The greatest need for a living friend is experienced by the smallest members of the family, who, when communicating with animals, learn to care, sympathize, and love. Cats, dogs, fish and parrots are classic inhabitants of apartments that need increased attention from the owners. An alternative to these animals can be funny and playful dumbo rats. Cute and affectionate animals do not require a lot of attention, and the endless joy of communicating with a comical beast will fill the hearts of not only children, but also their parents.
Description
Dumbo rat is a small ornamental animal that has disproportionately large, low-set ears.
The most valuable specimens have the largest ears.
Representatives of this breed differ from the usual rat in the shape of the ears, which can be of two types:
- in the form of a plate;
- in the form of a bud.
European buyers prefer animals with ears in the form of buds. The maximum size of a well-fed pet body is 20 cm, and the weight of an adult can reach 400 g. Boys are much larger than girls. In animals, a round head with an elongated pointed muzzle. Eyeballs are round. Some members of this breed have a thick, fleshy tail, and for some, this part of the body is completely absent.
In animals, a short period of life that does not exceed 5 years. Average life expectancy is 3 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any pet, decorative pet has a number of advantages and disadvantages. From the positive sides, the following should be highlighted:
- susceptibility to training;
- high intellectual level;
- unpretentiousness in food;
- nickname response;
- the presence of good-natured and gentle nature;
- sociability;
- gullibility;
- no need for spacious living areas;
- cleanliness;
- creating minimal amount of noise;
- a small amount of maintenance costs;
- ease of care.
The animal has the unique ability to adapt to the mood of its owner, giving the person exactly the emotions that he needs. The main disadvantages of a funny animal are:
- failure to execute commands without dainty;
- depression in depression with prolonged solitude;
- incompatibility with predatory pets;
- territory label;
- damage to all available interior items;
- high cost of medication for treatment;
- the presence of a specific smell;
- the need for a daily walk;
- high price;
- short period of life;
- preservation of wildness in the absence of contact with people.
Varieties
The result of long-term breeding work was the appearance of several subspecies of dambo rats, which differ in color and presence of wool. Eared animals can be both shaggy and bald, as well as be black, white, gray and red. Depending on your taste preferences, you must purchase the appropriate breed..
Rex
Representatives of the Rex breed have curly dense wool that evenly covers the whole body, and the pet becomes soft and plush. Newborn babies with protruding fur look funny and funny. In some individuals you can even see a curly mustache.
Sphinx
Dambo Sphynx breed is characterized by a complete lack of hair.On a soft, velvety body, which can be pink, white, blue or black, you can see small skin folds. The length of the whiskers can be both large and small, and for some pets they are completely absent.
The peculiarity of the skin provokes frequent development of skin diseases and its mechanical damage.
To preserve the genetic characteristics of specialists do not recommend breeding with other representatives of the dumbo. To prevent aggression on the part of rats with wool, it is necessary to place naked pets in a separate cage. This breed is chosen by people who are allergic to wool.
Siamese
Unique representatives of this subspecies have a soft-cream coat color, against which brown face and legs look spectacular.
These animals have a high cost due to the presence of a recessive gene that may not be passed on from parents to offspring.
Husky
Husky rat breeds at birth have a standard color scheme, against the background of which only a few months later white hairs may appear.
Manx
Manx rats are tailless species. This feature was triggered by a gene mutation and caused negative feedback from specialists.
Tailless animal poorly maintains balance and does not have the ability to reduce body temperature.
The absence of a tail has a negative effect on the skeleton and the period of the animal's life, which does not exceed 12 months.
Blue mink
Blue Mink is a unique subspecies that has a gray wool with a blue shimmer. Amazing colors significantly increases the cost of rat pups on the market.
How can you tame?
Funny animals are easy to get in touch with people and quickly trainable. Before learning complex tricks The animal must be carefully accustomed to hands. Pet must be kept on the palm and stroked at least 2 hours a day.
When contacting an animal, you should constantly pronounce its full name, trying not to use a large number of synonyms.
Animal trainers recommend calling the animal by name to your favorite treats.
The important point of the training is to study the rat to return to the place in the cage and independently leave it when called by the owner. After a short tactile and emotional contact, the animals begin to trust their owner.
During the game, animals can bring small objects, find tasty food, overcome low obstacles, delivering a host of positive emotions to their owners.
Some individuals can even choose a given object, stand on their hind legs and get shiny objects out of the boxes.
Care and maintenance
To maintain the health and activity of the acquired pet, it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions for life and reproduction, as well as to organize a balanced nutritious diet at home. Animals need to be properly and timely feed and regularly care for them.
The most comfortable temperature condition for a rat is at the level of + 20 ° with a humidity of not more than 50%.
Experts recommend to protect the animal from the strong flow of cold air, which can provoke colds.
The cage should be at a height of at least 1.5 m from the floor and be protected from bright light and heating devices. Non-compliance with the rules of maintenance and care can cause the development of various diseases. Signs of a healthy pet:
- shiny wool;
- clean eyeballs;
- lack of pus in the eyes;
- high level of mobility and activity.
Among the most dangerous diseases, veterinarians distinguish several.
- Mycoplasmosis - a dangerous disease that is transmitted through the air and can lead to death.
- Abscess - inflammatory process after mechanical damage. For its treatment it is necessary to clean and wash the diseased area.
- Helminthiasis - damage to the body by various parasites.
- Malignant and benign tumors.
At the first signs of the disease, it is necessary to urgently seek help from a doctor and not use traditional methods of treatment.
Dwelling
For the maintenance of the dambo rat, experts recommend purchasing large multi-tiered cages, all the details of which are made of metal. Elements of wood and plastic will soon be completely destroyed by a rodent. The minimum height of a permanent home should be 50 cm, and length - about 60 cm.
The cell for temporary overexposure can be much smaller.
When choosing a cage, special attention should be paid to the distance between the bars, which should not exceed 20 mm, as well as to a flat floor, high pan, wide doors and shelves. Mandatory elements of the home are a house and a hammock.
A place to sleep must fit the size of the animal, to be cozy and comfortable. Production material - durable plasticwhich does not absorb extraneous odors and is easy to clean. Hanging hammock can be a pet's favorite place in which it can warm up and hide. Due to the rapid contamination of this accessory, the product needs regular cleaning and washing.
The dining area should be equipped with bowls for food, as well as a drinker. It is better to fill the food to the animals in a ceramic dish, which is noiseless.
Cereal mixes should be in separate bowls and not mixed with natural products.
Keeping together several animals provides for the purchase of large containers for food. For drinking it is necessary to use special drinkers, which are fixed on the bars of the cage.
Recreational elements - the required details of each cage for animals. During the period when the owner cannot devote time to the pet, the rat should move independently and entertain itself. In specialized stores you can buy ropes, ladders and special tunnels for rodents. If material is available, you can make toys yourself at home.
An obligatory accessory in the cage is a special mineral stone that helps the rat to adjust the length of the teeth and claws.
Some owners lodge rodents in transparent aquariums. Glass housing is not suitable for rodents and has several disadvantages:
- low level of ventilation;
- accumulation of unpleasant odor and fecal gases;
- the need for regular disinfection;
- cleaning complexity;
- the likelihood of self-abandonment of the animal house during the ventilation of the aquarium;
Nutrition
The basic ration of a pet should consist of ready-made cereals and nut mixes, which can be purchased in specialized stores.
Together with traditional food, experts recommend feeding the animal with boiled egg, fish, liver, heart, butter, pumpkin seeds and flax.
Animals love to eat fresh peaches, apples, bananas, cherries and cherries. Very rarely, pets can be pampered with kefir, milk and a small slice of orange. Sprouted wheat, oats and soybeans, as well as green leaves of parsley, dill and dandelions can serve as a useful feed.
It is strictly forbidden to feed rodents with dried fruits that contain high amounts of sugar, as well as fatty, salty, spicy and fried foods from a person’s table. These products can cause disorder of the digestive system, as well as the death of a pet. The list of prohibited products:
- meat and fish products;
- alcoholic and carbonated drinks;
- sweet pastries and sweets;
- hard cheese;
- White cabbage;
- radish, horseradish, turnip;
- boiled and raw potatoes;
- beans and peas;
- artichoke;
- all kinds of mushrooms.
Young animals need two meals a day, and the frequency of feeding adults should be up to 4 times a day.
In the diet of the animal should be solid foods that will help your teeth to grind their teeth: the constant use of soft food can lead to their excessive growth.
A prerequisite for the full growth and development of animals is the presence of fresh clean water. During a self-walk in the apartment, the animal may get poisoned with Kalanchoe, geranium, ivy, hydrangea and cyclamen juice.
Hygiene
Dumbo rats are treated with a clean animal who carefully monitor their fur. The animal needs a weekly change of bedding in the cage. To simplify the cleaning process, you can install a special pan in the corner of the cage, where the animal will be happy to go to the toilet.
Full cleaning and disinfection of the cell should be carried out 2 times a month.
All food containers should be washed daily and filled with clean water and fresh food.
As a bedding material, you can use granulated mixtures or large fraction sawdust that will not fall into the nose and eyes of the animal. It is strictly forbidden to use sheets of newspaper, which, when wetted, release harmful and toxic substances. Experts recommend 2 times a year to bathe rodents in warm water with a special shampoo. This manipulation will remove the odor from a pet.
To reduce the stress state of bathing should be carried out in the form of a game, and then the animal will be happy to wash.
If an animal categorically refuses to wash, you can simply wipe it with a damp cloth. Forced bathing provokes aggression and distrust of man.
After bathing, one should carefully cut the long nail plates with special nippers.
Breeding
For breeding breeders recommend using only the brightest representatives of this breed, who can pass on the hereditary traits to their offspring. Sexual maturity in rats occurs at the age of 7 months. The period of gestation does not exceed 1 month. The number of pups in one litter reaches 15 pieces. The female does not need assistance during childbirth.
Newborn animals are completely naked, blind and helpless.
The owners are strictly prohibited for the first two weeks to touch the rats with their hands and manage in the nest.
The main task of the owners is to maintain cleanliness in the cage and balanced feeding of the female. Kids quickly gain weight and become covered with hair, and after 10 days the pups already see and hear well. After 21 days, you can transfer the offspring to dry food, and at the age of 45 days, babies are given to other families.
Owner reviews
Funny and affectionate animal has gained wide popularity among fans of domestic rats. The owners of these animals say they have a kind, playful and affectionate character, and their intellectual abilities surprise all family members. Many parents give birth to eared pets at the request of children, who can spend hours playing with their pets and at the same time train them.
Before buying this animal, it is necessary to take into account the short life of animals, the death of which can cause irreparable psychological trauma to the child.
Among the negative aspects of the rat dam owners note the constant desire of animals to mark their territory, to try on the tooth all the surrounding objects and get depressed with a long stay alone.
Details on the content of dumbo rats in the house, see below.