A hairless rat is certainly one of the unique pets available today. They make great conversation starter, and they absolutely thrive in captivity. Hairless rats have a very simple diet, and they make wonderful companions for children and adults.
Facts about Hairless RatsA hairless rat is not as dangerous as it might look. While they look weird, they are some of the most docile rats in the world. A true hairless rat has no hair anywhere on his body, including whiskers. They are made from Rex rats bred only one of many species of rat. When a rat is born with only one Rex gene, it is born with course and curly coat. When a rat is bred to have two rex genes, however, the rat is born with absolutely no hair. The cold these rats affects much easier, and they are very prone to dry skin.
Facts about Hairless RatsA hairless rat is not as dangerous as it might look. While they look weird, they are some of the most docile rats in the world. A true hairless rat has no hair anywhere on his body, including whiskers. They are made from Rex rats bred only one of many species of rat. When a rat is born with only one Rex gene, it is born with course and curly coat. When a rat is bred to have two rex genes, however, the rat is born with absolutely no hair. The cold these rats affects much easier, and they are very prone to dry skin.
Caring for a Hairless RatBecause of their innate lack of fur and whiskers, these rats require different levels of care than normal rats. You are not able to maintain body temperature, as well as a regular rat, it must be kept in a warm environment. Put the cage in a draft-free place and keep it away from windows.
Although wood chips make suitable bedding for many species of rat, this is not true for the hairless rat. You do not have to protect a coating of fur around their skin from irritation. Shredded newspaper or magazine pellets make the best beds for them. Contaminated bedding on a daily basis, and clean the entire cage once a week. You can not thrive in a dirty cage, because their skin is very sensitive and it is prone to inflammation and infection.
A hairless rat will burn calories much faster than a normal rat. For this reason, a higher fat diet is not required. Although rat food is a big part of a healthy diet for them, they need supplementation to achieve their ideal daily fat and calorie content. Great food as a dietary supplement use include cream cheese, yogurt and avocado.
Hairless rats are prone to dry skin. If this is a problem, experts recommend soaking a piece of whole grain bread in olive oil. The skin will be exposed to oil, such as the rat nibbling and chewing. If this does not dry skin, the problem can be massaged unscented baby oil in the rat skin daily until the problem resolves. Prevent dry skin by monitoring the humidity in the home.
They are also prone to require veterinary care for sebaceous cysts. The vet may be open lance the cyst, but this is for extreme cases. Usually a course of antibiotics and a bandage everything necessary to heal the cyst. Although these cysts may be treated at the vet's office, there are significant costs involved. Giving a hairless rat a bath in antibacterial soap twice a week can help reduce the occurrence of sebaceous cysts.
Hairless rats make fantastic pets for all ages, but close adult supervision for the entire life of the rat required. These rats are unique, friendly and fun, but they require a lot of attention and should be from someone who has the time to have it adopted.
