"1/2 cup rat"
I am often asked many questions about my dwarf rats, how big are they? What is their personality like? Do they need a special cage? Etc... I am creating this page to answer those questions and share some of my first hand experience with these little guys. Keep in mind this information is based on my experience with dwarf rats. I have owned them since 2009 and have had quite a few, however I am not stating any absolutes, just what I have learned and observed. As with any living being they are not all exactly the same. I feel though that giving an overall explanation of what I have seen in my dwarf rats will help others to better understand what these cute, unique, and special creatures are all about.
I love all of my rats, but there is something very special about the dwarf rat. They are spunky and full of energy and most of the time I don’t think that they know just how tiny they really are; their attitude reflects a much bigger critter. They wouldn’t hesitate to run right up to a rat much bigger than them self to check them out. Any meeting between a dwarf and standard sized rat should be very carefully monitored; it really wouldn’t take much for a standard rat to hurt the tiny dwarf not knowing what one is. All of my dwarf rats are very curious, outgoing and friendly and always want out to play. I have to keep a watchful eye since they are so little they will manage to squeak out the door while I’m paying attention to someone else! They can be cuddly but they rarely slow down long enough to sit still, they are a very busy little creature always on the move. It doesn’t make them any less sweet then other rats its just not their nature to be still, I don’t mind it and almost prefer this energetic little ball of love. My dwarf rats seem to be much less aggressive as far as introducing a new rat into the colony. My standard sized rats share their space and do pretty well but a new rat is a need for major investigation and some establishment of the hierarchy right away. The dwarf rats seem to accept and welcome in new rats with much less need to order up the dominance.
Genetics of the dwarf rat
The dwarf gene is a simple recessive, just like dumbo ears or the blue coat color.
dwarf x dwarf = 100% dwarf babies
dwarf x standard = 100% standard babies carrying dwarf
dwarf x standard carrying dwarf = 50% dwarf/50% standard carrying dwarf
standard carrying dwarf x standard carrying dwarf = 25% dwarf/75% standard may or may not be carrying dwarf
A standard rat with at least one dwarf parent is carrying dwarf. A rat in which neither parent was dwarf but that has dwarf in the background cannot be classified as carrying dwarf unless they are proven(produce dwarf offspring) to be.
dwarf x dwarf = 100% dwarf babies
dwarf x standard = 100% standard babies carrying dwarf
dwarf x standard carrying dwarf = 50% dwarf/50% standard carrying dwarf
standard carrying dwarf x standard carrying dwarf = 25% dwarf/75% standard may or may not be carrying dwarf
A standard rat with at least one dwarf parent is carrying dwarf. A rat in which neither parent was dwarf but that has dwarf in the background cannot be classified as carrying dwarf unless they are proven(produce dwarf offspring) to be.
Size
Its very hard to get pictures that accurately show how tiny these guys really are. My best description is "mouse sized."
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I weighed a handful of my own standard and dwarf rats to get an average size for each-
Average weight of standard males in grams: 516 dwarf males: 115g
Average weight of standard female in grams: 340 dwarf females: 115g
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The pictures below are a comparison of two babies, a standard sized mink baby and a dwarf siamese baby. The 1st picture is at 12 days old and the second at about 3 weeks and the third is at 8 weeks.
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These are two adult does, one dwarf on standard.
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Dwarf girls
Caging
Picking out a cage for a dwarf rat can be a little different than for a standard. The bar spacing is the most important and needs to be very small. 1/2" x 1" spacing is needed for these little guys, any bigger and they can squeeze right out and they will take advantage of any spaces they can fit out of, it’s a lot of fun to go exploring you know! Also keeping in mind a more moderate sized cage, a smaller cage that they won’t get lost in can make them feel a bit more secure especially at first. Quite a few of my standards like wheels but not all, ALL of my dwarf rats love to run in wheels! The same in all of my cages are safe toys and things to climb and play on, dwarf rats are no different in that way and also like to live in a stimulating and fun environment.
