Decorative rat boy or girl - which gender is better to get?

A decorative pet rat is a smart animal that will become a true friend for you. With proper upbringing, the animal can learn its name and respond to the owner’s call.

Help: sounds for rats are different from ours. The rat brain “hears” many things differently than a human. Animals love clicking and hissing sounds, so you should choose an appropriate name. If a combination of sounds is unpleasant for decorative rats, then they will simply ignore them.

Differences between male and female rats

Proper upbringing and natural intelligence can turn a young rat into an intelligent and obedient animal. Rats remember their name well; they are initially tuned to positive communication with humans.

In terms of financial costs, keeping a pair of rodents is practically no different from providing for one animal. It is important to take same-sex animals if you do not plan to actively reproduce and create a full-fledged rat clan.

Experts advise getting a couple of female rats. Females are more peaceful, they will never conflict over leadership like males.

Appearance of the "boys"

Newborn rat pups of different sexes practically do not differ in size or behavior. But after six months of ratting, boys begin to demonstrate moments of aggression, which is directed not only at their relatives, but sometimes also at people. This is explained by hormonal changes in the body of animals.

Males differ from females in many ways, taking into account the breed of the animal, the color of the skin, the nature of the pile, and the structure of the body. But the main differences are: larger sizes and character traits that change with age.

Males can boast:

The weight of a boy's rat noticeably exceeds the weight of a girl's rat; it increases rapidly as the animal grows. The smell of the animal is also an important factor. In adult boys it is stronger and more unpleasant than in babies or girls.

Appearance of the "girls"

The first thing that immediately catches your eye when examining an adult female is her silky coat. With age, her fur not only does not become tougher, but acquires shine and tenderness.

The main external differences from males are:

Experienced breeders of ornamental rodents can distinguish the female by the nature of the smell - girls do not smell too strongly. If the care is good, the natural smell of the animal will become barely noticeable.

An unpleasant disadvantage of female rats is their tendency to develop tumors. As a rule, the animal's mammary glands are affected. But if the owner immediately contacts the veterinarian, the death of the rodent can be avoided. Such formations in rats are easily removed without unpleasant consequences.

Behavior

All little rats are playful until a certain age. As boys grow older, they lose some mobility and become prone to sluggishness and obesity. They mark their territory with a special liquid and thus communicate their dominance to potential contenders for leadership.

Experienced breeders consider the physical activity of an adult rat to be the main difference in gender, in addition to sexual (anatomical) characteristics. Most male rats, as a rule, become lazy; many love solitude. Such animals should not be overfed and often pampered with treats. This can lead to excess weight.

Females remain physically active until old age. They love to play and are very curious. Therefore, for girls, walks outside the cage are simply necessary.

Females are much cleaner than boys, although they sometimes mark their homes. But they never eat near excrement. Even if several girls live in the same cage, their home is always much cleaner than that of males of the same breed.

If there are 2 girls in one cage, they get along well with each other and free the owner from the need to pay a lot of attention to them. However, moderation must be observed in this matter. Too little attention is also bad. It is necessary to dose communication, otherwise they may begin to be jealous and fight for the owner. However, the females quickly make up, show tender feelings, and groom each other.

Important! Experts believe that the friendly behavior of females is explained by their lack of gender hierarchy.

What to look for when choosing a pet

Experienced breeders do not recommend buying the first rat you see. It is better to first look at several options and evaluate the condition of each potential pet. Of course, without veterinary education it will not be possible to identify a disease in an animal. But it is still worth paying attention to certain external signs:

1. Conditions of detention . The well-being of a decorative rat largely depends on proper care. If there are too many animals in one cage that are literally sitting on each other's heads, it is better to go shopping elsewhere. This advice is also acceptable if the animal cage has an unbearable stench.
2. State of the animal . A healthy rat should be moderately well-fed. Soft shiny fur and the absence of wounds, abrasions and other damage to the skin are also welcome.
3. Condition of teeth . The condition of the oral cavity is one of the main indicators of a rat’s health. First of all, you should pay attention to the incisors. They should not be too long (within 1 cm), and the enamel should not be white. Normally, rat teeth are yellow. An unpleasant odor coming from the animal’s mouth should also alert you.
4. Behavior . If the rat is lethargic, constantly sits in one place, and looks at one point, there is clearly something wrong with it. Of course, it is possible that the animal simply has a phlegmatic character, but it is better to be safe.
5. Pedigree . If the rat is a future participant in various competitions, it is better to get to know its parents and other relatives. Any self-respecting breeder will not refuse this request.

It is also necessary to ask the seller for the relevant documents. A purchase and sale agreement with specified clauses regarding the condition of the animal will serve as a good safety net. Equally important are a health certificate and a vaccination certificate. You can only obtain a passport and pedigree from a professional breeder.

How to determine the sex of a rodent

Males are distinguished from females by comparing sexual characteristics. During the examination, it is prohibited to hold the animal by the tail. This creates a stressful situation for him. The rat is held in the palm of your hand with its tail down, if necessary, turned over onto its back and supported by its head with your fingers.

Table 1. Sexual characteristics of decorative rats

Important! Boy rats don't get along well with each other.

Animal care

Domestic rats are easy to care for. All they need for a comfortable life is a spacious cage, water and simple food.

• spacious, full-fledged “housing”, with various exercise equipment, stairs and entertainment;
• the minimum distance between the bars for children is no more than 1 cm, for adults no more than 2.5 cm;
• presence of a plastic pallet;
• containers for water and food;
• fillers: paper, wood, vegetable or inorganic;
• the presence of a small “house”, a secluded place where you can rest or hide;

The cage should be cleaned as needed, but at least once a week; with this care there will be no smell in the room. This is enough, because rats are very clean animals.

Which rat is better to get - a boy or a girl?

The concept of age for decorative rodents is very conditional. It is no coincidence that contacts between older people of different sexes in the same territory are prohibited. Pregnancy in older rats negatively affects the health of females.

It is most profitable for beginning breeders to purchase two girls. This choice increases the chances of conflict-free coexistence between animals.

For an owner who prefers to relax with a book or in front of the TV, a boy rat would be a good option for a pet. The animal is able to sit for a long time next to a person if he sits comfortably on his shoulder or lap.

Females are for more active breeders who devote enough time to the animals. It will be needed for learning to walk, train, and play with tailed beauties. The mood of animals often changes; their owner should be patient so as not to accidentally break down and offend the animals.

To understand which rat is best to get, it is necessary to take into account the behavior and character of rodents of different sexes. If you need an imposing companion, it is best to take a boy rat. But then you will have to resolve the issue with tags and pay special attention to the hygiene of the pet’s genitals. For lovers of active games and unexpected situations, a girl rat is more suitable. These always gnawing fidgets know how to truly become attached to their owners.

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Increased life expectancy

You can extend your pet's life with proper care. The animal should have a spacious cage. It should provide for the presence of all the necessary accessories to maintain his physical activity in order to prevent muscle atrophy. These are ladders, a running ring, shelves, etc. It is important to remember that rats are social animals that require increased attention and care.

In addition, emerging diseases should be treated promptly to prevent the development of chronic pathologies. To do this, if there is any change in your pet’s behavior, you should visit a veterinary clinic that has a veterinarian on staff. He will diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment.

Rats are interesting pets that can become true friends. They are quite comparable to cats and dogs. The only thing that upsets many animal lovers is the short life of pets.

Is it worth getting a rat? Advantages and disadvantages. Boy or girl? Where can I buy? How to care?

Why choose rats?

I am constantly on long-term business trips with my husband; the last time I was in my own apartment was a year ago. Considering that I work remotely via the Internet, and it’s difficult to find new friends in yet another business trip in an unfamiliar city, I spend most of the day in my apartment alone with my laptop.

After digging through all sorts of articles and websites about rats, I finally felt that I was on the right track. Surprisingly, the husband very quickly agreed to the rats when he learned that they only live for two years. I decided not to go on a tirade about his inhumanity, but simply take him to the breeder and show him the babies, who are only a month old. Naturally, I hoped that he would melt and fall in love with the rodents.

Where to buy rats?

Boy or girl? One or two?

There was definitely no talk about an opposite-sex couple, because... rats reproduce very quickly (pregnancy lasts 20-24 days) and a lot (8-15 cubs). By the way, this is the main reason why rats are indestructible as a species, and not at all their invulnerable health (their health is fragile, they can become swollen from a draft). It would be a pity to castrate and sterilize them (why need extra anesthesia?), but we definitely didn’t want to become breeders and give away rats with unknown health. Therefore, the choice fell on two boys, especially since without “trying” the female, their instincts do not awaken, and their behavior does not change in any way.

How to care for a rat?

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros: compact, convenient to leave alone at home. Not picky about food, inexpensive to maintain. They don't smell if you clean the cage on time. Attached to people, smart and funny. You can watch them for a long time. Suitable for children to develop independence and responsibility. You can leave them alone for a couple of days, provided there is plenty of food and water in the cage.

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Pets always bring joy to the home. It is human nature to show care and attention to four-legged friends. Children develop kindness, responsibility, discipline, they learn to care for them, and in return they receive a wonderful friend. Also in adults, the appearance of an animal is always accompanied by positive emotions.

In this article you will learn what criteria to use to choose a pet rat, what are its features, and are there any disadvantages. Get to know the habits of the rodent and its character. Get useful tips on care and maintenance.

Rats are by nature very hardy and intelligent animals. Their intelligence is superior to dogs and cats. They are easy to train and quickly get used to their owner. The domestic rat is easy to care for; even a small child can handle it.

Differences between male and female rats

The first thing that catches your eye is the external features of rodents. Different individuals may differ in size, have their own individual characteristics in body structure or even coat color, which sometimes depends on the sex of the animal. The gender of a rodent also largely explains the characteristics of its character, taking into account which each person will be able to choose the most suitable pet for themselves. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, it is advisable to understand all the characteristics of female and male rats.

Appearance

Experienced owners, with one glance at the rodents, can determine which of them is a boy and which is a girl, based on the following clearly visible external qualities of the pets:

Some rat breeders can even distinguish animals by the smell of their excrement: for example, the urine of adult males is characterized by a sharper, unpleasant aroma, while their female companions smell less disgusting.

Character

Decorative rats, like all other pets, have their own character, some manifestations of which can cause difficulties in the owner’s communication with rodents.

There will still be some differences between females and males in this case, so before purchasing a rat of a particular sex, it is worth considering the following:

Lifespan

Experts say: the average age of a decorative rat is 1.5-2 years. With good care and the absence of pathologies, individuals can live up to 4 years. But if an animal survives its 4th birthday, then this is considered a unique case in nature. Therefore, the owners’ claims that their pets lived to the age of five are very doubtful. Moreover, there are no officially registered animals at this age.

The lifespan of pets is influenced by their living conditions. Rats experience stress from the noise of household appliances, and they are negatively affected by cigarette smoke. The main factors that reduce the life expectancy of animals are improper feeding and lack of attention to the pet.

Advantages and disadvantages of keeping a rat

When choosing a pet, not all people pay attention to rats, since it is difficult to imagine these animals in such a role. Of course, keeping rodents has its positive and negative sides, but if you are ready to purchase an animal of a certain gender, then the pros and cons should be considered from this point of view.

boy

A more phlegmatic male rat can be placed in small and cozy houses located in a cage. They also love to spend time in a hammock or just sit on their owner’s lap. Animals can be found sleeping, which happens much more often than when raising females.

At the age of 6–8 months, due to hormonal changes in the body, the rodent may experience unreasonable bursts of aggression, not only towards its own kind, but also towards the owner. This point is especially important to consider when rats come into contact with children.

Among other unpleasant disadvantages of keeping male rats, owners highlight their tendency to mark territory: during each walk, they leave small droplets of sharp-smelling urine on the floor. Often even people are “marked,” but despite the unpleasant aroma, this is how the animal expresses its sympathy and affection. The male's cage has to be cleaned more often than the female's place of residence, and don't forget about the need to frequently walk the animal outside the cage.

Girls

Female rats are much livelier and more active than males, they love to play and always store food for later, so it seems that they consume a lot of food and are always hungry. The curiosity of pets should be taken into account when letting them out of the cage. It is likely that a rat may get lost in an open space or simply damage its owner’s personal belongings (for example, chew through a cable).

In matters of cleanliness, females will always give a head start to males. They will never eat near the toilet and always choose different angles for this action. You can keep several females in one cage at once, and they will need to be cleaned less often than males in a similar area.

For the first time, it is recommended to mate a female no earlier than 6 or 8 months of age, and then you need to organize her a calm and measured life for the entire period of pregnancy. Closer to the time of birth, it is advisable to place the expectant mother in another cage with a secluded place in which the animal will build a nest for itself. If a female is left with other rats, the survival of all the offspring cannot be guaranteed.

In general, it doesn’t matter what gender of animal you will have at home, because any rat needs to be created with the most suitable living conditions, not forgetting to pay attention to it socially. For the normal development of an animal, it is not enough for him to simply clean the cage on time and let him eat - it is worth periodically petting your pet and picking it up.

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Features of feeding

Dumbo rats are omnivores, but there are still some dietary restrictions. Pets are prone to allergies and, unlike their wild counterparts, sometimes suffer from digestive problems.

The basis of the diet of the dumbo rat is grain. Pet stores sell special food for small rodents, which includes:

• millet;
• barley;
• buckwheat;
• lentils;
• nuts;
• herbal granules;
• raisin;
• sunflower seeds;
• pumpkin seeds.

In addition to grain, Dumbo rats are fed boiled lean meat, offal, cottage cheese, and eggs. Rodents are not averse to eating vegetables and fruits. They love to eat carrots, broccoli, zucchini, cucumber, as well as apples, bananas and peaches.

Dumbo rats can be given fresh greens as an additional source of vitamins. The pet will like the leaves and shoots of dandelion, plantain, dill and wheat sprouts.

Not all food will benefit your pet rat. Many foods from the human table can harm the health of the animal. These are salty, spicy, fried, fatty foods.

Prohibited products include:

• semi-finished products;
• sausage, frankfurters;
• canned food;
• snacks;
• peas and beans;
• sweets;
• baking;
• fish;
• pork;
• vegetables - white cabbage, horseradish, radish and turnip;
• mushrooms in any form;
• cheese.

Dumbo rats can only drink filtered water and milk. Sometimes you can pamper your pet with low-fat kefir. There should be no sweet drinks in your diet.

Decorative rat boy or girl - which gender is better to get?

A decorative pet rat is a smart animal that will become a true friend for you. With proper upbringing, the animal can learn its name and respond to the owner’s call.

Help: sounds for rats are different from ours. The rat brain “hears” many things differently than a human. Animals love clicking and hissing sounds, so you should choose an appropriate name. If a combination of sounds is unpleasant for decorative rats, then they will simply ignore them.

Boys or girls? Gender differences in content and behavior

Pets love communication not only with the owner, but also with their own kind, so it is worth keeping them in pairs, especially if you do not have time to play with your pet. You should have either boys or girls. Otherwise, the flock can turn into a large clan.

Attention! The age of aging in rats is quite arbitrary and is in no way connected with sexual activity, so contacts between rats of different sexes – “veterans” – should not be allowed. A female can become pregnant and produce inferior offspring, this will negatively affect her health.

Girls almost always live together as they do not have a clear hierarchy. They mark territory much less often and are characterized by playfulness and curiosity. .

They are more careful than males, and sometimes even create places where they drag their waste products.

Boys aged 6–8 months, due to hormonal changes in the body, can show aggression both towards their own kind and towards humans. This should be taken into account when an animal comes into contact with children.

Males mark their territory with droplets of urine while walking. They can also mark the owner. There is nothing wrong with this, the pet considers you part of its family.

Rat boy

Representatives of this sex are passive, calm and phlegmatic. They love to sit on their owner's lap and huddle in hammocks or houses.

Help: small cages for hamsters are not suitable for keeping a decorative rat. The animal will feel as if in prison. In addition, animals love hammocks (they can be made from natural fabric) and houses that are made from half a coconut.

For a male, the ideal housing would be a spacious, wide cage with burrows, hammocks and houses.

Males are more affectionate and love tactile contact with humans..

The boy needs to clean the cage more often and let him out for a walk to explore the territory in order to keep the animal active longer.

If you make a couple of friends, then you need to do it at the same time . It is desirable that the males be of the same age and litter, otherwise a struggle for dominance cannot be avoided.

They tolerate loneliness better. If you decide to have one pet, your animal will patiently wait for you to please it with your attention.

Help: any decorative rat requires at least 4 hours of your time every day or at least one more animal of the same sex.

Rat girl

Girls are very curious and fussy, love to play, and make a lot of supplies. This should be taken into account when letting the animal go for a walk. Otherwise, the rat may run away, get lost, or chew the cable.

Contrary to stereotypes, rats are very clean, especially females. They will never eat near waste products.

If they live as a couple of girlfriends, they do not compete for leadership. Animals of this sex are more willing to take part in games.

A large, two-story cage equipped with tunnels, holes, toys and hammocks is perfect for girls.

Rats are playful and curious creatures. They willingly run after a piece of paper on a string, playfully “hunt” for the owner’s hand, and love to explore new objects (boxes, rags, newspapers). Do not deprive them of this opportunity, but remember, the rat will definitely try to “taste” almost every research object.

Females can live peacefully without needing contact with members of the opposite sex. If you are planning offspring, it is important to consider the age of your ward. She can become pregnant as early as 35 days, and this will lead to health problems, just like late mating. It is recommended to cover the female for the first time at the age of 6 to 8 months. If you are an inexperienced breeder, you should carefully read the information on caring for a pregnant rat and the peculiarities of childbirth.

Attention! Breeding domestic rats is a complex process that can be fatal for the female. For successful breeding, you need to select only the healthiest and strongest individuals, of a strictly defined age: up to 8 months. In most cases, the female gives birth to many pups and then dies.

If this process is not planned, then the female needs to be sterilized in time.

Important: unsterilized rats often suffer from tumor diseases (mammary tumors).

Two rats - twice the trouble?

Of course, every animal requires responsibility from its owner. Therefore, it is logical to assume that if not a mouse, but as soon as two animals appear in your house, the trouble will become twice as much. But does this arithmetic work in life?

Yes, two rats require more food and treats than one. But the house mouse is a small animal. Does he eat a lot? In addition, mice are omnivores. Perhaps even a not very rich person can afford mouse food.

Of course, if you have two mice, you will need a cage larger than one animal. But the size of the cell is, in principle, a philosophical question. The more spacious the cage, the more comfortable the conditions, even if it is a decorative mouse.

Two rats will require more cage litter and cleaning will need to be done more frequently. But if you think about it, this is not a problem.

Observation? If you want to catch a mouse, you understand that you will have to take care of it while it walks around the apartment. If there are two rats, more of your attention will be required. But how much if you're still on guard? In addition, mice that live together usually also walk together and rarely scatter in different directions.

Treatment... But this is perhaps a serious question. As you know, these fragile children often get sick and do not live long. Two mice: twice as much anxiety, more tears and worries, more money for treatment. But if you are going to get a pet, you will need to immediately prepare for it - that in any case there will be worries and expenses, and how much .. is unknown...

But two mice mean twice as much happiness, twice as much love and joy! If you take two kids, every day you will watch with a smile how they have fun and jump together, how they steal each other’s food and scratch each other’s backs, how they sleep cuddling and crawl together in their collars on walks. This happiness erases both worries and expenses, doesn’t it? In addition, the decision to adopt two mice will not only affect you, but will also make the lives of the mice themselves better and more interesting. Any house mouse would be better off living with a friend than with one - this is their nature.

Ratmaniya

What is the connection between rats? Is there a hierarchy in the group? How to see it? Every rat breeder asks these questions at some point, especially if the pack has no clear leader and no power struggle. To answer these questions, it is necessary to see many aspects of the behavior of rats in a group and be able to interpret them correctly, and for this it is very useful to know some basic hierarchical structure in groups.

Group benefits

Group living is the result of an evolutionary process of adaptation to a specific ecological niche. For each individual species, this process led to completely different consequences: for some species, a solitary lifestyle is normal, for others it is a family or a couple, and the process of this adaptation led to life in society, because mice for them the advantages of such a life outweighed all possible flaws. In one group, the individual risk and chance of being killed is sharply reduced. With an increase in the number of eyes and ears, the chance to notice approaching danger in time also increases, this gives group members more time to search for food. In addition, the process of searching for food, protecting it from competitors, and transmitting information about its position and quality in the group is much more effective. Having more group members in the house helps keep the heat in and reduces energy consumption. Disadvantages of group living include competition for food, forced enlargement of the group's habitat as the group grows larger, and an increased risk of spreading disease among group members.

Forms of hierarchy

There are three forms of social hierarchy:

• Despotism
• Linear hierarchy
• Nonlinear hierarchy

In despotism, one animal dominates all other members of the group, who are equal to each other. This form of hierarchy in its pure form is quite rare. Most often, hierarchical relationships are built between subordinate members of the pack. Moods are closest to despotism in same-sex groups of male rats or guinea pigs

The linear hierarchy is built according to the following principle: animal A dominates all members of the herd, animal B dominates all members of the herd except animal A, and so on until the animal that is at the highest level and all others dominate. From a mathematical point of view, such relationships are always transitive, that is, if animal A dominates B, and B dominates C, then animal A automatically dominates animal C.

Non-linear hierarchies are constructed in such a way that animals A are domains B, B are domains C and C are in turn domains A. Additionally, the likelihood of this type of relationship increases with the number of group members