A healthy rat in this stage should be energetic and high-spirited. This is especially true if they do not keep track of which rats are related to which rats and a brother/sister accidentally breeds. In 1901, she asked the National Mouse Club in England to include her pet rats in the exhibition, and one of them won the “Best in Show” Award. It is generally agreed that most wild rats will not reach their first birthday! Rodney was born in Oklahoma in 1983 and lived until 1990. The answer to that question will depend on several factors; their environment where they live, their genes, diet, and health. And the secret to a healthy and happy rat? Rat. Other causes of premature death include untreated infection, predators, mishandling, chewing wires or dangerous material, consuming poisonous food, and prolonged exposure to very cold/hot temperatures. The flooring on all levels and the ramps have to be solid. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; But the fancy pet rat lifespan is the same as any pet rat. Rats are also sensitive to light and heat. Before buying your pet rat, ensure you can offer him the best conditions. Teach your rat tricks because he’s a very intelligent animal. “Fancy” is a term commonly used to describe all domestic rats. This is 1.5 to 2.5 years longer than the average life expectancy of a wild rat. Our is at least 5-5.1/2 years old and big. The optimal age to acquire pet rats is around 6 weeks old. Daily socialization and mental stimulation reduce depression and obesity. Unfortunately, most of the time there’s no way to find out about the genetic line of your rat if you got it from a commercial pet store. Pet rats bond with their owners because they’re loyal and affectionate creatures. There are different treatment options, including surgery, to remove the tumor. 14 years is the longest recorded lifespan. Fern is strangely fond of Vampire movies. Their motor function can deteriorate and rats can even develop arthritis. Healthy food for your rat includes quality commercial rat pellets as well as fresh vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and peas. He lived to be 7 years and 4 months old. All females, I have a male rat (I called him splinter) The rat should not be overbred, nor should it live in a dirty environment. Try to check out any of our other 1000+ pet related posts to see if you can find what you were looking for! Incorporate fruit and veggies in your rat’s diet. Many experts report that the average pet rat lifespan is between 2 and 3 years. Therefore, think carefully before bringing a hairless pet rat home, and make sure you check out our guide for more information. Ensure they have plenty of places to hide in their cage. We care about your data, and we'd love to use cookies to make your experience better. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Although they can be found in males, most occur in females. Similar to the human aging process in some ways, rats lose muscles mass and body weight in their old age. Best Rat Diet Advice: Help, Why Is My Rat Putting On Weight? In this activity, a dog’s cage was filled with rats and people were betting on how much time the dog would need to kill all of them. I am hoping to increase their lifespan and decrease chances of more tumors by having them spayed. It’s possible that the longest living fancy rat went by the name of Rodney. In the early days of domestication, the pet rat lifespan was around 1.5 to 2 years. You’ll be entertained and your rat will develop a sense of self-satisfaction with every new trick he learns. Hopefully he will live for far longer to come. It was occasionally as long as 3 years in some cases. Dwarf Hamster – Breed Types and Care Advice, Pet Rat: Caring Advice, Tips on Prolonged Lifespan and more, Syrian Hamster – Everything you need to know, Hairless Rat: Types, Lifespan, Care and Health, Affordable compared to having a bigger pet, Independent without ignoring their owners, Loyal and loving toward their human parents because they experience human emotions such as empathy and need to help when they sense distress in others, Smart enough to learn tricks and respond to their. They come in a wide range of colors, and their fur patterns include agouti (or ticked), Siamese, merle, and spotted. The common pet rat won’t be as long lived as many of our favorite pet species, including dogs and cats. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Now that you know the average rat lifespan of a domesticated rat and what to expect as your rat ages, you can make an informed decision on whether a fancy rat is the right pet for you. What Is The Average Lifespan of Pet Rats? If they appear ill, you should take them to the veterinarian to find out the cause. These are more fragile and they also tend to bite, whereas rats very rarely bite kids. How long CAN a rat live? They are active, playful, and easy to train. A fancy rat is not a specific breed of a pet rat. However, prevention is always the best. How To Care For A Hairless Rat And Everything You Should Know Before Owning One. Now that we are familiar with the average lifespan of a fancy rat, it can be helpful to learn what to expect as your rat ages. This will make sure that you get a rat that was on a proper diet and not overfed. Never let your rats become too skinny or overweight, especially overweight. Unfortunately, with this level of care in mind, the average rat lifespan of a hairless rat is around 9-12 months. As rats are prone to bacterial infections of the respiratory system, there will be at least one point in their life where you’ll need to take them to see a veterinarian and administer antibiotics. You should also make sure you are feeding pellets and food blocks specifically for pet rats. This includes conditions like tumors, weight loss/gain, strokes, cataracts, overgrown teeth, and respiratory problems. Like with all The Gambian pouched rat is a large rodent that’s native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is only natural when considering getting a rat for a pet just how long they will live. From proteins and fats to vitamins and carbohydrates, rats’ dietary needs are similar to ours. The usual lifespan of a pet rat is only 2 to 2.5 years, 3 at most and it’s really highly unusual for them to live any longer. Let us know how old they are in the comments below! You can, however, help your rat live longer. Required fields are marked *. While it’s easier to do with dogs and cats, it can prove a bit more complicated with smaller animals, like rats. If you want to give your rat a bath anyway, don’t throw him in a full tub. Opt for soft, sponge-like materials such as wood shaving, but avoid pine or cedar, which emanate phenols. All of these factors contribute to a longer life expectancy for domesticated Pet Rats. Most people cringe when they think about rats, but keeping rats as pets is nothing like having to deal with a wild rat. A fancy pet rat, whose genetics are traceable, can live to two to three years of age. Rats reach full adulthood at 1 year of age. It is possible to help your pet rat live longer by doing the following: One factor that can affect your pet rat’s lifespan is inbreeding. A rat and a guinea pig can make good friends. Natural diets will be expensive and demanding of time; you have to ensure that the rat gets nutrition from all sorts of food groups. My best advice to rat owners is to get them desexed by a small animal vet if possible. How long is the white rat lifespan or rats of any color for that matter? Vet costs yearly, which includes just a checkup and not emergencies or tumor removals, should be less than $50 for a rat 1-2 years old. Several factors can contribute to increased rat life expectancy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have a child, might be good to get him a pet rat instead of a hamster or rabbit. Most of these are bacterial and can be treated with antibiotics. The average lifespan of a pet rat is about 1.8 years but very seldom do they live to be much older. Tumors are usually caused by hormones and exposure to chemicals. We will give you the rundown on pet rat life expectancy, and how to help your rat stay healthy for as long as possible. However, if a pet is stressed or ill, they are vulnerable to developing an infestation. He is 5 years old, I feed him one apple every 3 days, also I put orange segments in random places on his cage (make him climb for them as a form of exercise twice a week. If the breeder is inexperienced then they could breed rats that will pass on an undesirable trait, like a hereditary health condition. Their hind limbs can start to weaken, may exhibit some reduced mobility, exhibit stiffness, and their tail may move abnormally. As with humans, oxidative stress caused by free radicals in the body can cause disease and accelerate the aging process. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you’re hoping to get 10 years with your furry pal, you’ll be disappointed to know that their average rat lifespan is between 2-3 years. Around 6 to 8 weeks is the right time to bring home a baby rat. If you want your fancy rat to live a long and happy life, you will need to care for your rat very well. The temperature should range between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Fancy rats can be interesting pets with their unique personalities and quirks. Hairless rats require specialized care to live a healthy life. Let them play around ten to midnight, so they’ll sleep for longer during the night. Hairless rats have notoriously poor genes and weakened immune systems, making them more prone to eye infections, kidney failure, cancer, and Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Lifespans of Fancy Rats. Besides coat type, there are also hairless, tailless, and big-eared (dumbo) fancy rat varieties. They are distinguished by their large round ears, set low on the head. amzn_assoc_enable_interest_ads = "true"; The pet rat lifespan is two to three years, almost twice as much as that of a wild rat. Tumors are one of the most common causes of premature death in fancy rats. Provide your rat with materials like wood blocks to gnaw on and bring your rat to the vet for dental trimming if necessary. And you should check that the rat’s droppings are dark and firm. The average lifespan of a pet rat is about 1.8 years but very seldom do they live to be much older. Make sure that their cage is well-ventilated and kept clean to help prevent these infections. “. Health concerns become more prominent as your rat ages. Many wild rats will not make it to their first birthday. It might be more time consuming to clean their cages more often or prepare nutritious food, but the effort will be worth every minute! E.A. Poe aka. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "auto"; They live longer, their waste doesn’t smell as much because they’re not excreting pheromones/hormones, they’re more relaxed and their coats stay beautiful and soft into old age. Besides, rats enjoy playtime more than other rodents and you can train them as well as you’d train a dog. At only 4 weeks, a young rat will no longer need its mother. Some of the domesticated rats come from a lineage of lab rats and this makes them predisposed to tumours, which can significantly shorten their lifespan. Can My Pet Rat Have Chocolate As A Treat? Your email address will not be published. If they do not have the exercise, it can make them depressed. The reason is that they are less susceptible to diseases like respiratory infections and tumors because of their breeding. A diet not suitable for their nutritional needs can lead to skin conditions, diarrhea, tumors, and premature death. To prevent respiratory infections, your rat’s cage should be kept clean and well-ventilated.