What is the difference between a fancy rat and a rat?

Wild rats typically live less than a year, while fancy rats have the comfort of human care and can live as long as two or three years. Fancy rats are also typically smaller and more delicate-looking than their wild cousins, with sharper facial features, larger ears, and a longer tail.

Can Dumbo rats live with fancy rats?

Since rats are highly social, it’s recommended to have at least two so they can keep each other company. You can keep a dumbo rat with another dumbo, preferably one of the same sex, or with any type of rat since they’re all the same species.

Are there different breeds of fancy rats?

Pet Rat Varieties The seven varieties are: Standard, Rex, Tailless, Hairless, Satin, Dumbo, and Bristle Coat. This means that pet rats come in an amazing array of different “looks.” Rat breeding is sometimes referred to as the rat fancy, so pet rats are sometimes called fancy rats.

Are Dumbo rats affectionate?

Rat Are Social Animals 2 They become attached to other rats and recognize their own family members but rats also easily bond with their human owners and make for affectionate pets. Pet rats enjoy being stroked by their owners and sometimes even enjoy a gentle massage, a scratch behind the ears, or a simple tickle.

Are dumbo rats smaller than fancy rats?

Dumbo rats can be dwarf sized, weighing about half of a pound, all the way up to the largest standard-sized fancy rat, at about two pounds. As with other fancy rats, male dumbo rats are almost always larger than female rats, although the exact size depends on the specific rat.

What’s the difference between a dumbo and standard rat?

The ears of dumbo rats appear at the sides of the head, rather than near the top as is the case with most rats. The standard is for the ears to be large and rounded, emphasizing their unusual position, but they come in all sorts of shapes, often small, tubular and/or wrinkled.

What is the friendliest rat breed?

Many believe Dumbo rats to be friendlier than other types of rats. (Dumbo rats’ ears are on the sides of their head rather than on top—similar to Walt Disney’s “Dumbo the Elephant”.) Burmese are also often considered to be very friendly.

Are Dumbo rats smaller than fancy rats?

Are Dumbo rats the same as fancy rats?

Dumbo rats are actually considered a variety of the fancy rat, so both are the same species. The low-set and large ears of the dumbo rat are due to a gene known as “dmbo.” This recessive gene is only expressed as a physical characteristic when the rat inherits two genes, one from their mother and one from their father.

How old do Dumbo rats live?

2-3 years
Quick Facts about Dumbo Rat

Species Name: Rattus norvegicus domestica
Temperament: Mild, easygoing, cuddly, engaging
Color Form: Agouti, black, lilac, fawn
Lifespan: 2-3 years
Size: 15-22 inches long, 1.5 pounds