an aquarium. According to descriptions of observations of Sphynx rats, they do not really like living in such a house, even if they are properly cared for.

Rats feel much more comfortable in a spacious cage, and even better - in the arms of the owner. Due to the lack of fur, animals are in dire need of warmth. They calm down when they feel contact with a person with their whole body, and sometimes even fall asleep from pleasure.

Sphinxes are easily tamed and quickly remember their nickname, as well as the tonal sound of the owner’s voice. Thanks to the intelligence of hairless pets, training them gives quick results and is a lot of fun.

Main characteristics

Dumbo differs from its relatives in the following parameters:

• Body. The body is shorter and stockier. The size of an adult varies from 16 to 21 cm, weight - from 240 to 410 grams. Males are noticeably larger than females.
• Head. Round, muzzle elongated and sharp.
• Wool. Color and structure are variable.
• Tail. By standard, the tail is long and quite thick. There are also tailless varieties.

Features of feeding

Most often, owners of hairless rats choose the most convenient way of feeding their pets - industrial grain mixtures.

Animals of this breed require a balanced diet of premium quality.

You can feed rats natural food, but at the same time:

1. Avoid fatty foods.
2. From time to time, add boiled fish, pieces of boiled meat, and boiled chicken bones to the diet.
3. Regularly enrich your diet with vitamins.

Hairless rats should eat fractional meals. They need to be fed little and often. Sick animals should include special foods in their diet that act as natural antibiotics.

Table 2. Products for Sphynx rats

Attention! Salty and smoked foods, as well as sweets, must be excluded from the diet of hairless rats.

How to maintain hygiene?

Dumbos are very clean and take good care of their coat. Once every six months, you can bathe your pet to get rid of the specific rodent odor. In this case, it is better to use a specialized shampoo.

Teach your pet in advance to the feeling of water on his skin so that bathing does not become stressful for him. Do this in a playful way: let your pet try to get a toy or treat from a bowl with warm water at the bottom. Pleasant associations will allow the animal to calmly undergo hygiene procedures.

Note! You need to change the filler in the cage at least twice a week!

Breeding

Female Sphynx cats go into heat weekly. When kept at home, rats actively breed. If one of a pair of animals is sick, it is better to postpone breeding until it is cured and isolate the animal from its partner.

After the birth of the cubs, the owner should not take the babies in his arms. This necessity is dictated by the tendency of rodents to eat their offspring in the presence of foreign odors. After a month from birth, young rats are placed in separate housing.

Given their fragile health, the reproduction of these pets must be taken seriously. If offspring are not planned, they can be sterilized at a veterinary clinic.

The hairless variety of rats was originally bred for laboratory experiments, but accidentally escaped the scope of scientific experiments. Touching and funny animals have a huge advantage over other decorative pets - they are able to understand and subtly feel people.

With proper care and regular communication, sphinxes become kind and devoted friends and give their owners many bright emotions.

Where is the best place to buy a rat?

When purchasing a decorative rat, future owners inevitably face the question of where is the best place to buy a pet. Experienced breeders recommend not to succumb to the temptation of purchasing an animal from your own hands at the cheapest price. It is better to pay the required amount and get a healthy rat with a good pedigree.

As a last resort, you can go shopping at a pet store. Even in the event of an unplanned pregnancy of a female, the rat pups can always be given away. But you won’t have to spend additional money on constant treatment of many diseases in expensive veterinary clinics. Moreover, most specialized stores have a good price/quality ratio.

Training Basics

Small and cunning Dumbos are happy to follow simple commands in order to get a treat. But you should not force the animal to perform complex tasks from the very first days. Start with the basics:

1. Get your rat used to being handled. This step is the most important, but the most exciting for new rat breeders. Do not make sudden movements, do not grab or squeeze the rat - it may get scared and bite you. Calmly extend your open palm to the animal and let the pet know that you do not pose a danger to its life. You need to devote at least 2 hours to this every day.
2. Learn to respond to a name. Every time you open the cage, pick up the rat, pet it or give it a treat, say its name clearly. Do not use diminutives and do not go through different nicknames. The animal must build a clear association between the sounds being spoken and the result obtained.

3. Train your rat to return to the cage. You should move on to this step when the animal clearly remembers its name. Open the cage, step back a few steps, give your pet a treat and call him over. Let your pet run up and take the food from your hand. Allow him to return to the cage on his own, and when she enters, say the command “home!” After a few repetitions, Dmbo will learn to come home and leave the cage on command.

Today it is difficult to surprise anyone by keeping unusual pets in an apartment, and more and more people are looking for an alternative to the usual cats and dogs. Dumbo rats are an excellent option for those who want to get a smart and entertaining pet that does not require large financial outlays.

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