Unusual roommates: colored rats

Did you know that color rats have a pleasant calmness and can bring a lot of joy to those around them with their friendly nature?

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Interesting facts about keeping colored rats Feeding and care tips
Interesting facts about keeping colored rats

Colored rats are a breed that originated from the German house rat and can actually come in different colors. The animals are usually 22 to 26 centimeters long and live for 1.5 to three years.

To allow the rats to run around on different levels, it is important that the cage is tall enough and well ventilated. A terrarium or aquarium is not suitable as a home for color rats. High humidity and inhaling air contaminated by the rat's strong-smelling urine would make the animal ill. And this is one of the few disadvantages of these animals: color rats smell a little strong from time to time. This is because they "mark their territory."

A suitable home for the color rat is a bird aviary with bars less than one centimeter apart. The floor space should be at least 150 x 75 centimeters, and the height should be 150 centimeters.

You can get creative with the interior design. However, tunnels, tubes, ladders, ropes, sleeping places, and sand baths should be cleverly arranged so that your rat cannot hurt itself. Rats also love to dig. The bedding should be deep enough in some places so that they can enjoy this activity. Variety is very important for colored rats. It is best to design the home so that you can rearrange certain elements from time to time. This allows the rat to rediscover its environment and prevents it from becoming bored.

These animals are very intelligent and can be trained to go outside for short periods of time. In this case, however, it is essential to make the room rat-proof. There should be no cables lying around that can be chewed on. Check the room for dangerous corners and edges and make sure that your pet cannot escape through a gap into the big wide world.

Place your rat's home away from drafts. The room should have a constant temperature between 64 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets too hot, this will cause the animal great problems. Colored rats can be picked up, fed from your hand, and easily observed as they play.

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Feeding and care tips

You need to spend time with your rat every day, if only to keep its cage clean. These animals like to mark their territory, and they do so frequently. The urine corners, i.e. the animal's toilet areas, must always be kept clean. The entire cage should then be cleaned at least once a week. Since rats rely heavily on their sense of smell, a little of the bedding can be returned to the cage. This way, their home remains their home.

Colored rats eat grains, fruits, vegetables, insects, and seeds. They should be given a mixture of foods as their main meal once a day. Their protein requirements can be supplemented with dairy products or an occasional boiled egg. Fresh food, which can be varied daily, can be placed in different places in the cage. This allows the rat to go on a journey of discovery while eating.

If your rat loses weight, becomes noticeably lethargic, has watery eyes, or shows symptoms of a cold, you should pay close attention, as these are all possible signs of illness. In such cases, it is essential to take your rat to a veterinarian who can examine the animal and treat it in good time if necessary.