Dumbo Rats as Pets – The Ultimate Guide
Are you considering adopting a rat? It does not matter if you have adopted one before or will be doing so for the first time; there are quite a lot of rat breeds that you can choose from.
As a person that love rats, you most likely will have a thing for the various rat breeds, and are comfortable with rats of various fur colors. Regardless of this, some variations between rats suit your lifestyle, as well as personality. These variations are partly as a result of the rat breed you select. For example, there are rat breeds that are ideal based on either how calm they can be or how energetic they can get. That is not all. Also, all rat breeds do not have the same appearance; this might not be a very vital factor when selecting a rat pet; it is a factor that should be put into consideration.
A lot of rat owners appear to select standard fancy rats. This rat type is the image a lot of people see when the thought of rats come to their heads. Although a while back, the only type of rat that people could own was a standard fancy rat, as it stands, individuals looking to get rats as pets can choose from the many available rat breeds. They can also choose rats of various sizes and colors.
If you are a rat enthusiast, you most likely will remember the point in time when dwarf rats were a popular rat breed. Dwarf rats had a reputation for being more attractive than bigger rats. Also, it is believed that a lot of people that were not certain that rats could be had as pets welcomed the idea of having rats as pets because of the size of dwarf rats. Dwarf rats might be very adorable. However, now they have major competition. Their competition is the dumbo rat. The dumbo rat is one of the latest fancy rat breeds.
The Basics: What Is A Dumbo Rat?
Dumbo rats are named after their very large ears. Their large ears make them stand out from other rat breeds. Apart from their ears being larger than that of the average rat breed, Dumbo rats have ears with a different shape from those of other fancy rats. A lot of fancy rat breeds have ears that are oval and appear directed towards the ceiling when they are erect. Unlike other fancy rats, dumbo rats have almost circular ears. In addition to having ears with a different shape and larger size, there are other ways in which dumbo rats differ from other fancy rats.
Averagely the heads of dumbo rats are larger than those not other rats. They also have lower jaws that are not as big as those of the average fancy rat. All these physical attributes, when combined make the dumbo rat have a very cute appearance. A lot of times people that are very uncomfortable with other fancy rats seem to be quite comfortable with dumbo rats.
It is believed that dumbo rats have physical attributes which differ from those of other fancy rats because of genetic mutation. A rat will be unable to exhibit the physical traits of a dumbo rat if its both parents are not dumbo rats. The reason for this is the ears, and other physical features of a dumbo rat are recessive traits. As a result of this, dumbo rats are not as popular as rats that have ears which have an oval shape.
Apart from the basic physical features which the dumbo rat was named after, the dumbo rat is still quite different from other rat breeds. Regardless of this, the dumbo rat still has several similarities with other rats as it is not a different species. It is just a slight alteration of an already existing rat species.
Differences
As stated above, a dumbo rat and the more popular fancy rat are different because of the shape of the ears of a dumbo rat. Apart from the fact that these differences make a dumbo rat appear better, they can be of help to someone in your house that is not too comfortable with rats. A lot of people erroneously believe that rats are aggressive, dirty, or gross. This belief is due to the attitude of rats on the street. Well, it should be noted that rats on the streets and fancy rats which can serve as pets are very different. If a visitor to your home is finding it difficult to understand that fancy rats and rats on the street are entirely different, a dumbo rat can go a long way in getting such person convinced. The average fancy rat is a lot similar to rats on the street physically. As a result of this, attributing the bad traits of rats on the street to the standard fancy rat is something that occurs frequently. Unlike fancy rats, dumbo rats do not have the same physical traits as rats on the street.
This, therefore, will go a mile in helping people believe that the dumbo rat has a different behavior from rats on the street. Also, a Dumbo rat is not only physically different from other fancy rats; it is also obviously cuter. The fact that a dumbo rat is adorable might be the magic you need to convince your family and friends that rats can be had as pets, and they are also great pets.
Among dumbo rats, there are still quite a number of differences. Even though every Dumbo rat has ears that are large and round and are positioned on the side of its head, dumbo rats can still have two different ear types. There are dumbo rats with ears that are smooth and round and have no form of folds or creases. There are, however, other dumbo rats that appear to have some rumples, as well as folds on their ears.
The ears of dumbo rats make them different from other fancy rats. There is, however, more to the differences between other fancy rats and dumbo rats. Apart from just being physically different, dumbo rats have a temperament that is different from those of other fancy rats. Generally, dumbo rats are known to have snuggly and calm personalities. This makes them perfect for people that want to spend time cuddling with their rats.
However, the fact that Dumbo rats are calm does not mean that they are lazy. Dumbo rats are not any fewer rats that other rat breeds. They enjoy burrowing and playing. This is even more common when they have new toys.
The fact that dumbo rats are calm does not mean that other fancy rats cannot be calm. Nevertheless, calmness in rats is more associated with dumbo rats.
Do you like calm rats? If yes, it is vital that you give your rat a lot of attention and care right from the first day you begin spending time with it. With the right level of attention and care, your rat, regardless of what fancy breed it is will be friendly and comfortable when it is with people. Just like other pets such as dogs and horses, when rats are given the right level of care and attention, they will have more adorable personalities.
Similarities
Dumbo rats might be quite different from other fancy rats, irrespective of this, they have quite a lot of similarities. Physically, dumbo rats have the same type of eyes as other fancy rats. Their eye color also does not differ from that of other fancy rats.
That is not all about the physical similarities between dumbo rats and other fancy rats. Dumbo rats can also have fur markings which are similar to those of other fancy rats. The implication of this is apart from having bigger ears with a different shape, smaller jaws and bigger heads, dumbo rats do not differ physically from other fancy rats. So, as a rat lover that wants to get a rat with a certain type of shade, as long as other fancy rats have such shade, dumbo rats can have such fur shade too.
In the same way, other fancy rats can have various sizes. Dumbo rats can also grow to different sizes. They sometimes can have the size of dwarfs, and when this occurs, they are known to weigh about half a pound. Dumbo rats can also be as heavy as two pounds. Like other fancy rats, female dumbo rats are usually not as big as male dumbo rats. Regardless of this, the exact size of a dumbo rat is dependent on factors such as genetics diet, and general health. These determinants of rat size affect both dumbo rats, as well as other fancy rats.
Also, as long as behavior is concerned, dumbo rats have huge similarities with other fancy rat breeds. There is, however, an exception. That exception is, all things being equal dumbo rats are more easy going and docile than other fancy rat breeds. Regardless of all the factors surrounding the personality traits of dumbo rats, the exact behavior of a rat is dependent on the individual personality of that rat. Just like humans, rats have various personalities also. With good care and socialization, a rat can be made to have a nice and accommodating personality.
Even though there is a limitation to the number of researches that have been carried out on the other ways Dumbo rats and other fancy rats differ, it does appear that dumbo rats are just as curious as to other fancy rat breeds and also equally intelligent. The implication of this is adopting a dumbo rat will give you the freedom of engaging your rat with the same toys that you will use for other fancy rat breeds.
Also, because Dumbo rats have a lot of similarities with other fancy rats, you do not have to get a piece of special equipment before effectively caring for them. Any form of care which will be good for other fancy rat breeds will also be good for dumbo rats. Included in this are socialization, dieting, and check-ups with the veterinarian.
How to Know If a Dumbo Rat Is the Right Choice for You
Dumbo rats might be more adorable than other rats. Nevertheless, the type of fancy rat you decide to adopt is really about your preferences. When choosing a pet rat, the two vital factors that you should put into consideration are how happy the rat is, as well as how healthy it is. Apart from these two major factors, other things such as physical attributes, temperaments, etc., are dependent on what your preferences are. The truth remains that a lot of people seem to choose dumbo rats over other fancy rats because of how adorable they are. Although this is a good enough reason to choose a pet, there are other more important factors that you should consider when choosing a pet.
It is good to bear in mind that the differences between different rats on an individual level can be very prominent. In as much as a lot of dumbo rats tend to be docile, there is a huge probability of coming across dumbo rats that exhibit a much higher level of aggression than other fancy rat breeds which are believed to be more aggressive than dumbo rats. Also, other fancy rat breeds might end up being calm and docile if they are treated a certain way. More often than not, irrespective of the fancy rat breed you adopt, the traits of your pet will be dependent on training and care.
As soon as you decide to adopt a pet, to get the best out of this move, you should patronize a breeder that has a good reputation. Apart from the fact that a reputable breeder will be able to advise you on the right fancy rat breed for you based on your personality, you can be certain that any rat gotten from a reputable breed will not come with health issues. This is a lot different from adopting a rat from a breeder that is inexperienced or from a general pet store. When rats are bought from amateur breeders or pets stores, there is a huge tendency that they could get sick either from inadequate care or inbreeding. Whilst getting a rat form an experienced breeder is the way to go for everyone that is looking to have a rat as a pet, it is even more important for individuals getting their first rat pet to do so. The basic reason for this is an experienced breeder can give you all the advice you need to be successful in taking care of your pet. Also, if you face challenges while caring for your rat, they can always come in handy.
Adopting a new pet comes with a lot of excitement. You should not let the excitement cloud your judgment. Do things very carefully and in an organized manner. Take out time to carry out a series of research on the available fancy rat breeds. You should be able to tell the different levels of care the different fancy rat breeds need even before having a pet. Create a thriving environment for your pet before getting one. Also, you should have the right toys, beddings, food, and cage. Rats might be small; nevertheless, they need a lot of care.
